Reports round-up

Rail workers’ West Coast ballot

The RMT transport union is preparing to ballot its members on the West Coast intercity rail route over threatened cuts. The union expects First Group to take over the route from Virgin trains. It fears that this could result in 800 job losses as the firm restructures the service.

Cleaner wins unfair dismissal case

Tyne and Wear Metro worker William Etchells has won his unfair dismissal case against Churchill Cleaning Services. Metro cleaners in Etchells’s RMT union struck earlier this month both over pay and to demand his reinstatement.

Etchells was sacked after criticising bosses in the comment box on his timesheet. He has been awarded £3,935.54.

Anti-cuts protest at Bolton Council

Workers at Bolton council are to protest against council cuts next month. The Unison and GMB union members will assemble outside the town hall as the council cabinet votes on a further £34 million of cuts.

Lincolnshire NHS staff work to rule

Maintenance staff at three Lincolnshire hospitals worked-to-rule on Monday of this week over pay cuts. The Unite members are set to lose £1,700 a year after United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS trust slashed their recruitment and retainment premium by 50 percent.

Capita workers vote to strike over jobs

Workers at computer services giant Capita have voted to strike over job losses. More than 200 workers in the Unite union are involved in the dispute, at sites in Reading, Craigforth, Birmingham and Bournemouth.

They voted by four to one for strikes and nine to one for action short of strike on a 65 percent turnout. The union was set to call strike dates on Thursday of this week.

Rolls Royce factory set to shut shop

Rolls Royce has announced plans to shut down its East Kilbride plant. Hundreds of jobs will transfer to a site on the other side of Glasgow. Workers are angry and up in arms—our plant is still profitable.

Rolls Royce worker, East Kilbride

» More on the planned East Kilbride plant closure