Trade union issues

Issues for workers and our trade unions - opposing victimisation, fighting for better pay and conditions, health & safety, rank-and-file organising, and more.

Glasgow FE college strikes

City of Glasgow College staff who are members of EIS-FELA (the Further Education section of the Scottish teachers union, EIS) have started off the new academic year with a further wave of strikes. The college management is wanting to cut contact-time with students, increase the number of classes timetabled for lecturers, terminate fixed-term contracts of temporary staff, and impose compulsory redundancies. The college halted the process of selection for redundancy over the summer, but has now recommenced it, timetabling meetings for redundancy "consultations" with the members of staff selected...

A thirty-question pop quiz

When we’re allowed to complete this is unclear, plus no news of the consequences if we don’t “pass”. Coupled with the new directive on “mandatory” body cameras, staff are reacting poorly to being treated like children. Management has benefited plenty from staff goodwill in recent weeks, with delays and infrastructure issues hampering our jobs. Now when they expect us to work extra hours or move stations, they can’t be surprised if staff refuse. Staff struggle with early and late shifts as it is, given the company’s refusal to provide staff transport. There are no parking spaces and engineering...

Mobilise to reject sub-par offers, and fight for escalation!

After the votes (announced 20 March) to accept poor offers on Network Rail and by RCN in Scotland, there is still potential to remobilise and turn the tide. But workers need independent rank-and-file organisation to develop alternative strategies in disputes. RCN (Royal College of Nursing) in Scotland has announced that among its members in Scotland. 53.3% voted to accept the offer, 46.6% voted to reject, on a turnout of just over 50%. The offer is a 6.5% rise in 2023-4 (or for some, fractionally more) for all staff up to and inclusive of Band 8a, plus a one-off pro rata payment of between...

#MeTU: Tackling abuse in our unions

An Inquiry has found a culture of sexism, harassment and bullying in the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA). Helena Kennedy KC reported: “It gave me no pleasure to uncover a series of appalling incidents, alongside leadership and management failings in the TSSA. These incidents included inappropriate and sexual touching, sexual assault, coercive and manipulative behaviour, violent and disrespectful language, humiliation and denigration of members of staff, reps and members of the Executive Committee.” She recommends that none of the current senior staff she calls the “internal...

Anti-strike law fight must start now

Newly “elected” TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak (he was the sole candidate in an election in which the electorate consists only of members of the TUC General Council) has responded to the threat of harsh new anti-strike laws by saying that the TUC will “challenge them legally”, and make the Tories “pay a high political price”. The exact nature of the price, and how payment will be exacted, is not specified. Nowak has also said he doesn’t want to “go back to the 1980s”, implying he opposes the full repeal of all the anti-strike and anti-union laws, despite TUC congress having repeatedly voted...

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