Workplace news in brief


Lorry drivers’ strike

Workers at the Tesco distribution centre in Doncaster are on a 48-hour strike from 9 October. The workers were transferred to Eddie Stobart Ltd (ESL) in August and then on 5 September they were issued with 90-day notices of termination of employment.

The drivers voted by 90% to strike and for action short of a strike.

Amnesty International

Workers at Amnesty International UK are striking on 10 October in a battle over management’s cost-cutting programme.

Staff have agreed to a pay freeze but management still wants to cut £2.5 million. Their union Unite is demanding meaningful negotiations over management’s plans.

University strike

Lecturers organised in the University and College Union (UCU) are set to take strike action at the University of East London (UEL). The strike is over attacks on working conditions.

UEL management are trying to increase the lecturers’ already over-stretched workload.

Management also want to strip the lecturers of their right of appeal if they have been bullied or want to challenge unfair workloads.

This isn’t the only attack that lecturers are facing. As we reported last week, many PhD students are being used as cheap labour to drive down teaching costs.

UEL is now charging new students the Con-Dems’ £9,000 a year tuition fees.

But this doesn’t mean extra funding for staff and students at UEL.

Socialist Students supports the strike by lecturers at UEL.

Despite what university management will say, the lecturers’ strike is defending students and defending education.