Bakery bully

Workers for Gunstones Bakery in North Lincolnshire, organised by bakers’ union BFAWU, plan to strike again on 16 and 17 July. Bullying boss Ranjit Singh Boparan wants staff to accept a pay cut or attacks on terms and conditions.

Council sell-off

Council workers in Bromley, south London, staged their fourth wave of strikes against 90% privatisation on 7 and 8 July. General union Unite was joined by public service union Unison for the first time in the dispute.

As we go to press, members are due to join striking workers from north London’s Barnet council in Parliament Square. The demonstration will take place on Tory Chancellor George Osborne’s budget day.

Roger Shrives

Hospital cleaners

Photo by Paul Couchman

Photo by Paul Couchman   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Cleaners at Epsom and St Helier hospitals in Surrey are balloting to strike over pay. The workers, outsourced to Mitie, demonstrated on 30 June.

Kieron Merrett, regional organiser for general union GMB, spoke to the Socialist. “They are paid close to the minimum wage, whereas others in exactly the same jobs are earning the NHS nationally agreed rates. What we are asking for is equality.”

Paul Couchman

Probation problem

Probation workers organised by Unison will walk out for two hours on 14 July in an ongoing dispute over pay. The stoppage from 8 to 10am comes after previous action planned for 11 June was suspended to allow talks.

National Gallery

Workers at London’s National Gallery have now taken 45 days of strike action. Members of public service union PCS are fighting guest services being sold to a private company.