Workplace news in brief


Teachers walkout

Teachers in West Dunbartonshire are to strike again on 30 and 31 March and 26 and 27 April after rejecting the employers’ offer which did not deal with the core issue of the introduction of faculties into West Dunbartonshire schools. In January and February, all five main secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire were closed for a day after EIS (Scottish teachers’ union) members went on their first strike since the 1980s. The row centres on moves to cut the number of principal teachers of individual subjects. The union said its members had voted two-to-one against the revised proposal from the council on a turnout of 88%.


Lambeth library strike

Lambeth library workers have taken strike action on the 22 and 23 March to oppose the closure of four libraries. The campaign has already saved the Tate South Lambeth library. The libraries are either being privitised, sold or turned into gyms. At the time of writing there are also plans for an occupation to defend the libraries.


Guardian jobs to go

Hot on the heels of closure of the print edition of the Independent and the Independent on Sunday, it’s been announced that the Guardian is to cut 250 jobs, including 100 editorial roles. In total, 100 jobs are earmarked to be cut from the 725 editorial workforce at the Guardian and Observer and 150 from other departments. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “This is a major blow for the staff of the Guardian and Observer and for journalism as a whole. We will oppose any compulsory redundancies.”