Solidarity is proud to stand with the Birmingham refuse workers, who are taking all-out strike action against disgraceful pay cuts and job threats. These are not minor changes — some of these key workers stand to lose as much as £8,000 a year. That’s nearly a quarter of their wages. And for what? To balance the books after years of mismanagement, while those at the top carry on unaffected.
Now we’re hearing calls from Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Secretary, for workers to accept what she calls an “improved” offer. Speaking during a photo-op with local volunteers tidying rubbish left by the strike, she said:
“The people of Birmingham are our first priority — this dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks.
There is now a better offer on the table and I would urge Unite to suspend the action and accept the improved deal so we achieve fairness for both workers and residents of this city.”
But where is the fairness in asking workers to take a 25% hit to their pay? What’s “improved” about a deal that still leaves people struggling to pay their bills?
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, rightly challenged the hypocrisy:
“Whilst it is helpful that the government finally realised after weeks that they have a role in this dispute, the constant attacks and briefings against these low-paid bin workers is frankly a disgrace.
This dispute is not about greed, or increased pay. This dispute is about workers losing up to £8,000 of their pay — which for some is almost a quarter.
A notable point was made by one of our members, which Unite believes sums up where we are with this council and could be with others: ‘The council are saying that we should share the pain but not one councillor, including the leader, has been asked to give up a quarter of their pay.
We thought when Labour came in they would stop what was happening — we were wrong’.”
Instead of sitting down with the union and finding a just solution, the council and its allies have chosen confrontation. Strike-breakers have been brought in — untrained, non-union, and without the safety knowledge required for such work. This is a deeply irresponsible move that puts both the public and the scabs themselves at risk.
To make matters worse, the police have been deployed to monitor and intimidate lawful pickets. Why is public money being spent sending officers to watch workers standing up for their rights, rather than dealing with real threats to public safety? It’s a transparent attempt to suppress solidarity and send a message: “don’t step out of line.”
This isn’t just a Birmingham issue. It’s about the wider principle: do we allow public sector workers to be treated as disposable? Or do we fight back?
Bin workers were there during the pandemic. They worked through lockdown, often with little protection, to keep our communities clean. They didn’t ask for praise — they asked for fair pay. And this is how they’re repaid?
Solidarity condemns the use of strike-breakers and police pressure to undermine legitimate action. We stand firmly with the striking workers. Their fight is our fight — for dignity, fairness and respect at work.
If there’s any “pain to be shared,” it should start at the top. Until councillors take a 25% pay cut themselves, they’ve no business telling others to accept one.
Welcome to Union News your guide to what’s happening in the UK trade union and labour movement. Reports are by Pat Harrington and original music is from Tim Bragg. In this edition: First Bus Accused of Undermining Strikers’ Call for Real Living Wage, Victory for Low-Paid School Workers in John Swinney’s Constituency, Bolt Drivers Win Landmark Case Over Gig Economy Exploitation, G4S Security Workers Demand Equal Pay and Respect, and UN: Israel’s Gaza Attacks Kill Nearly 70% Civilians, Mostly Women and Children.
First Bus Accused of Undermining Strikers’ Call for Real Living Wage
Workers at First South Yorkshire are calling out their employer for hypocrisy after the company claimed to support their fight for the Real Living Wage while secretly undermining their ongoing strike. The workers, employed by contractor Bidvest Noonan at Sheffield’s Olive Grove depot, have been on strike for two months, demanding a pay increase from the current minimum wage of £11.44 per hour to £13.85 – the Real Living Wage. Unite the Union claims that instead of supporting their workers, First Bus has been using its own staff to cover duties during the strike, including moving buses in the depot, directly weakening the impact of the industrial action.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham accused First Bus of making false public statements about supporting the wage increase, while doing everything in its power to break the strike. “The hypocrisy of First West Yorkshire is astounding,” Graham said. “The reality is that First is actively trying to break the strike and keep workers on poverty wages.” The workers’ fight is a crucial one, not only for fair pay but for respect and dignity in the workplace, with the union vowing to continue the action until the Real Living Wage is implemented.
The dispute at First South Yorkshire highlights a wider issue within the transport and service industries, where many workers are struggling to make ends meet despite working full-time. With rising costs of living and increasing pressure on low-paid workers, the call for the Real Living Wage is louder than ever. Unite has pledged to escalate its support for these workers, warning that the strike will continue until First and Bidvest Noonan are forced to come to the negotiating table.
Victory for Low-Paid School Workers in John Swinney’s Constituency
Striking non-teaching staff in Perthshire North have secured a significant victory after pressure from Unison led to a credible new pay offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla). The workers, including cleaners and support staff in local schools, had been on strike for two weeks in a battle for a pay rise, rejecting an initial offer of just 3.6%. Despite resistance from the Scottish government and Cosla’s insistence that there were no more funds available, the workers won a revised offer that includes a £15 per hour minimum wage and a 5.6% raise for the lowest-paid staff.
Unison’s Collette Hunter hailed the agreement as a major success for the workers, saying that their industrial action had forced the Scottish government to come to the table and engage seriously with the issue. “We’ve secured these commitments thanks to the determination of our members and the solidarity they showed on the picket lines,” Hunter said. The new offer is a direct result of sustained pressure on Cosla and the Scottish government, who now face the task of addressing the broader funding crisis in local councils.
However, the battle isn’t over. Cosla is still grappling with a massive budget shortfall, and workers’ unions are calling for more significant action to ensure that the funding crisis doesn’t undermine the gains made by these workers. With a new round of negotiations expected in December, trade unions are urging the Scottish government to allocate more funds to local councils to prevent further cuts to essential services. The struggle for fair wages and proper funding continues.
Bolt Drivers Win Landmark Case Over Gig Economy Exploitation
In a major victory for gig economy workers, Bolt drivers have won a groundbreaking legal case that could see each of the 15,000 affected drivers receive an estimated £15,000 in backdated compensation for underpayment. The ruling, which goes further than the previous Supreme Court case against Uber, determines that Bolt drivers are not self-employed contractors but workers, entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay. Leigh Day, the firm representing the drivers, confirmed that the compensation package could reach up to £200 million across the UK.
This ruling is a significant blow to gig economy giants like Bolt, which have long relied on classifying drivers as independent contractors to avoid providing basic worker rights such as paid sick leave, holiday pay, and minimum wage. GMB’s Eamon O’Hearn celebrated the decision, calling it a major victory for workers in the gig economy, but warned that the battle is far from over. “This ruling confirms what we’ve been saying all along: gig workers deserve the same rights and protections as any other worker,” O’Hearn said.
While Bolt has expressed disappointment and indicated plans to appeal the decision, unions are calling for broader legislative changes to protect gig workers across the UK. App Drivers & Couriers Union General Secretary Zamir Dreni emphasized that the government must act to fix the gaps in current employment laws, which have allowed companies like Bolt and Uber to exploit workers for too long. The fight for fair pay and conditions in the gig economy is gaining momentum, with workers and unions pushing for systemic change to ensure that all workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
G4S Security Workers Demand Equal Pay and Respect
Security workers employed by multinational G4S to serve at government departments in central London are demanding an end to poverty wages and the same pay and conditions as their directly employed civil service counterparts. The workers, who are striking outside Whitehall for the second week, have been offered a paltry 5p pay rise by the company, a proposal which has been roundly rejected by PCS union members. The workers, who are vital to maintaining security at government buildings, argue that G4S is making massive profits while cutting essential benefits for its staff—an injustice they are determined to fight.
“We’re being asked to do the same job as civil servants, but with far less pay and fewer rights. G4S is pocketing huge profits, while we struggle to make ends meet,” one striker explained. “They outsourced our jobs to cut costs, but that’s meant fewer benefits for us. We have no guaranteed sick pay, no maternity or paternity leave, and the little we do get is far less than what our colleagues in the civil service enjoy. Meanwhile, the government continues to fund these private companies through taxpayers’ money, yet refuses to ensure that we’re paid fairly for the crucial work we do.” For these workers, the fight is not just about pay—it’s about ensuring that essential workers are not treated as disposable commodities in a privatised system that profits at their expense.
The mood on the picket line is upbeat and defiant, as strikers bring energy and unity to the streets of Whitehall. “This isn’t just about us getting a better pay deal,” said Mohammed, a striker who is participating in his first strike action. “This is about showing that we deserve the same respect as those who work directly for the government. The company has been treating us like second-class citizens for too long, and we won’t let that continue.” The strikers, a diverse group representing different cultures and backgrounds, have been using music, whistles, and chants to bring attention to their cause, demonstrating their resolve and solidarity. “The more we strike, the more we gain confidence,” Mohammed added. “At first, we didn’t know how to go about it, but now we’ve got our voices heard. Our spirits are unbreakable, and we’re here until we win what we deserve.” The growing strength of their collective action is sending a powerful message: these workers will no longer be ignored.
and finally, UN: Israel’s Gaza Attacks Kill Nearly 70% Civilians, Mostly Women and Children
A new UN report reveals that almost 70 percent of those killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza over the past six months were civilians, with women and children bearing the brunt of the violence. The report, released today by the UN Human Rights Office, details the disproportionate impact on Gaza’s most vulnerable populations, calling Israel’s actions a violation of international law and warning that war crimes may have been committed.
From November 2023 to April 2024, 8,119 Palestinians were killed, with 44 percent of victims being children and 26 percent women. The report highlights that many of the deaths occurred in residential buildings, where around 80 percent of the casualties were trapped in their homes when Israeli bombs struck. The UN has condemned Israel’s use of heavy weaponry in such densely populated areas, pointing to a blatant disregard for civilian life.
“The killing and injury of civilians on this scale is a direct consequence of Israel’s failure to comply with international humanitarian law,” said Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “There must be accountability for these violations.”
Israel maintains that its military operations are aimed at Hamas, but has yet to provide evidence of its claims that Palestinian fighters are using civilians as human shields. Despite these assertions, the ongoing siege and airstrikes continue to devastate Gaza, with 39 Palestinians reported killed and over 120 injured in Israeli attacks today.
As the crisis deepens, international calls for justice grow louder, urging accountability for the mass civilian deaths and the continued siege of Gaza.
Welcome to this edition of Union News. News from a labour and trade union perspective. In this edition Luton Airport Workers Secure 30% Pay Rise in Unite win, Amazon Workers in UK Go on Strike for First Time Over ‘Derisory’ 50p Pay Rise, Civil Service Union Prospect Launches Massive Industrial Action Ballot, TUC warns UK government’s proposals won’t end fire-and-rehire, Ambulance Workers Stage Strike Action Over Pay Dispute, as Largest-Ever NHS Strike Looms and Workers at Job Centres and Benefit Offices to Take 20 Days of Strike Action.
Luton Airport Workers Secure 30% Pay Rise in Unite win
Luton airport baggage handlers and check-in staff are set to receive a pay rise of nearly 30% according to the Unite union. More than 200 workers employed by Menzies will receive a 20% pay increase backdated to October and will receive an additional 8.5% pay increase next month. The deal, which was secured during annual pay negotiations without strikes, also includes an improvement in overtime rates. The General Secretary of Unite praised the “excellent deal” and urged workers to join the union to improve their wages and working conditions.
Amazon Workers in UK Go on Strike for First Time Over ‘Derisory’ 50p Pay Rise
Amazon workers in Coventry, UK, have gone on strike for the first time in the United Kingdom, protesting a “derisory” pay rise of just 50 pence an hour. Union GMB, which represents the workers, said the employees “just want a decent standard of living” as inflation tops 10%. The main problem stems from “target-led performance measures” set by an “algorithm,” said GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing. Amazon said it already offers “competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and excellent opportunities for career growth” and that the vast majority of ambulance call-outs to its buildings are related to pre-existing conditions.
Civil Service Union Prospect Launches Massive Industrial Action Ballot
The Civil Service union Prospect has begun its largest industrial action ballot of members in the public sector in over a decade. The ballot, which will take place over the next few weeks, will ask thousands of workers in government departments and other areas, including the Met Office, Natural England, and the Health and Safety Executive, whether they want to strike in protest of a 3% cap on pay offers, potential job losses, and proposed cuts to redundancy terms. In a recent indicative ballot, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. Despite meeting with ministers, the union claims that there has been no progress on pay for 2022-23 and no indication that next year’s pay round will be any better.
TUC warns UK government’s proposals won’t end fire-and-rehire
The TUC (Trades Union Congress) has warned that the UK government’s “reheated” proposals to prevent another P&O-style scandal won’t deter bad bosses from treating staff like disposable labour. The charge came after Business Secretary Grant Shapps announced plans for a statutory code of practice for employers, which ministers claimed would empower employees to seek compensation from bosses engaging in fire-and-rehire tactics. The TUC says that a statutory code of practice is not going to stop another P&O-style scandal from happening and it won’t deter bad bosses from treating staff like disposable labour.
Ambulance Workers Stage Strike Action Over Pay Dispute, as Largest-Ever NHS Strike Looms
Thousands of ambulance workers across north-west England went on strike for 12 hours starting from midday on Tuesday, in a dispute over pay for overworked NHS staff. The strike was organized by the GMB union, and was followed by industrial action by thousands of GMB, Unite, and Unison ambulance employees on Monday. This strike comes ahead of what could be the largest-ever NHS strike on February 6, when all three unions are set to strike alongside nurses. The workers are demanding a proper pay offer and are accusing the Tory government of endangering patient safety and demonizing them. Labour has called on the government to clarify its commitment to free-at-the-point-of-use healthcare.
And finally,
Workers at Job Centres and Benefit Offices to Take 20 Days of Strike Action
Workers at job centres and benefit offices are set to take 20 days of strike action in an escalation of the bitter dispute over the pay, jobs and conditions of civil servants. Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) will stage walkouts between February 9 and March 3 at job centres in Liverpool, a Department for Work and Pensions contact centre in Stockport and a benefit centre in Bolton. This comes ahead of a strike on February 1 by 100,000 PCS members in 123 government departments as part of the long-running dispute. PCS is demanding a 10% pay rise to help members through the cost-of-living crisis.
