Workplace news in brief

Support Paul Kelly!

Transport union RMT rep Paul Kelly has recently been involved in protesting against the imposition of new rosters at Wightlink Ferries in Portsmouth. The new rosters were brought in after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency identified shortfalls. These shortfalls are largely due to poor management structures.

Now Paul has been charged with gross misconduct, after being seen without personal protection equipment (PPE). Yet many managers frequently ignore PPE requirements.

Management's first action was to issue informal advice to Paul, which he accepted. Clearly this was not enough for some managers and further allegations were made, which in spite of being refuted by five witnesses, were used to dismiss Paul.

The RMT is demanding that Paul Kelly be reinstated and a transparent investigation be carried out into how this manager was allowed to abuse the disciplinary process.

Please send messages of support to: portsmouth@rmt.org.uk

TV licensing workers

Hundreds of TV licensing workers are planning to strike again on 17/18 November. Their employers, Capita, make £1 million a day in profits but are refusing to negotiate over a reasonable pay deal. The workers are low-paid, many are earning just above the minimum wage but the company are trying to fob them off with a below-inflation pay rise, a pay cut.

Picket lines will be out in Bristol, Darwen (Lancs) and Glasgow on 18 November, with field officers on strike on 17 November.

More N30 strike votes

Joining with tens of thousands of other workers, members of the main public sector union in Northern Ireland, Nipsa, have voted by a two thirds majority to strike on 30 November.

And 81% of senior civil servants in the FDA ballot have voted to strike.

RCN pensions ballot

The Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) governing council has unanimously decided to ballot for industrial action if the current pensions negotiations fail. The council will meet again in January to make arrangements for the ballot. RCN members are so angry about attacks on their pensions that the leadership has made this unprecedented decision.

The RCN council is also sending support to the strike by public sector unions on 30 November.

Strike at Sussex Downs College

Workplace news in brief

Come to the 6th annual NSSN conference!

Second strike by Tilbury dockers over attack on contracts

M10: Angry workers walk out across the country

10 May sees united strike - but teacher unions shirk their responsibilities

Pensions:

PCS conference votes for more joint action against cuts

NHS GMB members vote No to pensions deal

It's our NHS - Let's fight for it!

Why prison officers joined the protests

RCN:

Massive job cuts undermining NHS

"Frontline first" a dangerous tactic - unity is the key

Labour cheats NHS

RMT:

Interview with RMT assistant general secretary candidate

Public meetings against cuts in the rail industry

London elections - TUSC: A marker for future struggles

Pay:

National Shop Stewards Network

Council workers in Cheshire strike against attacks on pay

Victory for Greenwich Unite library campaign

Council:

Election results: How did TUSC do?

Labour's best Wales result in 21 years will not stop cuts

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition local election reports

Portsmouth:

TUSC campaigns round-up

Fans not financiers should run football

Fight fees and cuts - join Socialist Students!