Category: strike

Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action

The new deal will see pay increased from £12.70 an hour to £15 an hour, backdated from April 2023. This is a significant improvement on the original 57p per hour increase that had been offered by the employer.

From April 2024 traffic wardens will receive £15.90 an hour. In April 2025 there will be a further increase of either 60p an hour or the RPI rate of inflation. As a consequence, by 2025 staff will be on a minimum hourly rate of £16.50.

More than 100 workers took part in the successful, eight-week industrial action, a final escalation in their long-running dispute with NSL, Camden Council’s private contractor.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “I’m proud of the union as we end our 59 days of strike action. This is my first time taking indefinite strike action, and I saw the spirit and tenacity of members. New members joined us and boosted the strike action. We were there in the heat, cold and rain marching through Camden.

“I believe collective action is the key to a successful strike, there is strength in unity.”

Workers picketing

Strikers picket Marston Holdings head office in Birmingham

As well as picketing Camden Council, strikers also picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches joined them.

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “This is a fantastic victory for Camden traffic wardens. After eight weeks of strikes they have finally been offered a proper pay deal.

“The pay boost is no more than they deserve. Their determination to fight for fairness is a real inspiration and other workers should be encouraged by the success of their long-running battle for fair wages.”

Throughout their long-running dispute, the workers received messages of solidarity and support on picket lines from across the union.

UNISON steward Stella said: “I’d like to thank everyone in UNISON for their support during our 59 days of continuous strike action. Your messages of solidarity and support have helped us stay motivated and determined to fight for a win.”

UNISON London regional organiser Steve Terry said: “Camden traffic wardens have shown courage and resilience throughout the dispute and can be proud of this achievement.”

The article Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action

The new deal will see pay increased from £12.70 an hour to £15 an hour, backdated from April 2023. This is a significant improvement on the original 57p per hour increase that had been offered by the employer.

From April 2024 traffic wardens will receive £15.90 an hour. In April 2025 there will be a further increase of either 60p an hour or the RPI rate of inflation. As a consequence, by 2025 staff will be on a minimum hourly rate of £16.50.

More than 100 workers took part in the successful, eight-week industrial action, a final escalation in their long-running dispute with NSL, Camden Council’s private contractor.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “I’m proud of the union as we end our 59 days of strike action. This is my first time taking indefinite strike action, and I saw the spirit and tenacity of members. New members joined us and boosted the strike action. We were there in the heat, cold and rain marching through Camden.

“I believe collective action is the key to a successful strike, there is strength in unity.”

Workers picketing

Strikers picket Marston Holdings head office in Birmingham

As well as picketing Camden Council, strikers also picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches joined them.

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “This is a fantastic victory for Camden traffic wardens. After eight weeks of strikes they have finally been offered a proper pay deal.

“The pay boost is no more than they deserve. Their determination to fight for fairness is a real inspiration and other workers should be encouraged by the success of their long-running battle for fair wages.”

Throughout their long-running dispute, the workers received messages of solidarity and support on picket lines from across the union.

UNISON steward Stella said: “I’d like to thank everyone in UNISON for their support during our 59 days of continuous strike action. Your messages of solidarity and support have helped us stay motivated and determined to fight for a win.”

UNISON London regional organiser Steve Terry said: “Camden traffic wardens have shown courage and resilience throughout the dispute and can be proud of this achievement.”

The article Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Over 100 Camden traffic wardens on indefinite strike

Over 100 London traffic wardens have been on an indefinite strike since 24 July, after a meagre pay offer of 4.5% from NSL, a company subcontracted by Camden Council.

UNISON members unanimously voted for strike action, with more workers joining the picket as the weeks roll on.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

They are paid £12.70 an hour, and have called for an increase to £15.90 an hour. Signs on the picket line (pictured below) read ‘NSL: No Slave Labour’.

Workers on picket line holding placards that read 'pay rise now: no slave labour' and 'Camden council: no slave labour'

UNISON members picket Camden Council offices

Employer NSL saw its profits almost double from £5.8m in 2021 to £9.2m in 2022. The company director received a 60% pay increase in this period, and is salaried at £412,000. 

UNISON has calculated that it would take one of the traffic wardens 16 years to earn the same amount the director receives in one year. 

The traffic wardens are determined to continue the strike until their demand for fair pay is met. 

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “The cost of food is still very high. A lot of the officers are borrowing money. Credit card bills are up. We need a cushion. They are always offering us just pennies – it’s not enough to pay rent and take care of our families.”

Workers have been picketing Camden Council and received messages of solidarity from across the country. Last week, 35 strikers picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. They were joined by UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches.

“We wanted to take our grievances to them,” a striker who visited Birmingham said. “We want a pay rise and we want them to know about it. We’re doing a job for them and getting abused on the streets.

“They need to know how we feel—it’s not fair. We go through all this, not even for £15 an hour, while they profit. At Christmas, NSL gives us £5. That’s it for a year’s abuse. And if you’re off that day, you don’t even get given it. These are the companies we’re killing ourselves for. We deserve better.”

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “I’m proud of how determined our members are to take a stand and fight for fair pay – they are prepared to follow this through to the end. They work long hours doing a difficult job and deserve decent pay.”

“These workers are employed by private companies that make millions out of their labour, but who refuse to pay them enough money to live on.”

As the strike goes on, Camden Council continues to pay NSL for its contract. The union has called for the council to get involved and ensure wardens are paid proper wages.

There are plenty of actions that UNISON members can take to support the strikers.

UNISON Camden invites all union members to join the pickets (details below), and will be hosting a march on Saturday 26 August, which will assemble outside Mornington Crescent in Camden at 12:30pm.

Picket line details:

13-15 Guilford Street WC1N 1DW – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 7.30-10am

199 Belsize Road NW6 4AA – Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, 7-10am

Regis Road NW5 3EW – Tuesday, Thursday, Fridays, 7-10am

To find out what else you can do to support strikers: email unison@camden.gov.uk  

The article Over 100 Camden traffic wardens on indefinite strike first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Over 100 Camden traffic wardens take indefinite strike action

Over 100 London traffic wardens have been on an indefinite strike since 24 July, after a meagre pay offer of 4.5% from NSL, a company subcontracted by Camden Council.

UNISON members unanimously voted for strike action, with more workers joining the picket as the weeks roll on.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

They are paid £12.70 an hour, and have called for an increase to £15.90 an hour. Signs on the picket line (pictured below) read ‘NSL: No Slave Labour’.

Workers on picket line holding placards that read 'pay rise now: no slave labour' and 'Camden council: no slave labour'

UNISON members picket Camden Council offices

Employer NSL saw its profits almost double from £5.8m in 2021 to £9.2m in 2022. The company director received a 60% pay increase in this period, and is salaried at £412,000. 

UNISON has calculated that it would take one of the traffic wardens 16 years to earn the same amount the director receives in one year. 

The traffic wardens are determined to continue the strike until their demand for fair pay is met. 

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “The cost of food is still very high. A lot of the officers are borrowing money. Credit card bills are up. We need a cushion. They are always offering us just pennies – it’s not enough to pay rent and take care of our families.”

Workers have been picketing Camden Council and received messages of solidarity from across the country. Last week, 35 strikers picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. They were joined by UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches.

“We wanted to take our grievances to them,” a striker who visited Birmingham said. “We want a pay rise and we want them to know about it. We’re doing a job for them and getting abused on the streets.

“They need to know how we feel—it’s not fair. We go through all this, not even for £15 an hour, while they profit. At Christmas, NSL gives us £5. That’s it for a year’s abuse. And if you’re off that day, you don’t even get given it. These are the companies we’re killing ourselves for. We deserve better.”

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “I’m proud of how determined our members are to take a stand and fight for fair pay – they are prepared to follow this through to the end. They work long hours doing a difficult job and deserve decent pay.”

“These workers are employed by private companies that make millions out of their labour, but who refuse to pay them enough money to live on.”

As the strike goes on, Camden Council continues to pay NSL for its contract. The union has called for the council to get involved and ensure wardens are paid proper wages.

There are plenty of actions that UNISON members can take to support the strikers.

UNISON Camden invites all union members to join the pickets (details below), and will be hosting a march on Saturday 26 August, which will assemble outside Mornington Crescent in Camden at 12:30pm.

Picket line details:

13-15 Guilford Street WC1N 1DW – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 7.30-10am

199 Belsize Road NW6 4AA – Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, 7-10am

Regis Road NW5 3EW – Tuesday, Thursday, Fridays, 7-10am

To find out what else you can do to support strikers: email unison@camden.gov.uk  

The article Over 100 Camden traffic wardens take indefinite strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals announce 48-hour strike after years of being underpaid, says UNISON

Over 400 health staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) will take strike action this month in a dispute over pay, says UNISON today (Thursday).

The strike will take place at 7am on Thursday 31 August through to 6:59am on Saturday 2 September after an overwhelming majority (99%) of clinical support workers voted to strike in a recent UNISON ballot.

Clinical support workers (CSWs) assist nursing staff in delivering care on the wards. They’re employed across the trust’s sites at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals on the Wirral.

UNISON says these employees should be paid at least £2,000 more a year because they are performing duties and tasks well above their pay grade.

The NHS says that CSWs on a low pay band* like those at WUTH should only be undertaking personal care like supporting patients with going to the toilet, bathing and feeding.

But a survey by the union has found that most CSWs at the band 2 pay scale are routinely undertaking clinical tasks like taking and monitoring blood, electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, and inserting cannulas.

UNISON says that according to NHS job role profiles, all these duties should be paid according to at least a band 3 salary, which is nearly £2,000 a year more.

A total of seven health trusts across the North West have moved many?low-paid CSWs staff onto the higher rate, and paid the affected staff backpay to April 2018. This is in response to campaigns by UNISON.

However, WUTH has refused to draw up a similar agreement, despite a months-long campaign, including a collective grievance signed by over 400 staff.

Instead, the trust has offered to backdate pay to their CSWs to December 2022. This would mean these employees would receive thousands of pounds less than those in other North West trusts.

This strike will be the first on this issue in England. All other trusts have settled this issue through negotiation, says UNISON.

UNISON North West regional organiser David McKnight said: “Taking strike action is no easy decision. These clinical support workers are dedicated to providing outstanding care to people across the Wirral. But the trust is defiantly refusing these workers what they’re owed and insisting that they provide care on the cheap.

“The workers have been reasonable throughout, they submitted a collective grievance and met with the trust many times to try to resolve the situation. Our members are open to resolving this dispute via negotiation if the Trust make an offer in line with agreements elsewhere in the North West.

“The majority of CSWs have been working well above their band for many years. It’s time the trust did the right thing and paid up to avoid strike action.”

Jo, a clinical support worker at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: “For many years CSW’s have been doing extra tasks above our pay grade to help and support our nursing staff and doctors.  The past few years our workload has increased, and the majority of our shifts involve doing Band 3 tasks but we have only been paid Band 2 with no talk of this ever changing.

“Nursing staff, clinics, and theatres all rely on us doing these extra jobs so their departments run smoothly.  The trust refuses to acknowledge that we have been working at a Band 3 level, when all they’d need to do is speak to anybody who works in the hospital and they’d be told exactly what duties we all routinely perform.

“Striking is our only option is because we have exhausted every other channel. We just want our employer to ackowledge the truth. We have worked above our pay grade for years and they have saved money by not paying us properly.

“This campaign won’t stop until we’re paid the same as what other trusts have offered. Wirral CSWs are not worth any less than those elsewhere.”

Notes to editors:

–*Band 2 CSWs should only undertake personal care duties according to NHS guidance. They are currently paid £22,383 annually whereas band 3 staff earn between £22,816 and £24,336 after two years in the job.

– Click here for images of the workers campaigning outside the trust’s headquarters.

– The trusts that have resolved the issue over CSW pay are: the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust; Stockport NHS Foundation Trust; Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; the Christie NHS Foundation Trust; and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:

Sam Doherty  E: s.doherty@unison.co.uk  M: 07432 459759

The article NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals announce 48-hour strike after years of being underpaid, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals announce 48-hour strike after years of being underpaid

Over 400 health staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) will take strike action this month in a dispute over pay, says UNISON today (Thursday).

The strike will take place at 7am on Thursday 31 August through to 6:59am on Saturday 2 September after an overwhelming majority (99%) of clinical support workers voted to strike in a recent UNISON ballot.

Clinical support workers (CSWs) assist nursing staff in delivering care on the wards. They’re employed across the trust’s sites at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals on the Wirral.

UNISON says these employees should be paid at least £2,000 more a year because they are performing duties and tasks well above their pay grade.

The NHS says that CSWs on a low pay band* like those at WUTH should only be undertaking personal care like supporting patients with going to the toilet, bathing and feeding.

But a survey by the union has found that most CSWs at the band 2 pay scale are routinely undertaking clinical tasks like taking and monitoring blood, electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, and inserting cannulas.

UNISON says that according to NHS job role profiles, all these duties should be paid according to at least a band 3 salary, which is nearly £2,000 a year more.

A total of seven health trusts across the North West have moved many?low-paid CSWs staff onto the higher rate, and paid the affected staff backpay to April 2018. This is in response to campaigns by UNISON.

However, WUTH has refused to draw up a similar agreement, despite a months-long campaign, including a collective grievance signed by over 400 staff.

Instead, the trust has offered to backdate pay to their CSWs to December 2022. This would mean these employees would receive thousands of pounds less than those in other North West trusts.

This strike will be the first on this issue in England. All other trusts have settled this issue through negotiation, says UNISON.

UNISON North West regional organiser David McKnight said: “Taking strike action is no easy decision. These clinical support workers are dedicated to providing outstanding care to people across the Wirral. But the trust is defiantly refusing these workers what they’re owed and insisting that they provide care on the cheap.

“The workers have been reasonable throughout, they submitted a collective grievance and met with the trust many times to try to resolve the situation. Our members are open to resolving this dispute via negotiation if the Trust make an offer in line with agreements elsewhere in the North West.

“The majority of CSWs have been working well above their band for many years. It’s time the trust did the right thing and paid up to avoid strike action.”

Jo, a clinical support worker at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: “For many years CSW’s have been doing extra tasks above our pay grade to help and support our nursing staff and doctors.  The past few years our workload has increased, and the majority of our shifts involve doing Band 3 tasks but we have only been paid Band 2 with no talk of this ever changing.

“Nursing staff, clinics, and theatres all rely on us doing these extra jobs so their departments run smoothly.  The trust refuses to acknowledge that we have been working at a Band 3 level, when all they’d need to do is speak to anybody who works in the hospital and they’d be told exactly what duties we all routinely perform.

“Striking is our only option is because we have exhausted every other channel. We just want our employer to ackowledge the truth. We have worked above our pay grade for years and they have saved money by not paying us properly.

“This campaign won’t stop until we’re paid the same as what other trusts have offered. Wirral CSWs are not worth any less than those elsewhere.”

Notes to editors:

–*Band 2 CSWs should only undertake personal care duties according to NHS guidance. They are currently paid £22,383 annually whereas band 3 staff earn between £22,816 and £24,336 after two years in the job.

– Click here for images of the workers campaigning outside the trust’s headquarters.

– The trusts that have resolved the issue over CSW pay are: the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust; Stockport NHS Foundation Trust; Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; the Christie NHS Foundation Trust; and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:

Sam Doherty  E: s.doherty@unison.co.uk  M: 07432 459759

The article NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals announce 48-hour strike after years of being underpaid first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Put NHS pay right – NHS strike rolling report

10:20am Beautiful ‘golden hour’ down at Filton this morning.

10:20am Good to see some MPs dropping by pickets – Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) and Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) here.

Ian Lavery MP on the picket line at Ashington
Julie Elliott MP on the picket line at Pallion

How to support

We’ve got loads of ways you can support the strikers today:

Ways you can support

Show your solidarity on twitter

You can donate to UNISON’s strike fund, details are here:

Donate to the strike fund

9:55am Christina McAnea, UNISON general secretary spoke to Nick Ferrari on LBC from a SW picket line, this morning, about the government’s ‘warm words’ – but lack of action.

9:30am As with the previous strikes, UNISON crews will still be providing cover and responding to high priority calls throughout the day.

9:00am Even if the weather isn’t – socials are certainly starting to warm up. Paul and Ella in Gateshead and picketers in Kendal.

8:45am Putting it politely, its a brisk start for most of our strikers this morning with temperatures ranging from 1°C in London to a balmy 7°C in Newcastle.

The North West might see a few sparse showers but the rest of England should remain dry.

Cold, dry – now thats what I call ‘Brazier Weather’™. Stay tuned for updates.

Unison members out on strike at Huyton Ambulance Station, Liverpool, UK. Photo©Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

8:30am Meanwhile, earlier this week UNISON urged Rishi Sunak to come to the table to resolve the dispute:

“He says his door is open but without an invite to that mythical negotiating table, NHS staff have no choice but to go on striking.”

It’s time the PM ditched the pretence

8:15am This morning Christina McAnea, UNISON general secretary will be touring picket lines in the South West, starting with North Bristol Operations Centre.

Christina McAnea at North Bristol Operations Centre 10 Feb 2023

8:00am As ambulance workers start walking out across five regions for UNISON’s fourth NHS strike over the past three months – our rolling report also starts.

Check back in here throughout the day for updates from across the country and the media.

For now, if you’re not striking you can show your solidarity on Twitter and Facebook with #PutNHSPayRight or by using our template tweet:

Support our strikers

The article Put NHS pay right – NHS strike rolling report first appeared on the UNISON National site.

From the frontline to the breadline – NHS strike rolling report

8:55am UNISON head of health Sara Gorton has been on BBC Breakfast to talk about how the strikes can be resolved.

8:55am We know who’s blocking a resolution to this strike.

8:15am Honk if you support the strikers!

Pickets at Deptford with 'honk your support' placard

Find out what you can do to support the strikers – including honking your support – here.

8:05am Christina McAnea is already on the case, highlighting early picket lines across the regions. You can follow the general secretary via Twitter at twitter.com/cmcanea.

8:00am Good morning all. This is the start of another historic day, as UNISON members working in the NHS across England take a third day of industrial action.

We will be bringing you reports from around the regions, so stay tuned.

The article From the frontline to the breadline – NHS strike rolling report first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Recap: Striking for fair pay in the Environment Agency

Thousands of environment agency workers from across the country took strike action over pay on Wednesday for the first time in the agency’s history.

Environment Agency salaries have fallen by more than 20% compared to inflation since 2010, which means staff are effectively working one day in every five for free.

To make matter worse, workers were only given a 2% pay rise (plus £345) for this financial year, but the previous year, the majority of staff had a pay freeze and received nothing at all.

River inspectors, flood forecasting officers, coastal risk management officers, sewage plant attendants and staff at the Thames Barrier are among those who walked out, escalating their industrial action after refusing to do voluntary overtime in the run up to the festive period.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea visited some of the agency strikers at the Thames Barrier to show her and the union’s solidarity.

Blog: Standing with our EA members

Photos by Marcus Rose

UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, visits striking workers at the Thames Barrier.

UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, visits striking workers at the Thames Barrier.

UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, visits striking workers at the Thames Barrier.

UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, visits striking workers at the Thames Barrier.

UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, visits striking workers at the Thames Barrier.

A striking UNISON environment agency member standing in front of the Thames Barrier with a UNISON flag

UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, visits striking workers at the Thames Barrier.

Highlights from the rest of the country

Meanwhile, Environment Agency workers were out on picket lines across the rest of the country – here are just a few of the highlights from the day.

 

 

The article Recap: Striking for fair pay in the Environment Agency first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Standing with our members at the Environment Agency

Pay erosion is the common crisis across many public services that’s now resulting in waves of industrial action. The problem is rooted in the political decision, first taken by the 2010 coalition government, to cut funding to our public services.

Successive governments have refused to depart from that decision ever since.

For workers in the Environment Agency (EA), their pay has been devalued by 20% over that time. Mix that with the cost of living crisis, a pay freeze from July 2020 to November 2022, and it’s no wonder workers at the EA rejected the latest pay offer of around 2% + £345.

It’s well below inflation, so they’ve been left with no option but to take their first strike action over pay for the first time in the agency’s history.

EA workers are emergency workers too, keeping communities safe by responding to floods, pollution, waste fires, fly-tipping, and maintaining the Thames Barrier and sea defences, every day of the year.

But their low pay has pushed them to breaking point and they’ll walk out on Wednesday 18 January from 8am until 5pm.

UNISON and EA workers have agreed escalation plans and life and limb cover with the employer for the duration of the strike. But the action could have been avoided if the government had stepped in to unlock pay negotiations.

The government says it values the Environment Agency’s work, but it has put the agency – and the communities depending on it – at risk, by underfunding it for years. Expecting staff to accept declining living standards, and greater workloads as vacancies increase when their colleagues go to find better paid work elsewhere.

UNISON has called on the DEFRA Minister to step in to resolve the pay dispute. But until then, we’ll be supporting striking EA workers in their action, and I’ll be meeting workers who have taken the difficult decision to go on strike at the Thames Barrier this Wednesday.

Environment Agency workers to take historic strike action

UNISON calls on minister to unlock pay talks 

The article Blog: Standing with our members at the Environment Agency first appeared on the UNISON National site.