Workplace news in brief


Rail cleaners strike

Cleaners working for Churchill on Arriva Trains Wales will be on 24-hour strike on 16 March. The RMT members have voted by 9:1 for action over pay and terms and conditions.

At the moment Churchill are refusing to negotiate and have not offered any improved pay deal. They have even tried to fund any pay award by making workers redundant.

Churchill have doubled their profits over the last five years, yet only pay these cleaners the minimum wage.

Wales play England in the Six Nations Rugby on 16 March.

PO workers vote to strike

Members of the Communication Workers’ Union in crown post offices have voted by 88% to strike over pay and job security.

The 4,000 staff members working in the 373 crown post offices are angry at the company, Post Office Ltd’s, refusal to negotiate.

Other staff in the Post Office, including postmasters, have received pay rises but counter staff have received nothing since April 2011.

Blacklist Support Group

The AGM of the Blacklist Support Group will be held on 23 March at 10.30am. Speakers include Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary and Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary.

Blacklisted workers Steve Acheson, Frank Morris, Jerry Hicks and Dave Smith will also be speaking.

The main demands of the campaign include: justice for the blacklisted workers and no public contracts to be awarded to blacklisting firms.

  • 23 March, Faraday House, Old Gloucester Street, Holborn, London.

Bus workers strike

Bus workers, members of Unite, working for Go North East are striking over pay. After a 60% vote for action, the drivers will strike for 24-hours on 15, 18 and 23 March.

They are angry that they are only paid £18,000 a year, less than half of what the Tyne and Wear Metro drivers earn. They have already rejected a 2% pay offer.

National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN)

Come to the 7th annual national NSSN conference
Saturday 29 June, 11am-5pm

Camden Centre, Jud d Street, London WC1H 9JE

Speakers include Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary and Steve Gillan, POA general secretary.

Send your name, union and contact details to: [email protected]

Send your fee of £6 per person, payable to National Shop Stewards Network, to PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE