Actavo workers have stood firm
Scaffolding workers at British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant have voted overwhelmingly to pursue their indefinite strike over poor pay.
The 62 workers in the Unite union are employed by contractor Actavo and struck for 12 weeks last year, calling for the company to abide by national agreements covering the construction industry.
The workers are currently between 10 and 15 percent below NAECI agreement rates.
Strikes continue from Wednesday 26 January following an 83 percent vote in favour in a reballot.
Joe Rollin Unite organiser said, “Actavo must realise that if they don’t settle this dispute they are going to face not only industrial action but an escalation in leverage-style tactics.” There is a day of action at Actavo sites on Monday 24 January including a demonstration at the site.
The PCS union is demanding a 10 percent pay rise for all civil service workers when the government departments set their next pay rates in April.
And it is asking its members whether they’d be prepared to strike if bosses won’t cough up.
The union released details of its pay claim on Friday of last week. Alongside a 10 percent increase, it also demands a minimum living wage of £15 an hour, at least 35 days holiday a year, and a significant reduction in working hours without loss in pay.
PCS is also set to run a consultative ballot on industrial action—which could then lead to a legal strike ballot.
The ballot is set to begin on Monday 14 February and run until Monday 21 March.
Bosses want a reorganisation that could slash as many as 20 percent of jobs.
Members of the PCS union already voted by 80 percent to strike in a consultative ballot last year.
The legal strike ballot is close on Friday 25 February.
Delivery workers have continued strikes in several locations across Britain this week with delivery company Stuart still refusing to budge on plans to cut workers’ pay.
Strikes began in December after Stuart, which delivers for Just Eat, cut its base delivery pay by 25 percent to just £3.40 per delivery.
Action, which began in Sheffield also spread to Sunderland and Chesterfield.
Workers, who are members of the IWGB union, have already had one victory. Stuart announced it would pay workers for waiting times of over 15 minutes—one of the strikers’ core demands.
Pictures of piled up McDonald’s orders in Sheffield showed that the strikes are having an impact.
Strikes can win the pay rise that delivery riders deserve but they must will be most effective if they escalate and spread.
Bosses are obsessed with making cuts
Another year of inaction from our rulers
