Environment Agency staff set for out-of-hours ban

Thousands of Environment Agency (EA) workers in England will stop out-of-hours attendance at incidents such as floods, water pollution, spills, waste fires and fly-tipping this weekend, in their ongoing pay dispute.

The industrial action, which starts at 9am tomorrow (Saturday), is set to continue for a month, with workers refusing to volunteer for on-call cover outside of contracted hours until 19 September.

Officers will step in where there is a threat to life, from incidents such as a major flood, as emergency life and limb cover has been agreed by the union.

This new wave of industrial action follows months of industrial action seeking an improved pay offer from the agency.

Members have been taking last resort industrial action since December 2022, after the organisation failed to offer a fair pay rise in the face of soaring household bills and inflation.

Staff have seen pay fall below inflation and incomes squeezed since 2011, meaning that staff effectively work one day a week for free.

The 2% plus £345 pay award for 2022/23 was so low that some colleagues saw their pay dip below the national living wage in April and had to receive a salary ‘top-up’ to comply with minimum wage legislation.

Staff are due to receive an unconsolidated cost of living payment of £1,500 this month, but this does not address the gulf between the 2022/23 pay award and the rising living costs members have experienced.

UNISON members working for the EA are seeing their roles being paid well below the market rate for their skills, and experienced colleagues continue to leave the agency in search of better pay for skilled work.

Donna Rowe-Merriman, UNISON national secretary for business, community and environment, said today: “Staff are proud to play a vital role in keeping communities safe, but feel constantly taken for granted and ignored by a government that has failed understand the unique, vital role Environment Agency staff have in delivering the environment we all want to feel safe in.

“The unconsolidated payment does not offer agency staff a real pay uplift in this cost of living crisis. They have struggled to get by for over a year on a measly pay offer, and see this as too little, too late. It does not address over a decade of pay austerity.

“The Environment Agency is underfunded, and its staff are undervalued and underpaid. UNISON has maintained that pay in the agency has fallen behind – and this has serious consequences as skilled staff leave in search of better pay.

“We call on the government to enable the Environment Agency to look at innovative ways to resolve the dispute quickly to prevent further disruption.”

Ms Rowe-Merriman said that the blame for any disruption in the coming month “must be laid solely at the Westminster government’s door. This action could be prevented if the agency had the freedom to negotiate with the trade unions.

“The action taken by members is a direct result of government pay policy that does not address the specific issues experienced by the Environment Agency.”

And she concluded: “The solution remains a wage rise that’s a better match for inflation and addresses the rising living costs.

“Otherwise, staff will continue to resign, leaving even fewer to be called upon in emergencies. The consequences for people living in areas prone to flooding are unthinkable.”

Read more about UNISON’s Environment Agency pay campaign

The article Environment Agency staff set for out-of-hours ban first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Environment Agency staff set for out-of-hours ban

Thousands of Environment Agency (EA) workers in England will stop out-of-hours attendance at incidents such as floods, water pollution, spills, waste fires and fly-tipping this weekend, in their ongoing pay dispute.

The industrial action, which starts at 9am tomorrow (Saturday), is set to continue for a month, with workers refusing to volunteer for on-call cover outside of contracted hours until 19 September.

Officers will step in where there is a threat to life, from incidents such as a major flood, as emergency life and limb cover has been agreed by the union.

This new wave of industrial action follows months of industrial action seeking an improved pay offer from the agency.

Members have been taking last resort industrial action since December 2022, after the organisation failed to offer a fair pay rise in the face of soaring household bills and inflation.

Staff have seen pay fall below inflation and incomes squeezed since 2011, meaning that staff effectively work one day a week for free.

The 2% plus £345 pay award for 2022/23 was so low that some colleagues saw their pay dip below the national living wage in April and had to receive a salary ‘top-up’ to comply with minimum wage legislation.

Staff are due to receive an unconsolidated cost of living payment of £1,500 this month, but this does not address the gulf between the 2022/23 pay award and the rising living costs members have experienced.

UNISON members working for the EA are seeing their roles being paid well below the market rate for their skills, and experienced colleagues continue to leave the agency in search of better pay for skilled work.

Donna Rowe-Merriman, UNISON national secretary for business, community and environment, said today: “Staff are proud to play a vital role in keeping communities safe, but feel constantly taken for granted and ignored by a government that has failed understand the unique, vital role Environment Agency staff have in delivering the environment we all want to feel safe in.

“The unconsolidated payment does not offer agency staff a real pay uplift in this cost of living crisis. They have struggled to get by for over a year on a measly pay offer, and see this as too little, too late. It does not address over a decade of pay austerity.

“The Environment Agency is underfunded, and its staff are undervalued and underpaid. UNISON has maintained that pay in the agency has fallen behind – and this has serious consequences as skilled staff leave in search of better pay.

“We call on the government to enable the Environment Agency to look at innovative ways to resolve the dispute quickly to prevent further disruption.”

Ms Rowe-Merriman said that the blame for any disruption in the coming month “must be laid solely at the Westminster government’s door. This action could be prevented if the agency had the freedom to negotiate with the trade unions.

“The action taken by members is a direct result of government pay policy that does not address the specific issues experienced by the Environment Agency.”

And she concluded: “The solution remains a wage rise that’s a better match for inflation and addresses the rising living costs.

“Otherwise, staff will continue to resign, leaving even fewer to be called upon in emergencies. The consequences for people living in areas prone to flooding are unthinkable.”

Read more about UNISON’s Environment Agency pay campaign

The article Environment Agency staff set for out-of-hours ban first appeared on the UNISON National site.

High Court rules ‘strike-breaking’ agency worker regulations unlawful

UNISON has defeated the government in the High Court over strike-breaking legislation that was introduced last summer.

The High Court has ruled that the legislation, which allows employers to use agency workers to replace those on strike, was unlawful, unfair and irrational.

The case marks another success for UNISON and its members in challenging laws restricting workers’ rights.

The judgment follows successful judicial review proceedings lodged by UNISON alongside the NASUWT and TUC, whose case is on behalf of 11 unions. Together, the unions represent millions of workers in the UK.

Since 1976, it has been illegal for employers to introduce or supply agency workers to replace workers who are taking part in a strike or industrial action.

However, in the heat of last summer’s rail strikes, then secretary of state Kwasi Kwarteng rapidly removed this regulation without consultation. 

Since July 2022, agencies have been permitted to supply temporary workers to replace striking workers. Following a hearing in May at the High Court, Mr Justice Linden has today upheld the claims of UNISON and other unions that the government acted unfairly, unlawfully, and irrationally

The judgment now quashes this strike-breaking legislation, removing it from the statute books. The previous protection for striking workers has been restored. 

Commenting on the judgment, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:  

“No one ever wants to go on strike. But when that difficult decision has been taken, employers should be throwing everything but the kitchen sink at ending a dispute, not inflaming tensions by undermining staff.  

“This futile piece of legislation has barely spent a year on the statute book. Parachuting untrained agency workers into the midst of industrial hostilities isn’t fair or safe for them, the public or the staff out on strike. 

“This is embarrassing for ministers. Not only did Kwasi Kwarteng help trash the economy as chancellor, now his bulldozer attitude when business secretary has made the government look extremely foolish. 

“With his fingers stuck firmly in his ears, Kwasi Kwarteng ignored the advice of almost everyone around him, showing a total disregard for working people and their historic rights.”

And she continued: “Hopefully, the government has learned a big lesson. If ministers act in haste, they’ll end up repenting at leisure, as this judgment proves. 

“To spare themselves future shame, ministers should ditch their ill-advised strikes bill, and focus instead on working with unions to solve the country’s many problems.” 

UNISON’s director of legal services Adam Creme said: “UNISON will speak up and challenge unlawful legislation that restricts our members’ rights. This judgment is the latest in a long line of victories in strategic litigation for UNISON and our members”.

UNISON continues to fight to protect the right to strike as the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill continues to make its way through parliament.  

The article High Court rules ‘strike-breaking’ agency worker regulations unlawful first appeared on the UNISON National site.

High Court rules ‘strike-breaking’ agency worker regulations unlawful

UNISON has defeated the government in the High Court over strike-breaking legislation that was introduced last summer.

The High Court has ruled that the legislation, which allows employers to use agency workers to replace those on strike, was unlawful, unfair and irrational.

The case marks another success for UNISON and its members in challenging laws restricting workers’ rights.

The judgment follows successful judicial review proceedings lodged by UNISON alongside the NASUWT and TUC, whose case is on behalf of 11 unions. Together, the unions represent millions of workers in the UK.

Since 1976, it has been illegal for employers to introduce or supply agency workers to replace workers who are taking part in a strike or industrial action.

However, in the heat of last summer’s rail strikes, then secretary of state Kwasi Kwarteng rapidly removed this regulation without consultation. 

Since July 2022, agencies have been permitted to supply temporary workers to replace striking workers. Following a hearing in May at the High Court, Mr Justice Linden has today upheld the claims of UNISON and other unions that the government acted unfairly, unlawfully, and irrationally

The judgment now quashes this strike-breaking legislation, removing it from the statute books. The previous protection for striking workers has been restored. 

Commenting on the judgment, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:  

“No one ever wants to go on strike. But when that difficult decision has been taken, employers should be throwing everything but the kitchen sink at ending a dispute, not inflaming tensions by undermining staff.  

“This futile piece of legislation has barely spent a year on the statute book. Parachuting untrained agency workers into the midst of industrial hostilities isn’t fair or safe for them, the public or the staff out on strike. 

“This is embarrassing for ministers. Not only did Kwasi Kwarteng help trash the economy as chancellor, now his bulldozer attitude when business secretary has made the government look extremely foolish. 

“With his fingers stuck firmly in his ears, Kwasi Kwarteng ignored the advice of almost everyone around him, showing a total disregard for working people and their historic rights.”

And she continued: “Hopefully, the government has learned a big lesson. If ministers act in haste, they’ll end up repenting at leisure, as this judgment proves. 

“To spare themselves future shame, ministers should ditch their ill-advised strikes bill, and focus instead on working with unions to solve the country’s many problems.” 

UNISON’s director of legal services Adam Creme said: “UNISON will speak up and challenge unlawful legislation that restricts our members’ rights. This judgment is the latest in a long line of victories in strategic litigation for UNISON and our members”.

UNISON continues to fight to protect the right to strike as the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill continues to make its way through parliament.  

The article High Court rules ‘strike-breaking’ agency worker regulations unlawful first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON joins emergency protest against anti-strike bill

UNISON members, the TUC and protesters rallied outside the Westminster parliament last night to defend the right to strike.

The emergency protest coincided with the government’s new anti-strike legislation, the Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Bill.

Eddie Brand from UNISON London Ambulance Service branch, which has taken action four times in the last year, spoke at the protest.

Addressing the crowds, Mr Brand said: “The very same members who were called NHS heroes, they now want to attack for taking part in democratic lawful industrial action.”

Mr Brand said the bill was an insult to the ambulance service’s commitment to patients and their professionalism as they always provided life and limb cover on strike days.

Last night Conservative MPs reversed the positive changes made by the House of Lords to protect striking workers from dismissal, unions from excessive damages and the integrity of the devolved political institutions.

It is now up to the House of Lords if they want to re-insert these amendments again in the coming weeks.

Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Wansbeck, said the legislation was “a battering ram against ordinary working people”.

UNISON will continue to challenge these proposed laws and protect the right to strike.

The article UNISON joins emergency protest against anti-strike bill first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC backs the right to strike emergency protest

UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) has encouraged as many members as possible to attend the TUC-organised emergency protest in Westminster at 6pm on Monday (22 May) and defend the right to strike.

The strike-busting legislation is returning to parliament on Monday and UNISON, along with other unions, believes that the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, is a full-frontal attack on working people and the trade unions they organise within.

Details of the demonstration can be found here.

Separately, at its meeting this week, the NEC also heard that the union is in the midst of taking the government to the High Court over their new rules to bring in agency workers to break strikes.

General secretary Christina McAnea said: “UNISON is clear that bringing in unqualified and ill-experienced agency workers during strikes doesn’t address the root causes of why people are striking, and it only puts the public in danger. Our legal team spent two days giving evidence earlier this month.”

A decision is expected over the next few weeks.

Elsewhere the general secretary highlighted that the NJC pay ballot is opening on 23 May and that the recent success with health pay did not include Northern Ireland where UNISON is still campaigning to make the deal a reality with action short of strike for the whole of May “to try and force ministers to get through the political impasse that is blocking any pay increases”.

Christina also highlighted that nine universities had voted for strike action and that the union was still pushing ahead with its national care service campaign, “pushing the Labour party to adopt as many of our priorities as we can.”

The NEC also:

  • continued to make preparations for national delegate conference in Liverpool in June;
  • received an update on UNISON’s race discrimination inquiry;
  • unanimously accepted the ‘organising to win’ strategy report which deals with the recruitment and retention of members and the streamlining of national whole-union organising priorities;
  • sent a message of solidarity to Environment Agency members currently still taking action on pay – and all other members currently taking industrial action; and
  • agreed to review the future of U magazine and will report back to branches.

The article NEC backs the right to strike emergency protest first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Proud to be in a union – striking in the North West

On a chilly day in the North West of England, UNISON members in the NHS continued their industrial action over pay and the crisis facing the health service. Steve Forrest captured a flavour of the third day of pickets.

We start our look back at yesterday’s strike in the region at the Eccles Ambulance Station in Greater Manchester.

Unison members out on strike at Eccles Ambulance Station, Eccles, Manchester,

 

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

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

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

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

And on to Huyton Ambulance Station in Merseyside, where members were joined by UNISON president Andrea Egan.

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

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

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

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

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

And then to the Liverpool Royal Hospital, where UNISON members drummed up a real Mersey beat.

Unison members out on strike at Liverpool Royal Hospital Liverpool, UK. Photo©Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

Unison members out on strike at Liverpool Royal Hospital Liverpool, UK. Photo©Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

Unison members out on strike at Liverpool Royal Hospital Liverpool, UK. Photo©Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

Unison members out on strike at Liverpool Royal Hospital Liverpool, UK. Photo©Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

Unison members out on strike at Liverpool Royal Hospital Liverpool, UK. Photo©Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

The article Proud to be in a union – striking in the North West 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.