Lecturers join 24 April strike

Further education college lecturers in the UCU voted 65.5% in favour of strike action over pay. They have submitted a claim for 6% or Ł1,500, whichever is the greater.

Four years ago the FE employers agreed to move lecturers to the same length pay scales as school teachers but 47% of colleges still haven't done this.

Low pay and an increasing workload have pushed UCU members to join with PCS and NUT in striking on 24 April. There will be joint events in many areas.

Shelter staff vote to strike again

In an impressive 56% turnout, Shelter workers have voted by 2:1 to reject management's latest offer. 64% voted to reject and 35% voted to accept. This means the workers are planning further strike action, which they hope to start with a strike on 24 and 25 April.

The Shelter workers are fighting management proposals for pay and job cuts and they need messages of support and donations to their strike fund. Please send messages to: shelterstewards@googlemail.com and donations, payable to Shelter Strike Fund to: Shelter Stewards, c/o 48 Swindon Close, Gorton, Manchester M18 8JQ.

Belfast Airport workers win concessions

After a five-day hunger strike outside the Belfast offices of Unite, three sacked airport shop stewards have received a letter from the union solicitors agreeing to meet their demands.

Unite had reneged on commitments given last September to pay the legal costs of their Industrial Tribunal case against their former employer ICTS and to pay compensation for the union's role in co-operating with ICTS to have them sacked.

After calling off the hunger strike on 11 April, Gordon McNeill said: "We have made a stand on behalf of all low-paid workers by showing that we were not prepared to be pushed around either by our employer or our union.

"I would like to pay tribute to those people in Ireland, Britain and across the world who inundated Unite union with protests on our behalf."

For more information see: www.socialistpartyni.net

Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.

In The Socialist 16 April 2008:

'We're striking against low pay'