Trade union news in brief

Submitted by Matthew on 6 April, 2011 - 1:24

Refuse workers in one of the Tory’s flagship councils may ballot for strike action against their employer, recycling contractor May Gurney.

The workers have had their pay frozen since 2007 and submitted a claim for an increase to the London Living Wage around Christmas 2010. GMB organiser Keith Williams said “I am seeking permission for an official strike ballot for these members who have seen inflation increase by 13.9% since their last pay rise. The rise in VAT, fuel charges and the general increase in the cost of living means that these GMB members are struggling to keep their heads above water.”

May Gurney is operating under a five-year contract from the borough of Barnet. Its hyper-exploitation of its employees is typical for private contractors operating in the public sector. This is the model the Tory government wants to see become the general rule.

Newcastle College

82% of voting members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Newcastle College have voted to take strike action. Workers will strike on April 12, against bosses’ plans to make more than 170 job cuts, of which 75% are teaching posts.

In a local economy still beset by unemployment, cuts of this scale at a large and significant local employer would have an extremely damaging impact.

UCU official Iain Owens said “UCU members here at Newcastle College have made it crystal clear that they will fight these proposals. If these plans go ahead, they will have a devastating effect on the local community. We need teachers teaching people not on the dole queue.”

London Underground

The RMT has begun its ballot of all driver members on London Underground as part of a long-running campaign to win reinstatement for Arwyn Thomas and Eamonn Lynch, two trade union reps victimised and dismissed for their activity.

Both men have won Interim Relief Tribunals, showing the legal flimsiness of the bosses’ case. Drivers on their lines, Bakerloo and Northern respectively, have already taken strike action but it was widely felt that the dispute needed to be generalised to be successful. The ballot will close on April 27. See rmtlondoncalling.org.uk for more.

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