The Socialist 22 October 2014

Priced out? Strike Back!

Priced out? Strike back!

100,000 march against cuts and for a wage rise

The unions' pay battle must continue

50 years of socialist ideas and workers' struggle

Where's our recovery?

Socialist change to halt climate change

A Freudian slip?

Undercover cops report - a whitewash

Them & Us

Ebola outbreak: one face of austerity

International day of action for abortion rights in Ireland

PCS members again show anti-austerity determination

"No Raise - No Rays!" - say radiographers

POA hospital workers join public sector strike wave

St Mungo's Broadway strikers stage 19 pickets

Care UK strikers lobby Miliband for public support

Sheffield green workers' unofficial walkout

WEA tutors' victory

Leicester council hits homeless hostel

Reckless Ukip circus

Anti-eviction success!

Save Bitterne walk-in centre!

Socialist Party "part of political landscape"

Local services suffer under Welsh Labour

Hedge fund owners will never blush

Private companies hold NHS to ransom

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Workers' Educational Association strike threat forces halt on jobs and conditions attack

A WEA tutor

Following eight hours of discussion through ACAS, Unite members at the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) have called off their planned seven days of strike action.

The WEA management had sought to impose a devastating restructuring without a hint of negotiation or consultation with Unite, the recognised union.

London Region staff (including all organisers, consolidated tutors, and admin-support staff) were placed at risk of redundancy, with current roles to be scrapped and replaced by new jobs - some on a lower grade and lower pay.

All staff at risk faced having to reapply for new jobs with no guarantee of success, and no management commitment to avoid compulsory redundancies. These proposals were formulated by management over a period of six months - January to June 2014 - and then presented to staff in June 2014 as a 'done deal'.

Requests to management to engage in meaningful talks were ignored. The depth of anger and determination of WEA Unite members was revealed in the 85% support for industrial action!

The prospect of well-supported strike action, which would have been the first in its 111 year history, forced WEA management to withdraw its proposals and the at risk letters, and to agree to engage in full and meaningful consultation with Unite on any new proposals.

This is a major achievement by Unite members at the WEA who have remained solid in their commitment to ensure WEA remains true to its values of equality, democracy and justice.

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 16 October 2014 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

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Priced out? Strike back!