Tag: strike

Posties set for strike action

In a statement issued yesterday, Royal Mail said: ‘The CWU has informed Royal Mail that they will call upon their members to undertake strike action on the following dates: 26 and 31 August and 8 and 9 September 2022.

‘Royal Mail believes there are no grounds for industrial action. Royal Mail is ready to talk further with the CWU to try to avert damaging industrial action but it must be about both change and pay.

‘We have contingency plans in place, and will be working hard to minimise disruption and get our services back to normal as soon as we can to keep people, businesses and the country connected. Meanwhile you can continue to send your parcels and letters and we would encourage you to post early in advance of these dates.’

CWU Scotland no2 Branch Secretary Gary Clark said: “I have said a lot about our dispute with Royal Mail and the reasons for strike action but it really comes down to greedy management and shareholders who want to drive our membership into the ground.

“Some of our members are already using food banks but it’s even further that the physical nature of the job now it will mean many members will suffer in the years to come and in retirement too.

“We must fight like we have never fought before for now but also for the future

“This will be a constant battle and we must now also fight for renationalisation and take the greed of capitalism out of our business – only then can we go forward and property look after the long term future of all our members.”

Global Youth Climate Strike for the first time since COP26

FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE SCOTLAND – PEOPLE NOT PROFIT

This Friday (25/3/22), for the first time since COP26, young people will take to Scotland’s streets by striking from their schools, colleges and universities.

In November, over 35,000 young people marched in Glasgow to demand climate justice, setting the tone for the next day when 100,000 people from all over the world would do the same. This global climate strike will keep the pressure up on politicians to take action, instead of making empty promises.

This global strike will see more than 700 protests globally, with 8 strikes taking place in Scotland alone.

COP26 failed us – not that we ever expected it to deliver.

Across the globe, the planet burns while wealth and power grows yet more concentrated in the hands of the few. Decision makers sit back, choosing to not to protect people and planet but to exacerbate the climate crisis.

Young people all around the world are standing against this dereliction of duty.

On March 25th, we will demand our government’s put People Before Profit.

Cerys Gough, 18, from Langholm, said: ”The science is clear. We’ve already seen irreversible damage caused by the climate crisis, and the recent IPCC Report declared a Code Red situation.

“We cannot afford to delay anymore, which is why we’re taking to the streets again”.

Cora Gibson, 15, from Edinburgh, said: “We don’t need to wait for the next COP to act on the climate crisis.

“Governments could be investing in renewable energy, phasing out fossil fuels, improving public transport, making our houses less reliant on fossil fuels, and so much more.”

Saoi O’Connor, 19, from Glasgow, said: “The UK Government has subsidised over £13.6 billion into fossil fuel companies since the Paris Agreement was signed. In 2021, just 24 oil companies made £131.3 billion in profit.

“Meanwhile, people on the lowest incomes are being forced into fuel poverty, being forced into choosing between heating their homes or feeding their families. That is a complete failure, we must prioritise people over profit.”

Climate Strike Locations:

Edinburgh – 11am, Scottish Parliament to Edinburgh City Chambers
Glasgow – 12pm, George Square
Dumfries – 11am, Council Headquarters
Falkirk – 11am, Highstreet Bandstand
Inverness – 11am, Falcon Square
Stirling – 2pm, Town Centre, Port Street
Ullapool – 8:30am, Clocktower

Show of Defiance: British Gas strike ‘rock solid’ as members prepare to burn their contracts

British Gas workers are burning the new contracts to show graphically their defiance of the imposition of hourly pay 15% below the agreed rate, says GMB Union.

Day six of the British Gas strike was ‘rock solid’ as an estimated 7,000 workers downed tools over the company’s plan to sack them all 

Meanwhile angry engineers across the country are set to burn new contracts – which they have been told they must sign, or be fired in March: 

In a show of defiance, engineers across the UK will burn new contracts tomorrow (Friday 22 January) at 10am: 

London: Havering Town Hall, Main Road, RM1 3BB 

Edinburgh: Scottish Gas call centre, 1 Waterfront Avenue, Edinburgh EH5 1SG 

Cardiff: British Gas Customer Call Office, 4 Callaghan Square, Tresillian Way, Cardiff, CF10 5BT 

Windsor: Centrica HQ, Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, SL4 5GD 

Leeds: British Gas Call Centre, New Bridge House, Leeds, LS11 5BD 

Uddingston: Scottish Gas, Murdock House, 29 Bothwell Road, Uddingston G71 7TW 

Leicester: 195 Aylestone Road, Leicester, LE2 7QJa 

Stockport: British Gas Office, New Bridge Lane, Stockport, SK1 2HQ 

Members across the country – picketing at their vans due to the pandemic – will also be filming and photographing their contracts being burned at the same time.  

Engineers and other workers will also down tools on January 22, 25, 29, 30, 31 and February 1 in anger as profitable British Gas provokes further disruption for its customers.  

British Gas engineers and staff voted overwhelmingly by 89% to strike after boss of parent company Centrica Chris O’Shea threatened to fire them all if they didn’t “accept” cuts to pay and terms and conditions.  

The strikes provoked by the company have caused massive disruption already – with an estimated 100,000 homes waiting for service across the country.  

British Gas parent company Centrica reported an operating profit (before exceptional items and tax) of £901 million in 2019.  

The operating profitability of its UK home heating business rose by 27 per cent in the first six months of 2020.

Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said:  “GMB members at British Gas are burning the new contracts to show graphically their defiance of the imposition of hourly pay 15% below the agreed rate – as well as other changes. 

“This is yet another attempt get through to Mr O’Shea that staff accepting cuts of this magnitude in a profitable company is wishful thinking in the extreme. 

“British Gas has provoked disruption to more than 100,000 households already in the backlog for services. That number will grow due to the seven new strike dates. 

“The company needs to put customers and staff first by abandoning wishful thinking and taking ‘fire and rehire’ off the table. 

Scottish prison custody officers launch strike ballot

An industrial action ballot of Prisoner Custody Officers (PCOs) in GeoAmey gets underway today (Monday 13 January) over a pay imposition which will result in staff receiving less than £10 an hour for the next two years.  Continue reading Scottish prison custody officers launch strike ballot

Transport chaos looms as Lothian Buses set for strike action

Lothian Buses staff have voted to take strike action. Unite, their trade union, had recommended acceptance of the deal but unless a last ditch agreement can be found strike act will begin at 03:00am on Friday morning – the first day of the Edinburgh Fringe. Continue reading Transport chaos looms as Lothian Buses set for strike action

On the buses: no laughing matter as Festival disruption looms

Unite Scotland is to hold a strike ballot at Lothian Buses. If the ballot is successful, action is likely to take place in August during the Edinburgh Fal Festival – traditionally the capital’s busiest month. In a previous ballot in April, 94% of Unite members supported industrial action. The latest ballot opens on Thursday. Continue reading On the buses: no laughing matter as Festival disruption looms