Tagged with November 30

Twenty-six unions preparing to strike

Twenty-fivesix unions are now preparing to strike on November 30, RMT being the latest union to announce a ballot result. Full details of their balloting reslts are set out below.Only the Prisoners Officers Association who are balloting secure psychiatric workers employed in the health service, has not yet announced its ballot result – due on Monday though the result is not in doubt. And prison officers may take action too though it is illegal for them to do so, their union leader said on Thursday — a move that could paralyse jails that are crammed to bursting. In a spearate development, a survey has found that trade unions are the most trusted body when it comes to providing accurate information on the affordability of public sector pensions. Continue reading →

Why Labour people should back “the Great Strike”

The Great Strike is less than two weeks away. From headteachers to lollipop ladies, care assistants to university lecturers, hundreds of thousands of workers are set to take part in the biggest co-ordinated industrial action since the 1926 General Strike.

The Labour leadership is highly unlikely to back the strike: the best that can be hoped for is an “understanding” of why so many workers feel the need to lose a day’s pay, and for Ed Miliband to refrain from condemning the strike action. But there are elements in senior circles who – quite frankly – are hostile to unions full stop. At worst, figures at the top could join the chorus of condemnation. Continue reading →