Workplace news in brief

NSSN conference

National Shop Stewards Network

6th annual conference:

Speakers include Bob Crow, RMT general secretary

Saturday 9 June 11am - 4pm

Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ

For more information see:

www.shopstewards.net

Contact the NSSN at:

[email protected] or PO Box 54498, London, E10 9DE

Tanker strike

Following eight days of strike action with another week long strike called, Jet tanker drivers at Immingham, Stockton and Kingsbury, have forced their employer, haulage firm Wincanton, and their client, ConocoPhillips, to commit to talks about securing a long-term future for the workforce.

Nick Dennis, chair of the Unite National Negotiating Committee for 3,000 unionised tanker drivers, told the Socialist that: "Our strike has been 100% solid with other tanker drivers not crossing our picket lines. We've shown the bosses that we are going to fight their cost-down agenda. If we have to come out on strike again, we won't be on our own, it'll be industry-wide, and that really will hit the forecourts with fuel shortages within days."

UCU elections

The election of key officers in UCU is taking place against the background of the battle to defend pensions. The UCU Left is standing candidates, most prominently Mark Campbell for general secretary and Angie McConnell for vice president, who will have the support of Socialist Party members in UCU. We have criticisms of the UCU Left, for example over its internal democracy and recent votes to 'name a date' for further strike action independently of other trade unions. We do not accept the arguments of the (mainly Labour-supporting) 'UCU Independent Broad Left' for backing the current general secretary Sally Hunt.

Our ultimate goal in UCU is to replicate the successes of PCS Left Unity, which unites the serious forces on the left to provide an effective, fighting union leadership.

Socialist Party members in UCU

No pay cuts!

Bin workers across Stoke-on-Trent are incensed at the Labour run city council's plans to slash their wages. The GMB members are planning to vote on strike action to defend their pay and already diminishing living standards. The council want to tear up their contracts and force workers to 'drop pay bands' which means they will lose up Ł90 a week! A strike could begin before the end of the month to coincide with the council's budget-setting meeting on 23 February.

Andy Bentley and Alan Holdway

Unilever pensions

After two successful waves of strike action to defend their pensions, Unilever workers are waiting to hear the results of negotiations with the company. Unilever had previously refused to negotiate over their intention to ditch the final salary pension scheme but the strikes forced them to accept an invitation from Acas to talks with the unions.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.