Workplace news in brief

TransPennine guard strike

Transport union RMT plans to extend strikes against an unfair firing. All conductors on the northern England to Scotland TransPennine Express railway will be balloted. The dispute centres on a conductor sacked for breaching procedures - in order to save a child's life (full story: last issue and socialistparty.org.uk).

Alistair Tice

Gallery rep interim success

A London gallery union rep dismissed on the eve of strikes against privatisation has won full pay until her tribunal. A judge decided the National Gallery's Candy Udwin, of public sector union PCS, would be likely to win an employment tribunal. A new ten-day strike begins on 20 June.

Victimised journalist reinstated

A victimised National Union of Journalists (NUJ) rep in Yorkshire is back in post. Phil Turner had been singled out for compulsory redundancy. Bosses backed down after union members at the Rotherham Advertiser threatened to strike.

Sarah Marshall

Tata 'steels' pensions

Steel unions Community, Ucatt, Unite and GMB are in dispute with Tata Steel over pension cuts. As we go to press, both sides are in talks with arbitrators Acas ahead of a planned strike on 22 June. Action short of strike - overtime ban and work to rule - started on 16 June.

Hotel council protest

300 council workers and service users marched against privatisation in Bromley, south London, on 13 June. The Tory council plans to buy a Holiday Inn on the Isle of Wight - at the same time as cutting in-house staff from 4,000 to 300.

Beth Sutcliffe

News strike postponed

Journalists for Newsquest in south London have had to delay the start of a strike. NUJ members had planned to walk out against job cuts, poor staffing and low pay.

Cleaners demand justice

Cleaners at HM Revenue and Customs protested against low wages and workload increases on 15 June. Operator ISS is registered as a Living Wage employer, but does not pay the Living Wage.

Adult learning cut

Teachers and students lobbied Parliament on 16 June to protest against cuts that could end opportunities for up to 400,000 learners. The action was organised by the University and College Union.

Distribution centre closure

Communication Workers Union members protested against a West Midlands workplace closure on 12 June. Electronics firm Dixons Carphone plans to shut its Wednessbury distribution centre, likely causing job losses.

Catering union drive

Catering workers were approached by activists from bakers' union BFAWU and campaign group Youth Fight for Jobs in Wakefield on 13 June. The Fast Food Rights campaign wants to unionise low-paid workers in the Yorkshire town.

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