Workplace news in brief


Sick pay dispute

Unite members at Hackney APCOA took two days of strike action in August in protest at the refusal of the company to agree a sick pay scheme. A subsequent offer has been rejected by workers as the deal would mean no company sick pay would be available for the first three days of abscence. On the same afternoon as the offer was made, workers rejected it and voted to take five days of strike action commencing on 12 October. The anger at the offer intensified when it became clear that the employer is also cheating workers out of the London living wage too. The workers and Unite are determined to win what would be a well-deserved and vitally important victory.

Support for John Vasey

Leeds TUC unanimously passed the following: “Leeds TUC calls on Royal Mail to reinstate John Vasey, CWU workplace rep at Wakefield Delivery Office. We pledge to support the CWU Leeds No.1 Branch in its campaign on John’s behalf.” John, a CWU postal rep in Wakefield, West Yorkshire has been sacked on what his work colleagues recognise as stitched-up charges.

Kill the Bill lobby

Join the TUC and union members from all over the country coming together to lobby and rally against the trade union bill on Monday 2 November 2015, Central Hall, Westminster (rally) and the House of Commons (lobby of parliament). The rally will kick off at 1pm and the lobby at 2.30pm.

Junior doctors protest

Following the government’s announcement of a brutal new contract for junior doctors, protests have taken place up and down the country. On Saturday 17 October, thousands are planning to attend a protest outside the Houses of Parliament from 2pm to 6pm. The march, likely to be the most high-profile street action by doctors yet, follows a previous rally outside Downing Street on 28 September. For more on the the contract and protests see pages 5 and 16 and also issue 872 of the Socialist.