TEACHERS at Kingsland School in Hackney, east London, were set to strike on Thursday of this week in defence of our sacked National Union of Teachers (NUT) rep, Indro Sen. This follows an overwhelming vote by NUT members at the school. Union members in four other secondary schools in Hackney are to hold an indicative vote over whether to ballot over the sacking too.
TWO HUNDRED people gathered in noisy protest at Tottenham police station in north London last Saturday to remember Roger Sylvester. His father said, "On 11 January 1999 Roger Sylvester, a 30 year old black man, was restrained on his doorstep by eight officers from Tottenham. He sustained numerous injuries and died a week later.
THE SACKING of Hampshire Fire Brigades Union (FBU) activist Simon Green the week before Christmas is another sign that some chief officers and fire authorities are already going on the offensive. He was sacked under capability procedures that are not nationally agreed. "The case has national significance," says Lud Ramsey of Hampshire FBU.
Library workers and their supporters in Hackney, east London, picketed last Saturday against the New Labour council's strike-busting manoeuvres. Library strikes have happened every Saturday for a year, since the council withdrew extra payments for working at the weekend. It is trying to reopen three libraries on Saturdays using specially employed staff.
SOME 600 workers at the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) held a three-hour strike on Thursday of last week over pay. Alan Denny, national officer in Scotland for the workers' Prospect union, said, "The membership is rock solid. Over 300 people attended meetings across the country."
CARLISLE HAD the biggest meeting for years last Thursday when 180 people gathered at a Stop the War Coalition rally. Maxim Ford said, "There were councillors, a group of three ex-soldiers who were suffering from post-traumatic stress, people from the churches and local trade unionists."
SOME 4,500 workers at Peugeot have been balloting for industrial action over pay. A ballot in December rejected the company's offer (worth 7.2 percent over two years) by 90 percent. The company said it will pay the increase if the shop floor gave up the profit-related bonus worth £660 this year.
SOME 350 bus drivers working for the First Group multinational in Norwich went on strike from Monday of last week in protest at working long hours. "Our work is so tiring and stressful. When I get home I just sit there, crashed out in an armchair. That's not good for my family-or for the public, if I'm driving when I feel like that," said driver Sam Stelling.
AFTER YEARS of negotiation NHS staff have been offered a package-Agenda for Change-that promises to address past grievances about low pay, gradings and equal pay. But will it? New Labour is keen to see Agenda for Change accepted by NHS staff. Doctors recently rejected a parallel national offer.
