British Ariways workers plan opposition to IT outsourcing, 29.2.2016, photo by Rob Williams

British Ariways workers plan opposition to IT outsourcing, 29.2.2016, photo by Rob Williams   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

BA battle

Workers at British Airways (BA) rallied against attacks on terms and conditions and against outsourcing at a 500-strong mass meeting called by the GMB trade union on 29 February. The meeting at Heathrow heard commitments of support from Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and the GMB itself. British Airways is attempting to outsource IT jobs which would result in job losses and worse contracts as well as aiming a “broadside” at all BA workers over pensions. The company that owns BA is expected to make profits of £2.3 billion this year but is passing new automatic workplace pension costs onto staff by forcing employees to pay their own national insurance contributions from 5 April. The campaign intends to fight these new attacks off, as previous outsourcing attempts have been, and intends to raise the issue in parliament.

Senior GMB steward at British Airways

CCTV conflict

Glasgow CCTV workers are to take 48-hour strike action over pay. 18 members of Unison employed as CCTV operators and supervisors by Community Safety Glasgow (CSG), an agency of Glasgow City Council, will take strike action from 4 to 6 March and again from 17 to 19 March. The current hourly rate is the Scottish living wage of £8.25 an hour. They work 12-hour shift patterns, providing a 24-hour service. Other workers in CSG on similar shift patterns receive an additional payment of £7,500 but the CCTV workers do not. The purpose of the action is to force CSG into offering an acceptable payment for working shifts and unsocial hours. Messages of support to [email protected]