Workplace news In Brief


Fujitsu strike

Unite members working at the Fujitsu IT company sites in Manchester, Salford and Crewe struck for 24 hours on 19 September against the company’s breaking of agreements on pensions, pay and redeployment. The Crewe workforce is already fighting to defend Unite rep Alan Jennings, victimised by the company.

Management have made concessions to the PCS union which organises former civil service workers privatised to Futjitsu. Unite strikers hailed this as a victory which shows they can win too.


Youth workers’ action

On 9 September, youth workers in the Unite CWYU (Community and Youth Workers) union went on strike across Oxfordshire, in protest at the council’s plans to replace the services they provide with seven “community hubs”, which will put 80 jobs at risk.

The strike demonstration was upbeat and noisy with members from several different unions attending, such as PCS. Striking workers from Banbury and elsewhere in Oxfordshire also attended. We marched from Church Green to Witney youth centre, for a short rally outside David Cameron’s office.

Rachael Horwitz

Privatisation scandal

Greenwich council-owned trading company “GSPlus” have announced cuts that may lead to compulsory redundancies.

GSPlus was set up by the council despite union opposition. They said the move would save jobs and protect pay and conditions. Indeed staff were promised superior conditions to council staff.

The unions pointed out at the time that this was simply not realistic and that in fact jobs and pay would be more vulnerable as a result. It gives us no pleasure to be proved right.

Unite branch secretary Onay Kasab

Pensions action

Members of the UCU lecturers’ union have voted for industrial action, including strikes, to defend pensions. Staff at 67 universities in the Universities Superannuation Scheme have voted for a sustained campaign of action because the employers have imposed pension cuts. Action is likely to begin in mid-October.

Lecturers in the other main pension scheme have already taken strike action, with the other unions on 30 June. The ballot for that action is still valid.


Liverpool ballot

200 Unite members working for housing repair service Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) are balloting for industrial action against threats to their jobs. The workers provide a repair service to people living in social housing in Liverpool and have been TUPE transferred to a number of different companies. LMH, the latest company has gone into administration.

There is plenty of work to do and LMH appear to be giving work to sub-contractors. Also the Unite convenor is facing the sack.