Strikes and lock-outs

On the evening of Thursday 13 August, the Federal Court ordered reinstatement of 97 dockworkers whom Hutchison Ports summarily sacked with immediate effect at their Brisbane and Sydney container terminals by email at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday 6 August. It was a first semi-victory, but only that. In the small print the Federal Court decision says only that the 97 must be on payroll until 31 August, not that they get back into the workplaces. And it looks now as if Hutchison is trying to move out all the containers they have in the terminals so that they can shut down the business temporarily or...

Our MUA Is Here To Stay! Our precious land, our coat of arms, no backward step be taken, Touch one, touch all, comrades in arms, will never be mistaken, For some corporate lie, their jelly shake, perhaps a hollow wave, For this, our birthright fire tested, tis cradle to the grave. Like bands of gold, we stand the line, beside our comrades true. Your pain is mine, to ensure a time, when love ones comfort you. This sacred place, your vows affirmed, will see the light of day. By those before, who carried the flame, cannot be stripped away. So Hutchison, where’s your mind, and where’s your soul...

PCS members fighting privatisation at the National Gallery voted on 24 July for all-out strike from the start of August if the gallery does not back down. Workers have already struck for more than 50 days, as well as holding various stunts, parties and protests inside and outside the gallery. Workers will strike again on Wednesday 29 July and are holding an “alternative leaving party” for outgoing gallery director on Thursday 30 July. Sacked PCS rep Candy Udwin was due to have her appeal hearing with the gallery on 22 July, after being vindicated by a judge who said that a “tribunal would most...

Tube unions Aslef and RMT have announced a further 24-hour strike on London Underground on 5-6 August, with which other unions are likely to coordinate, after a 24-hour strike by all four Tube unions brought the network to a complete standstill on 8-9 July. Members of RMT, TSSA, Aslef, and Unite struck over a range of issues, including the imposition of anti-social rosters in preparation for the introduction of 24-hour running (“Night Tube”) in September. Unions are demanding more time off to compensate for more fatigue-inducing night shifts. RMT also struck against London Underground’s job...

Council workers in the London boroughs of Bromley and Barnet struck again on 7-9 July and 8 July respectively in ongoing fights against cuts and privatisations. Strikers from the two boroughs met up in Parliament Square at lunchtime on 8 July to protest at the budget announcement. In Bromley adult services and transport workers struck for two days on 7-8 July and library workers struck for three days from 7 July. Workers from across Barnet council’s services struck on 8 July and many workers at a depot which had previously been organised by the GMB (who have not called strikes) refused to...

Members of all four Tube unions will strike on 8-9 July, in disputes over pay, the implementation of 24-hour running (“Night Tube”), and job cuts. Drivers’ union ASLEF returned a 98% majority for strikes, on a turnout of over 80%. Members of RMT, the largest union on the Tube, voted by over 90% for strikes in two ballots (one of all grades, over pay and Night Tube, and one of station workers over job cuts), on turnouts of around 53%. TSSA and Unite members also voted for strikes by over 70%. Action will begin on the evening of 8 July, and conclude on the evening of the 9th. Combined strike...

RMT members employed by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) staged three days of industrial action, including a one-day strike, in the last week of June. A ballot on industrial action held the preceding month had seen a massive majority vote for action: 92% for strike action, and 98% of action short of a strike, on a 60% turnout. The vote was so overwhelming that it passed the requirements of the Tories’ new anti-union legislation. The dispute centres of the threat to jobs, pensions and working conditions resulting from the fact that the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, currently provided by...

UCU members at seven London colleges struck today as Solidarity went to press (Tuesday 23 June) in disputes over job losses. Strikes will happen at College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, South Thames College, College of North West London, Croydon College, Greenwhich Community College, Hackney Community College, and Lewisham Southwark College (LeSoCo). Today's strike is the fourth for workers at LeSoCo, who struck on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 June. Management plan to cut as many as 175 jobs at the college and close the Camberwell site, severely reducing the quality of education for...

Just over 3000 delegates met in Glasgow for Unison’s National Delegate Conference, 16-19 June. The conference was taking place in the midst of two disputes with Glasgow City Council, as well as strikes involving members at London Met and Barnet Council. The Glasgow homelessness caseworkers remain on strike and a large rally on the Thursday of around 1000 delegates saw activists take to George Square to protest against the actions of the Council with speakers including a striker, the Glasgow City Unison Branch Secretary, and Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis and a victimised rep, Robert O...

Strikes over privatisation continue at Bromley Council. Workers are on strike between 10-20 June in a series of selective strikes. Unite members in adult services and transport workers will strike from 10-15 June, library staff between 13-20 June and central council workers on 16 June. The council's cuts plan involves outsourcing most of its services, reducing the number of council employees from 4000 to 300, and privatising 14 libraries. Unite, Unison and community campaigns organised a march through the borough on Saturday 13 June. As well as the privatisation plans Bromley council has...