Unite

PCS branches are mobilising to defend workplace reps victimised for union activity. Lee Rock in Sheffield, Jon Bigger in Merseyside, and Kevin Smith in Bootle all face the sack for trade union activity. For more on these cases, and how labour movement activists can support Lee, Jon, and Kevin, see here . The Civil Service Rank-and-File Network (CSRF), a newly-formed grouping of PCS activists, is planning local actions to coincide with the European TUC’s Day of Action on 13 March. Union officials block Lewisham hospital fight Activists in Lewisham Hospital in south London are discussing their...

150 people demonstrated at London Metropolitan University (LMU) in solidarity with victimised trade unionists Max Watson and Jawad Botmeh as they faced a hearing on Monday 18 February. Max and Jawad, who are activists in Unison, are suspended from their jobs because of alleged “gross misconduct”. A statement from the union branch said: “Thank you to all those who attended the lobby and helped to publicise it and build support. The huge turnout sends a strong message to university management that we will not tolerate victimisation and intimidation of trade union members.” University management...

Oil tanker drivers at the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland struck from Friday 22 February to Monday 25 February in a bid to reverse pay cuts and huge attacks on their pensions. Drivers stand to lose up to £1,400 per year in pay and could face a decrease in the value of their pensions by up to £100,000. The cuts result from the transfer of the contract for running distribution of aviation fuel supplies from BP, which runs the refinery, to logistics firm DHL. The drivers, who are members of Unite, are planning another four-day strike from 28 February if the dispute is not resolved.

Industrial action by Tube workers' unions RMT and ASLEF on the Bakerloo Line is having a huge impact, with passengers reporting delays of up to 27 minutes. Tube drivers are refusing to take trains into sidings or depots before personally performing safety checks to make sure they are clear of passengers. Last year there were over 3,000 passenger overcarries into the sidings at Queens Park station alone - far more than on any other line. These nearly resulted in the death of a 12-year old boy. Safety checks prior to detrainment had previously been carried out by station staff, but job cuts have...

Workers’ Liberty members in Unite will be critically supporting Len McCluskey, the candidate of Unite United Left (in which we are involved), in the forthcoming general secretary election. There have been some positive improvements within Unite under McCluskey’s leadership. A culture of greater democracy and debate has been encouraged, and the move towards industrial reorganisation and workplace branches is positive. On the whole the union is more prepared than in the past to back its members in taking action, and providing resources to help organise direct action in support of industrial...

Honda job cuts Car manufacturer Honda will cut over 1,000 jobs from its plant in Swindon, with 800 permanent and 325 temporary staff set to go. Unite officer Tony Murphy said: "It's a tragedy for our members and their families. There's no doubt these cuts will have a significant knock-on impact on the supply chain, and on local shops and services .That is why we intend to save as many jobs as possible. "Unite will oppose any compulsory job losses. We expect Honda to negotiate meaningfully with the union in order to mitigate the impact of these cuts. Unite will be meeting with our local union...

Dave Quayle, the chair of the Political Committee of Unite, and Tony Woodhouse, the Unite Executive chair, have backed the campaign to defend Bob Carnegie, the Australian trade unionist facing legal charges for his role in a community protest in Brisbane. The Wirral 9515 branch of Unite also passed a motion of support, and sent a very generous donation of £500 to the UK arm of the campaign. The Leeds branch of the Labour Representation Committee, which pledged its support in November 2012, has also sent a donation. This money was spent on producing a new leaflet explaining Bob’s case, copies...

A retail distribution driver spoke to us about recent moves by workers to break from the retail union USDAW and join Unite. AWL has criticised USDAW's role as a collaborationist and sell-out union in the retail sector. However, we do not have a formal policy of advocating or supporting breakaways from majority/recognised unions, and relate to particular cases on an individual basis. We publish this report for information. Members of USDAW at the Sainsbury's distribution centre in Sherburn-in-Elmet, Leeds (operated by Wincanton), have rebelled by defecting to another union - Unite. In less than...

Over 1,000 workers at 2 Sisters Food Group factories in West Bromwich and Wolverhampton have struck against a management contract offer which proposes a 20p/hour pay increase and seven-day shift patterns. Unite officer Sulinder Singh said: “This action is unprecedented. It is the first time in 15 years this has taken place, with workers coming together for a show of unity. This is about changing the entire culture around the business.”

Delivery drivers employed for Tesco by haulage firm Eddie Stobart Ltd. have settled their dispute over jobs, winning a 50% increase in redundancy payments. The workers voted 150-19 to accept the bosses' latest offer, which is for £650 for each year of service. Although the strike was fought to save jobs, forcing a large monetary concession from management on redundancy pay represents a significant partial victory. Mass picketing was crucial to the fight, with round-the-clock pickets on strike days making sure practically no lorries moved out of the depot in Doncaster, south Yorkshire. A...