Brewing pay fight
15 July 2022
Workers at Budweiser’s Samlesbury brewery are in a continuing dispute over pay. They are strking again in response to an offer well below inflation.
News
News
Barristers walk out over legal aid pay
29 June 2022
Hundreds of criminal barristers began a series of strikes on 27 June over unacceptable pay rates for legal aid cases. The action has already led to eight out of ten crown court hearings being postponed.
Trade Unions - Membership drops
Bad news on trade union membership: the proportion of the workforce belonging to a union is at its lowest level since the current method of calculation began in 1995.
Avoidable air delays hit hard [print version]
Airline travellers have suffered several months of cancellations and long delays at airports. On one day in late May, 377 flights were cancelled affecting 56,000 people.
Nurse 'poaching' continues [print version]
Britain continues to recruit nurses and other health staff from “red listed” countries, who have their own shortages...
Shameful overseas nurse recruitment continues
16 June 2022
Britain continues to recruit nurses and other health staff from countries also short of health staff.
SNP tries to block gene editing progress
The Scottish government intends to block the deployment of gene-edited crops even if the proposed new legislation on gene editing applies to the whole of the UK.
Financial Conduct Authority fight continues
Workers at the Financial Conduct Authority have stepped up their fight for better pay and conditions, and union recognition, with a two-day strike.
Airport delays – the real reasons
14 June 2022
Airline travellers have suffered several months of cancellations and long delays at airports, which look set to continue. This is a crisis of the industry's making.
Strikes erupt on the railways as inflation rockets
12 June 2022
RMT has announced strikes in Network Rail and most of the passenger train companies which will effectively close the national rail network for a week in June.
Tube disputes escalate
9 June 2022
The tube in London was shut down on 6 June by ongoing disputes with tube workers. Station and revenue control staff were on strike against job cuts and attacks on their pensions.
Cuba battles against US social media subversion
27 May 2022
Elizabeth Ribalta Rubiero of The Cuban Friendship Institute is visiting Britain to give an update about the situation in Cuba as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, with the 60-year US blockade still in place.
Massive vote for action on railways
25 May 2022
RMT members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action on pay, jobs and safety.
The Elizabeth Line: a British working class achievement [updated]
23 May 2022
The opening of the Elizabeth Line this week is a great achievement, to be celebrated despite delays.
FE lecturers in NW England fight for better pay [updated]
19 May 2022
UCU is campaigning for an 8.5 per cent pay increase for their FE members. With strike action taking place in NW England, they are beginning to have some success.
Fish take away
18 May 2022
Fish and chips, once an affordable take-away meal, is becoming more and more expensive, underlining what’s wrong with Britain’s food policy.
Maternity wards close in Wales
17 May 2022
Expectant mothers in South Wales face uncertainty about midwifery services. Fine words from the health board aren't going to help.
Energy – capitalist failures
16 May 2022
Deregulation of energy supply is a costly failure for British consumers. But some of those responsible for the failed businesses just walk away and start up new ones.
Private school pension action wins
16 May 2022
Teachers in independent schools have taken successful industrial action in thier fight to stay in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Employers argued they could no longer afford increased contributions.
Strike wave sweeps NW England colleges
16 May 2022
Lecturers at eight further education colleges in Lancashire and Cumbria are set to take action over pay as employers try for below-inflation settlements.
British military aid floods into Ukraine
3 May 2022
Arms continue to pour into Ukraine and bordering countries – and Britain is one of the biggest suppliers, though the government is evasive when challenged for details.
Strike ballot at Richmond college
2 May 2022
Lecturers at Richmond upon Thames College are balloting over strike action over the employer’s plan to fire them all and offer re-engagment on worse terms.
Energy for the future – maybe [print version]
Prime minster Boris Johnson announced the government’s new energy security strategy on 7 April. It drew immediate fire from self-professed “green” lobbyists...
Legal aid - Barristers vote for action [print version]
Barristers began industrial action on 11 April over criminal legal aid fees.
Ferry workers rally to fight [print version]
The RMT and Nautilus International, the trade unions representing workers sacked by P&O Ferries, continue to fight the sackings.
Civil service pay blow [print version]
Civil servants have strongly criticised the government, their employer, for setting a low cap on pay rises.
Migration: record inflow
More people are coming into Britain legally on work-related visas than before the Brexit agreements came into force.
Strikes and work to rule at Financial Conduct Authority
The ongoing pay dispute at City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has entered a new stage, with action set to start in May.
Civil Service pay - little cheer
23 April 2022
Civil servants have strongly criticised the government for capping pay rises when the cost of living is rocketing. Trade unions are tacking stock on their response.