Reports round-up

Strikers in Oxford (Pic: Martin Gregory)

Oxford park and ride strike

Security staff at Oxford city council’s park and ride on the picket line on Monday of last week. The workers, members of the T&G union, held a one hour strike from 7.30am to 8.30am. Further strikes are set for Wednesday and Friday of this week. The action is about safety. New rotas would have car park staff working alone at night up to 11pm

Hampshire librarians mass read-out

Hampshire’s librarians held a mass “read-out” in Winchester on Monday.

Over 200 supporters brought their favourite book and read as a group, in a show of support for the campaign against Hampshire County Council’s reorganisation plans.

The demonstration began with an audible “shush” and campaigners then proceeded to read for ten minutes in the street.

Strike action, due to take place on Monday, was suspended for talks between the Unison union and Hampshire county council library managers.

Tesco drivers ballot over pay

Scottish Tesco workers, members of the T&G union, began voting in a strike ballot on Monday. This week the supermarket giant has revealed record profits of £2.5 billion.

Workers are furious at new terms and conditions the company plans to impose, which amount to major pay cuts.

Delivery drivers and warehouse workers at Tesco’s Scottish distribution centre in Livingston say they could be left up to £5,000 a year worse off – equivalent to the profit the company makes in just over a minute.

Under the changes, shift patterns would be reorganised and Sunday pay rates slashed.

Unique workers need support

The 17 women sacked by Unique Care, a private care provider in Huddersfield, are still fighting for their reinstatement.

Their fight for justice against a bullying employer is now in its 15th week.

This week the first of five employment tribunals lodged by the 17 women’s trade union, Unison, was due to start.

The company, which is solely funded by Kirklees council, will find it difficult to survive if the women win their cases.

Financial support is crucial to allow the women to continue their fight.

Nick Ruff
Send donations to Kirklees Unison, 20 Queen Street, Huddersfield.

Aston Martin strike for pay

Workers at Aston Martin in Warwickshire staged a one hour walkout in a dispute over pay on Friday of last week.

The 650 workers, members of the T&G union, also started an overtime ban.

The union said its 656 members were angry about many workers being paid less than their colleagues for the same job.

Workers voted in favour of strike action after rejecting a two-year pay deal worth 6.75 percent.

Some 50 Amicus members also joined the strike.

Voluntary sector vote for action

Unison union members at Quarriers, one of Scotland’s biggest social care charities have voted to strike in their dispute over pay.

Management offered a 2.5 percent pay rise and “refused” to target increases at the lowest earners, according to the union.The first strike is due to take place on 25 April.