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Welcome to Union News your guide to what is happening in the UK labour and trade union movement in the UK. Writing is by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.
Shocking Survey: Majority of Women in Defence Sector Face Sexual Harassment at Work
A damning survey conducted by the Prospect union reveals that a majority of women in the UK’s defence sector, including those at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), have experienced sexual harassment at work. The survey exposes alarming statistics, with 61% of women at the MoD, 60% at related agencies or arms bodies, and 47% in the private sector reporting incidents of sexual harassment. Prospect members have shared distressing experiences, including rape, sexual assault, and unsolicited explicit content, with few repercussions for the offenders. The findings underscore the urgent need for a cultural shift and concrete actions to address sexual harassment within the defence sector.
Amazon Faces Growing Strike: Over 1,000 Workers to Walk Out in Coventry
The GMB union announces another wave of strike action against Amazon, with over 1,000 workers expected to walk out at the Coventry site over three days next week. The ongoing dispute, now entering its second year, revolves around workers’ demands for £15 hourly wages and union rights. This marks more than 30 days of industrial action by Amazon workers in Britain, demonstrating the increasing strength of the campaign. GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing emphasizes that the time has come for Amazon to listen to its members and meet their demands for fair wages.
RMT Takes Action Against Network Rail’s £1.2 Billion Cuts Plan
RMT members stage a day of action to protest against Network Rail’s plans to slash £1.2 billion from maintenance, infrastructure, and renewals work over the next five years. Activists distribute leaflets at over 20 stations nationwide, warning of heightened safety risks if these proposed cuts are implemented. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch asserts that the planned cuts jeopardize safety for rail workers and passengers, emphasizing the need for increased investment rather than reductions. The action is part of the Rail Cuts Cost Lives campaign, challenging the government’s decision to cut funds for rail renewals in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Co-op Shopworker Assaults Surge: Calls for Legislation to Protect Staff
Co-op Food warns of a 33% increase in assaults on shopworkers in a year, with more than 1,300 incidents reported. The food retailer urges Tory ministers to abandon their “long-held opposition” to legislation protecting staff in the sector. The report, compiled by criminologist Professor Emmeline Taylor, details a 10-point plan to address the alarming rise in offences. Co-op Food Managing Director Matt Hood calls for MPs to pass an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, providing shopworkers the protection they deserve. The union, Usdaw, echoes the call for stronger legislation, which already exists in Scotland.
Firefighters Face Draconian Legislation
The Crime, Policing and Fire Minister, Chris Philp, announces statutory scabbing levels of 73% for firefighters during strikes. The government insists that this measure is necessary to maintain critical services and save lives during industrial action. Fire Brigades Union (FBU) General Secretary Matt Wrack condemns the move as an “outrageous and authoritarian plan” to ban strikes in the Fire and Rescue Service. The FBU vows to resist this legislation, and TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak reaffirms the commitment of the wider trade union movement to fight against these undemocratic and draconian laws.
and finally, Government Rebuffs Offer: Junior Doctors Declare Tenth Strike with Full Walkout
In a dramatic turn of events, junior doctors in England have announced the tenth round of strike action, marking a full walkout from 7 am on Saturday, February 24, to 11.59 pm on Wednesday, February 28. Despite ongoing talks showing signs of progress, the government failed to meet the crucial deadline of February 8 to present a credible offer.
In a bid to facilitate further negotiations, junior doctors extended an offer to the Health Secretary to cancel the impending strike if she agreed to extend the mandate for strike action by four weeks. Regrettably, this offer was declined, leaving junior doctors with no alternative but to declare this as the final strike under their existing mandate.
Effective from 6.59 am on Saturday, February 24, junior doctors are instructed not to attend any shifts, persisting with the strike for shifts starting and ending on Wednesday, February 28. It is important to note that shifts commencing on Wednesday, February 28, and concluding on Thursday, February 29, should be completed in full, including the start of the shift on Wednesday.
The resolute stance taken by junior doctors underscores their commitment to addressing key concerns and securing favorable terms in ongoing negotiations with the government. As the healthcare sector braces for the impact of this comprehensive strike, the ball remains in the government’s court to revisit negotiations and respond to the needs and demands of the dedicated junior medical professionals.
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Picture credit
Co-operative store
By Kolforn (Kolforn), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82346850