Unions warn rail cuts could increase the risk of crashes May 4, 2022 Reported railway cuts could increase the risk of serious crashes, according to trade unions. A report published today by the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) accused Network Rail of planning to cut around 2,5000 maintenance jobs as part of a £100m annual spending reduction, leading to the loss of 2,500 jobs. According to the TUC, cutting [...]
Govt will try to change ‘burdensome’ law so agency staff can cover for striking workers June 23, 2022 The government will try to change the law to allow agency staff to cover for striking workers. Grant Shapps and Kwasi Kwarteng, the transport and business secretaries, made the announcement on Thursday as the UK is crippled by a second day of industrial action. Under current trade union laws, firms cannot supply temporary workers to [...]
Truss eyes up new limits to public sector strike action October 5, 2022 As another day of train strikes begins from Aslef, Liz Truss is reportedly planning measures to curbs mass walkouts. As reported by The Times, the prime minister is considering a radical extension of laws that ensure a minimum service during rail strikes, which she hopes could apply across the public sector. It said business secretary [...]
Summer of discontent: Lost working days surge up to 78 per cent amid strikes September 29, 2022 The number of working days lost has increased amid the summer of discontent, according to data published today. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that lost working days amounted to 70,500 and 87,6000 in June and July respectively – up 72 and 78 per cent on the 2019 monthly average of 19,500. [...]
Christmas strikes: Government to hold crisis meetings as army called in December 11, 2022 The government will hold a series of crisis meetings this week to try and minimise disruption during widespread Christmas strikes, with the government now calling in the military. Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden will convene two Cobra meetings with ministers from several departments as the UK faces crippling strikes in hospitals, airports and railways. The [...]
Government ‘sabotaging’ efforts to resolve strike waves, new TUC boss claims December 29, 2022 The new general secretary of the TUC has accused the Government of “sabotaging” efforts to resolve the wave of strikes continuing to sweep across the country. Paul Nowak takes over the job amid the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest in a generation, with leaders of health, rail, civil service, teaching and postal unions increasingly angry [...]
Bus drivers join ‘summer of discontent’ and announce strike for 19 and 20 August August 7, 2022 London bus drivers have joined the UK’s “summer of discontent” and announced a strike for 19 and 20 August following a dispute over salaries. The union Unite said more than 1,600 of its members working for bus operator London United will join the walkout after the company’s parent, RATP Dev Transit, offered a 7.8 pay [...]
What will get London workers back into the office? March 14, 2024 Last Friday, passengers began to travel with off-peak Tube and train fares and will be allowed to every Friday until 31st May, 2024. The new scheme – announced by Transport for London (TfL) at the end of January – is a bid to increase the number of people travelling on London transport after it was [...]
Plan to replace striking workers with agency staff branded ‘unethical and morally reprehensible’ by RMT July 12, 2022 The RMT trade union has condemned plans backed by MPs which would allow striking workers to be replaced with agency staff. The measure was voted in Commons on Monday night by a majority of 87 votes, 289 to 202, with the union’s general secretary Mick Lynch calling it “unethical and morally reprehensible”. According to the [...]
Zahawi: Army could be called in to ease Christmas strike disruption December 4, 2022 The army could be brought in to help with expected strike disruption over the Christmas period, Tory party chair Nadhim Zahawi has said. Zahawi said that members of the army may have to start “driving ambulances” and work on the borders as NHS staff and Border Force officers prepare to start industrial action. Many key [...]