By Jeremy Dewar Many hundreds of workers poured into Lifford Lane in south Birmingham from 6am onwards, many with banners and placards. They came to close the depot and prevent agency scab dustcarts from leaving, handing a temporary victory for the city’s bin workers, who have been on indefinite strike for two months, since 11 […]

Mass pickets and solidarity action could bring this strike to a rapid and successful conclusion

The Tories are up in arms, demanding Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner intervenes in the Birmingham bin strike. Their aim? Convene a Cobra meeting and break the strike by drafting in private sector scab labour.

Operating theatre nurses are on strike against plans to extend their hours, as part of Labour's plan to run the NHS on overtime

Union leader chooses militarism over internationalism

3,000 jobs are under threat at Tata Steel. The fight will have consequences across the whole industry.

Halfway through Graham’s first term, we look at the general secretary’s record and the limits of her return to ‘pure’ trade unionism.

The Tories can't be trusted with the NHS. But there can be no holding back for Labour.

Industrial disputes round-up

800 striking workers at St Mungo’s homelessness charity have escalated to indefinite action, Jeremy Dewar reports.

The fight goes on, but only rank and file control can overcome obstacles

AS WE go to press NHS managers and Health Minster Steve Barclay are dragging the largest NHS union, the Royal College of Nursing, before the High Court in a bid by to block nurses’ strike action due to start on the May Day weekend. They claimed that the strike mandate would be invalid from midnight […]

The pay offer is an insult. Organise to fight for more.

Health bulletin for 14 December 2022

By Dave Stockton Dockers in Southampton have refused to unload containers diverted from Liverpool, in defiance of shipping companies and government ministers attempts to undermine the Liverpool strike. This act of solidarity shows both the possibility and necessity of defying the anti-union laws, which outlaw secondary action and allow bosses to divert work to non-striking […]

Five hundred Liverpool dockers at England’s fourth-largest port, employed by MDHC Container Services, are to strike from 19 September to 3 October

Nurses, refuse collectors, youth workers, teachers, lecturers and civil servants are being balloted.

By Jeremy Dewar “A new deal for working people, a new social settlement for the UK” A LONDON TUC rally for the 18 June national demonstration heard speakers from a variety of disputes and strikes. Rail workers, teachers and lecturers, caterers and cleaners, civil servants were all represented. The eve-of-rally meeting, held at Congress House […]

Despite all the start-and-stop action, setbacks and limited victories, it is doubtless the case that there is a growing militant mood amongst refuse workers, which Sharon Graham’s new leadership and its organising drive on the bins has built on.

Refuse workers employed by Urbaser at Welwyn Garden City have shown the way to deal with bullying bosses.

Unite’s organising drive across the industry is spilling over into other unions, inspiring refuse workers in the GMB in particular to join the struggle.

HGV drivers striking against Coventry City Council since 31 January remain determined as ever, while the city’s Labour councillors continue strike-breaking tactics.

Editorial May 2022, No. 393

Caterpillar workers at two sites in Northern Ireland have just completed four days of strike action, 11-15 April, with more planned.

Instead of waiting for the leaders, rank and file activists and reps need to make the start.

The fight at Chep is an example of how attacks on the cost of living are eroding workers’ pay.

Unite continues to roll out its campaign

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has won a court case in defence of his plans to bring the city’s buses back into public control

Coventry’s refuse drivers have voted 94% in favour of continuing their strike as Coventry Labour councillors are suspended from Unite.

Getting organised is the first step