Workplace news in brief


FT dispute

Journalists at the Financial Times will be taking 24-hour strike action on 4 February over the £4 million pensions robbery proposed by new owner, Nikkei. Please send messages of support to [email protected] and join the picket line at Southwark bridge from 8am. The NUJ members voted by 92% in favour of strike action.

V&A campaign

A PCS campaign against privatisation at the Victoria and Albert Museum is growing fast with 40,000 people having signed a petition in just four days. PCS reps from the V&A were joined by trade unionists from the southern and eastern regional TUC and other culture branches at the leafletting of a late night opening on 29 January. They were protesting over the decision that from January all new staff, from gallery assistants to curators, will be employed by V&A Enterprises Ltd, the museum’s commercial arm, on new contracts that are detrimental to those of their colleagues who are employed directly by the museum. Sign the petition here: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no-backdoor-privatisation-at-v-a-museum

#SaveourSteel meeting

The National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) is hosting a public solidarity meeting in Port Talbot on Wednesday 10 February to build support for the steelworkers facing job losses (see issue 886 of the Socialist). It is at 7.30pm in the lounge at the Grand Hotel, Station Road, Port Talbot, SA13 1DE (opposite the train station) and is open to everyone. Speakers include Rob Williams, NSSN national chair and former Swansea Visteon (Ford) union convenor. See www.facebook.com/NationaliseTATA and shopstewards.net for more information and updates.