December 2023

Secretary’s Report + Wolverhampton Strike News

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Protect the Right to Strike: National TUC march and rally

Saturday, January 27, 12noon Montpellier Gdns, Cheltenham

decision to book a coach to be taken at our 21st Dec meeting

Find out more here

The Tories’ Minimum Service Levels legislation will mean that when workers lawfully vote to strike, they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply.

new briefing on the Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Act written by Professor Keith Ewing and Lord John Hendy KC, President and Chair of the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) download it here.

UNITE AcelorMittal (Unite WM6150) steelworkers @Strawberry Lane WV13 3SE took 34 days strike action between Sept and Dec. A new dispute has been lodged, which maintains 12-week protection strikes to be announced in new year, however new pay talks have been forced before Xmas.

UPDATE: Following the pay talks the UNITE members voted to accept the newly negotiated deal which gives them pay rises for 2023 and also from 1 Jan 2024 and a substantial basic pay rate increase through consolidating some bonuses.

Also, Altrad Tipton Site – Unite Industrial Action (40 strike days) Sept-Dec Babcock site at Birmingham New Road, Tipton DY4 8JP Need to lodge new dispute to maintain 12-week protection before more strikes can take place in new year.

Sat 13 Jan is date of next planned national Palestine Ceasefire demo – see website/FBook for local transport info

The Labour Party & venue owners have cancelled their annual Xmas event due to have featured David Lammy, due to a large planned Ceasefire protest by Wolverhampton PSC.