Plastics: Polluters exposed
Surfers Against Sewage, a citizen science initiative, has named Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Pepsico as Britain’s biggest plastic polluters.
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Students: Universities look abroad
The Russell Group of universities is now offering more places on courses to international students than to British students – and bringing in more income as a result.
University strikes resume
24 August 2023
University academic staff will resume strike action in their pay and conditions disputes before the end of September unless employers agree to return to negotiations.
Teachers’ resounding victory
21 August 2023
The conclusion of the current teachers’ pay dispute has seen a resounding victory for schools in England and the unions involved, and has secured their biggest single pay rise in 30 years.
Bristol rail success
21 August 2023
Sustained campaigning has revived a Bristol rail line. The first of several new stations opened in July.
Packaging workers fight for pay and conditions
21 August 2023
Doncaster packaging workers began a 4-week strike on 14 August. They have rejected the employer's 8 per cent offer, tied to longer hours and worse conditions.
Stubborn inflation
21 August 2023
The rise in the consumer prices index in the year to July was a little lower than June – but prices are still rising faster than they have done for years.
Campaign to keep ticket offices open
20 July 2023
Train operating companies are running a short consultation on plans to close railway ticket offices. Rail workers are campaigning in opposition.
Resistance to rail ticket office closures
11 July 2023
Nearly all railway ticket offices in England are planned to close. Rail workers face redundancy and passengers will lose that service. A campaign to oppose the closures is starting.
Making people vote in Wales
11 July 2023
Turnout for Senedd Cymru elections is low. Welsh politicians are seeking compulsory voting instead of asking themselves why voters don't bother.
Rolls-Royce claim stalled [print version]
Workers at aerospace and defence company Rolls-Royce plc recently rejected the company’s pay offer in response to the workers’ cost of living claim made on 2 February this year.
Manchester - New offer for tram drivers [print version]
Tram drivers at Manchester Metrolink have won an improved pay offer from the company following planned strike action.
GSK pay dispute escalates [print version]
Workers at pharmaceutical giant GSK are to escalate their strike action in a dispute over pay.
Doctors in dispute [print version]
Junior hospital doctors in England were on strike for 72 hours from 14 to 17 June – their third strike since March in support of their pay campaign.
Capitalism causes inflation, not Brexit
22 June 2023
Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England, blames Britain’s inflation on Brexit. But inflation is, and always has been, a feature of capitalism.
Heathrow security staff win offer
Heathrow security officers have won an improved pay offer from Heathrow Airports Ltd (HAL) after voting by a majority of 85 per cent for strike action.
Doctors in dispute
14 June 2023
Junior doctors in England are on strike again in June in support of their pay campaign, but talks have been unproductive so far. Consultants also take action next month.
Waiting on the NHS across Britain
14 June 2023
In NHS England and across Britain, hospital waiting lists are increasing, with little sign of progress.
GSK pay dispute escalates
11 June 2023
GSK workers are to escalate strike action in their pay dispute. They have turned down a below inflation pay offer; the company admits it can afford to pay more.
Offshore pay gains
Offshore oil and gas workers at Bilfinger UK have accepted a “vastly improved” wage offer, ending their pay dispute.
Rolls-Royce pay and hours claim stalled
9 June 2023
Workers at Rolls-Royce plc have rejected the company’s pay offer. They are considering their next step in the face of obstructive tactics by the company.
Manchester tram drivers gain improved pay offer
8 June 2023
Manchester tram drivers are balloting on an improved pay offer. Their threatened strike action is on hold.
Rail pay struggle continues
7 June 2023
RMT members working on trains and in stations across the country held another strike on Friday 2 June, the latest in their long-running pay dispute.
The mirage of universal basic income
7 June 2023
The idea of a universal basic income does not stand up to close examination and offers nothing for workers. The latest proposals are no different.
Nurse shortages – retain, don’t plunder
6 June 2023
Importing nurses from other countries is no answer to NHS staff shortages. Retaining nurses already working would be a step in the right direction.
Strike to hit Europe’s largest Coca Cola bottler
6 June 2023
Unite members at the Coca Cola Europacific Partners plant in Wakefield, Europe’s largest, will strike for fourteen days this month after 87 per cent of those voting in a ballot rejected the employer’s offer of a 6 per cent rise.
Rail disputes rumble on
1 May 2023
Two key pay disputes in the rail industry are no nearer settlement. Both Aslef and RMT unions have announced strikes In the face of employer and government intransigence.
Unison calls time on pay body
A historic decision was taken at the Unison Health Care Service Group Conference in Bournemouth on 18 April when members unanimously backed a motion to “call time” on the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) system.
University pay fight resumes
On 17 April University and College Union declared that university members have won a “historic victory” in achieving restoration of their pension.
ULEZ scheme challenged
The High Court has granted a judicial review of the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone...