Workplace news in brief


Strike vote Scotland

Unison members in Scotland are being balloted for strike action over pay. This is after a 1% pay offer was rejected.

Unison has calculated that the value of staff pay has been cut by 10% over the last three years and basic living costs have dramatically risen.

75,000 workers in 32 councils are voting at the moment. The ballot closes on 13 August.

Hospital strike

Pathologists at hospitals in Leeds and Bradford were on strike on 16 July over staff shortages. Management is trying to impose new working patterns which the Unite members feel put staff and patient safety at risk.

They also mean substantial pay cuts for some staff, in some cases as much as £20,000 a year.

Boris bike ballot

Workers in the Serco Barclays cycle hire scheme in London have voted decisively for strike action and action short of a strike.

This is because the company has imposed a 2% pay increase, new shift patterns and other detrimental changes to working conditions.

At the moment the RMT members are operating an overtime ban in an attempt to bring the company to meaningful negotiations.

Portsmouth

Unite members at Portsmouth International Port have voted unanimously for industrial action over plans which could cut their pay by £1,300 a year.

The Port is owned by Portsmouth city council. The management wants to reduce staff costs by 10% by cutting staffing levels.

This will have a big impact on the efficiency of the Port, which provides important revenue for the city council as a whole.