Workplace news: In brief

Argos strike dates

Argos distribution workers will be on strike for 24 hours on 17 and 24 July over pay (see last week's Socialist). This will be followed by a four-day stoppage, which will be staggered across depots in Basildon, Bridgewater, Heywood (Manchester) and Magna Park (Leicestershire) (see www.tgwu.org.uk for details).

Further education pay

The University and College union is to consult its membership in further education in England over pay. Pushed by strike action earlier this year, the employers have offered 3.2% from 1 October, which is an improvement on previous offers.

The union is calling a special conference on 20 September to decide whether to accept the offer or organise further strikes. Unison is balloting its membership and the result will be known on 8 September.

Unite day of action

Unite has organised lunchtime protests over pay in the NHS on 18 July. This is after a ballot rejected the three-year deal which amounts to a pay cut. Protests will be held outside many hospitals and other NHS workplaces. See www.amicustheunion.org for more details.

Unison has already accepted the offer and its leaders are apparently insisting that Unison members do not join the protests.

Fighting tax: office closures

Two Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members are to travel over 1,000 miles across Scotland in five days, sleeping in a tent in a bid to help save 19 tax offices threatened with closure.

From 14-18 July, this part of the Scottish HMRC Offices Under Threat (SHOUT) campaign will tour all 19 offices planned for closure in a HMRC announcement last month.

They will be collecting petitions in each of the threatened offices signed by union members, local staff and the public.

HMRC staff numbers have already fallen by 15,000 across the UK since March 2004 with over 200 offices closed or earmarked for closure. In Scotland, 670 more jobs stand to go.

Usdaw election

Socialist Party member Robbie Segal is standing as a candidate for Usdaw general secretary. Ballot papers will be distributed from 8 August.

At the National Shop Stewards' Network conference on 28 June Robbie launched a conference for all those who oppose the Usdaw leadership's social partnership strategy and the direction in which they are taking the union.

The conference will be held in London on Saturday 20 September. If you would like further details, email Robbie at Robbie@robbiesegal.com

For up to date news and views on the election visit www.robbiesegal.org and www.robbiesegal.blogspot.com. There is an interview on her website where she expands on her programme.

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In The Socialist 16 July 2008:

Global finance crisis deepens