Workplace news in brief


Remploy strike vote

GMB members working for Remploy have voted 80% for strike action and nearly 90% for action short of strike, to stop factory closures and defend jobs. 60% of Unite members have also voted for action.

An overtime ban begins on 12 July, with the first one-day strike on 19 July, and another to follow a week later.

The management are planning to close 36 of its 54 factories, putting at least 1,700 jobs at risk. Remploy factories in Wales will be among those hardest hit, with proposals to close seven of its nine factories, affecting up to 272 staff.

Olympics strike

On 2 July RMT members in travel information centres, call centres, lost property office and the London transport museum took strike action to demand an Olympics reward in line with London Underground, DLR, London Overground etc.

In part this would also be to compensate for the heavy restrictions on annual leave we have faced this year.

Management have repeatedly refused to go to ACAS. With all six unions in dispute, only the RMT gave its members the option to finally up the ante and turn words into industrial action. 63% of the votes cast in the ballot were for strike action.

Ominously Olympic delivery funding which could have been used to reach a settlement was diverted to private call centres Novacroft (Northampton) and JourneyCall (Scotland). Management are looking to “market testing” with a view to outsourcing.

Management were clearly rattled on the morning of the strike which saw pickets at Victoria travel information centre, Albany House call centre and Windsor House (TfL HQ).

At Windsor House Alex Gordon, RMT national president came down to lend support and a Royal Mail driver refused to cross the line with TfL’s morning mailbag.

With 77% of votes cast also in favour of action short of a strike, an week-long overtime ban started on 8 July.

Paul Stevens, RMT

Olympics deal won

RMT members on Southern trains have voted overwhelmingly to accept an Olympics recognition and reward deal which will see all staff receiving a basic payment of £300.

There will be an additional £28 per day available for rest day and Sunday working and £50 for additional late night turns.

Rail strike ballot

Rail union TSSA is balloting its 500 members over industrial action in support of their rep, Martin Hodges. Martin is being disciplined for poor attendance, even though the company recently awarded him a certificate for good attendance!

Train drivers’ union Aslef has announced its support for TSSA in the dispute. It warned Virgin bosses against bringing in strike breaking managers during a strike, which could take place during the Olympics.

Mick Dooley

Construction union UCATT banned Mick Dooley from standing in the general secretary election. This has now been ruled illegal.

Mick has challenged the union leadership several times over misuse of expenses and other issues