News

The University and College Union (UCU) is to take more strike action before the end of September unless the employers agree to return to negotiations.

Ticket office fight continues

Protests have been taking place across Britain against plans to shut our railway ticket offices. The action is part of the RMT union’s continuing campaign “Save Ticket Offices”.

Wales: Spending to be slashed

Spending on public services in Wales will be cut to deal with a £900 million gap in its £20 billion budget.

Mixed progress for doctors

Junior doctors in Scotland have voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay offer. In a ballot nearly 82 per cent voted for the deal on a 71 per cent turn-out.

Sewage swamps triathlon

After a recent triathlon in Sunderland, 88 people have now reported suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting. The swimming leg of the event took place in the sea off Roker beach.

Plastics: Polluters exposed

Surfers Against Sewage, a citizen science initiative, has named Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Pepsico as Britain’s biggest plastic polluters.

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