Workplace news in brief

Cleaners and guards fight MoJ outsourcing

Four unions held a day of action against outsourcing on 26 February. They marched to three coordinated strikes and organised other protests too.

Cleaners and security guards in independent union United Voices are demanding a living wage at the Ministry of Justice. Members of civil servants' union PCS at the government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy also want a living wage plus equal terms and conditions and an end to outsourcing.

Cleaners in the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain at the University of London want equality with directly employed staff. Transport union RMT also backed the action.

Enfield school workers strike

Part of the picket line at Galliard school in Enfield, 27.2.19, photo by London Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

Staff in the National Education Union (NEU) are striking against academisation at Galliard school in Enfield, London did so again on 27 February.

Later that day, Labour Party and Unite members, backed by the Socialist Party, organised a council lobby where a Labour councillor refused to vote for any more cuts. The NEU will strike again 6-7 March.

Greenwich cleaners fight privatisation

Cleaners and caterers in unions Unite and Unison working for GSPlus in Greenwich protested outside the council on 27 February demanding they be brought back in-house.

Birmingham bin workers strike

Brum bin workers on strike, photo by Birmingham Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

Bin workers in Birmingham took more strike action against blacklisting by the Blairite council. They will strike again on dates throughout March if they're demands aren't met.

Come to the Birmingham rally hosted by National Shop Stewards Network - Defend workers from council attacks.

Tuesday 12 March, 6.30pm, Birmingham and Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, B3 3BS.

Speakers include: Howard Beckett - Unite assistant general secretary, Mandy Buckley - Birmingham home care workers Unison convenor, Rob Williams - National Shop Stewards Network chair, and a bin workers' rep from Unite.

NSSN conference

National Shop Stewards Network conference

Saturday 6 July, 11am-4.30pm, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL shopstewards.net

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.