Industrial news in brief

Submitted by Matthew on 12 November, 2014 - 11:55 Author: Gemma Short and Charlotte Zalens

Cleaners working for Interserve at Waterloo station struck on 10-11 November after a manager claimed “we shouldn’t be employing black people.”

The strikes will take place between 3pm on Monday and 3pm on Tuesday, and for a further 24 hours starting at 3pm on 21 November.

The RMT union says bosses have refused to address the allegation through agreed procedures. The union also says Interserve has underpaid wages, as well as victimising, bullying and harassing staff.

Cleaners at Waterloo are not the only ones facing these conditions, or fighting back. Across various contractors, cleaners experience low pay, unsafe and unpleasant conditions, and substitution by agency workers.

Cleaners on the Eurostar fought a campaign this year over pay, workload and staffing levels. Cleaners on London Underground’s Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines battled hard to resist their employer’s imposition of biometric booking on. Cleaners fought a dispute with contractor Voith on Virgin West Coast over the victimisation of a workmate. Merseyrail’s cleaning contractor Lorne Stewart faced strike action after tabling a below-inflation pay offer.

Workers on all grades should support the disputes of cleaners in their union.

German train drivers strike again

German train drivers struck again from Wednesday 5 November to Saturday 8 November.

Drivers’ union GDL called the strike off early on Saturday as a “conciliatory gesture”, meaning the strike did not disrupt celebrations of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.

The strike is the sixth in recent weeks, following a 50 hour strike in late October. The union is demanding a five per cent wage hike and a shorter working week of 37 hours.

Train company Deutsche Bahn took a case to a labour court in Frankfurt trying to gain an injunction which would rule the strike “disproportionate” and force drivers back to work. Lawyers for Deutsche Bahn claimed the strike was costing the German economy €100 million a day. The strike has knocked out about two thirds of Germany’s train service.

GDL is yet to announce more action.

Housing charity workers win on pay

Unite members at St Mungo’s Broadway celebrated on Wednesday 5 November after management made concessions in ACAS talks.

Workers were set to strike for another 10 days, following 7 days on strike in October, in a dispute over pay and union rights. Management have reversed their decision to change pay, terms and conditions for frontline workers. Unite says that St Mungo’s Broadway management have “agreed to 99.9% of our demands.”

The offer sees workers on a two tier system, following the merger of two charities, leveled up to the better set of terms and conditions. St Mungo’s Broadway will also honour an existing recognition agreement Unite had with one of th pre-merger charities.

Unite regional officer Nicky Marcus said: “This is a significant victory not just for staff, but for the service users our members work so tirelessly to help. It is a testament to what can be achieved when workers stand shoulder to shoulder and say enough is enough.”

During the strike in October Unite members organised 19 pickets, covering all the London-based charity’s offices as well as lobbies and protests at the Town Hall buildings of councils who work with the charity.

Unite members will be balloted on the offer.

Care UK offers deal

alloted over an offer from management.

After 90 days on strike in a dispute over Care UK slashing pay by 35% and recruiting new staff on a much lower wage, management have offered an immediate 2% increase, followed by 2% in both 2015 and 2016 or an increase equivalent to the Consumer Price Index if that is higher.

Andy Squires, Unison steward, said “it is generally speaking a good offer for the private sector, but doesn’t come anywhere near to recouping the 35% lost.” However, he said, “the offer comes with a three-year no strike deal, we cannot strike over anything to do with terms and conditions or pay, effectively meaning we can’t strike.”

Unison is recommending that members accept the offer.

On their Facebook, group some strikers have expressed their disappointment. One said “None of us are celebrating at all, each and every one of us deserve a lot more!” in response to Unison’s claims that workers are celebrating a victory. Another said “So we’re now celebrating having our wages cut by up to 33% instead of 35%. Celebratory drinks? No thank you!”

The ballot closes on 24 November. Appeals for donations and messages of solidarity are still on going.

Defend Julie Davies

Teachers at two schools in Haringey, London, struck on 5 November to defend suspended branch secretary Julie Davies.

The teachers at Fortismere and Highgate Wood schools gathered on Crouch End and Muswell Hill Broadways, handing out leaflets to explain why they were taking action.

Teachers in two more schools, Park View and Hornsey, are being balloted to join the strikes.

There will be a lobby of Haringey council at 6pm on 24 November and future strikes on 12-13 November at Fortismere and Highgate Wood.

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