Latest news with #SharonGraham
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bin strike deal offer watered down, says union
A deal offered to striking bin workers in Birmingham has been watered down, their union claims. Unite has called for further negotiations with the city council after a "ball park" proposal discussed at talks with conciliation service Acas had been revised "by government commissioners and the council leader". An all-out strike in the city is now in its third month, after staff walked out on 11 March over plans to downgrade some roles, which the union says could cost workers £8,000 a year. Birmingham City Council has been approached for a response over the current deal it is offering. Talks between the Labour-run council and Unite have been taking place with the conciliation service since the start of May, after previous negotiations to resolve the strike ended without a solution. The union's latest statement accuses the authority of missing deadlines on the proposals which had been tabled on Friday evening. "After weeks and weeks of saying one thing in public and another to workers, the government commissioners finally allow a proposal to be put on the table," said Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham. She said the offer had been watered down by the council leader and government commissioners "who were not in the negotiating room". Ms Graham said the offer would be discussed with reps over the weekend and a detailed response would be issued ahead of a reconvened Acas meeting. "The actual decision makers now need to be in the room at the further ACAS talks," she said. A court order preventing striking workers from delaying bin lorries leaving depots in the city will continue indefinitely, it was confirmed on Thursday. The union said it was preparing to challenge the injunction, but said it agreed to abide by the law on picketing. On 23 May, when the injunction was granted, the city council said disruption at depots had led to a backlog of up to 12,800 tonnes of waste. Police recently scaled down their presence on picket lines, where they had been helping to ensure bin trucks could get out of the depots, to prevent waste piling up on city streets. The West Midlands force withdrew after stating the issues did "not meet the threshold" to impose powers under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Bin strike picket court order to continue indefinitely Council gets court order over bin lorry blocking Union blames council for lack of bin strike deal Why are Birmingham bin workers on strike? Birmingham City Council Unite the Union
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Birmingham bin strike deal offer was watered down, says union
A deal offered to striking bin workers in Birmingham has been watered down, their union has called for further negotiations with the city council after a "ball park" proposal discussed at talks with conciliation service Acas had been revised "by government commissioners and the council leader".An all-out strike in the city is now in its third month, after staff walked out on 11 March over plans to downgrade some roles, which the union says could cost workers £8,000 a City Council has been approached for a response over the current deal it is offering. Talks between the Labour-run council and Unite have been taking place with the conciliation service since the start of May, after previous negotiations to resolve the strike ended without a union's latest statement accuses the authority of missing deadlines on the proposals which had been tabled on Friday evening. "After weeks and weeks of saying one thing in public and another to workers, the government commissioners finally allow a proposal to be put on the table," said Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham. She said the offer had been watered down by the council leader and government commissioners "who were not in the negotiating room". The union leader said the offer would be discussed with reps over the weekend and a detailed response would be issued ahead of a reconvened Acas meeting. "The actual decision makers now need to be in the room at the further ACAS talks," she said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I was 15 when my 'father' called me into the living room and brutally told me I'd been adopted. Now, after 50 years, I've finally tracked down my real dad - and the firebrand union chief who's my long-lost half-sister
Sharon Graham in full flight is something to behold. Fist aloft... blazing rhetoric... cries of solidarity. Spellbound comrades cheer her every exhortation. In the first female leader of Unite, Britain's most powerful union, it is easy to recognise the firebrand orators of old.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits brace for summer holiday chaos as major UK airports threaten strike action
UK holidaymakers could experience serious travel disruption over the busy summer holiday period, as workers in two major airports could ballot over strike action against their employer Brits could face serious travel disruption over the summer holidays, as workers at two major UK airports threaten strike action. Unite the Union has revealed that staff at Edinburgh and Glasgow Airport have overwhelmingly rejected 'unacceptable' pay offers from their employer, Menzies Aviation. An overwhelming 97 per cent of around 300 workers at Glasgow Airport and 100 per cent of some 300 workers at Edinburgh Airport voted against the proposed deals. The union has since warned that unless Menzies Aviation presents an improved offer, it will be forced to ballot members for strike action, potentially causing summer travel chaos. "Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren't good enough," Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said. "Menzies Aviation has the ability to improve its offers and they can easily resolve this pay dispute without any disruption to the travelling public. If the company fail to table a better offer to our members, Unite will have no option but to ballot our members for strikes over the summer holidays." Glasgow rejected a 4.25 per cent pay increase, while Edinburgh rejected a four per cent increase. The union emphasised that the ground crew workers, including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers, all play a vital role in supporting major airlines. The threat of industrial action follows similar tensions last year. However, these strikes were called off when workers accepted a new and improved pay deal in July, 2024. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: "Unite's Menzies members have emphatically rejected unacceptable pay offers. The Menzies group is posting sky-high profits and our members who contribute towards this success deserve far better from the company." Last year, Edinburgh Airport handled a record-breaking 15.78 million passengers, a 10 per cent increase compared to the year before. Despite only having one runway and one terminal, 37 airlines operate from the hub - travelling to 155 different destinations. Glasgow Airport is much smaller, and only welcomed 7.5 million passengers last year. Still, it was a 13 per cent increase from the previous year - and outranks Aberdeen (2.2 million) and Inverness (801,000) combined. According to reports, the hub flies to 27 different countries and offers 185 routes. If your flight has been cancelled delayed in the last six year, or five in Scotland, you could still be eligible for compensation. You can find out more here.
STV News
6 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Holidaymakers warned as strikes loom at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports
Scots holidaymakers are being warned that strike action during the summer holidays is looming at two major airports in a dispute over pay. Unite the union said ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected 'unacceptable' separate pay offers from the company. It warned unless Menzies Aviation tables a better offer it will have no option but to ballot members for strike action. Menzies Aviation said it hopes to 'reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees at both Edinburgh and Glasgow'. Unite said around 300 Menzies Aviation workers, 97% of those balloted, rejected a basic uplift offer worth around 4.25% at Glasgow Airport. At Edinburgh Airport, 100% of some 300 workers balloted rejected an offer worth around 4%. Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: 'Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren't good enough. 'Menzies Aviation has the ability to improve its offers and they can easily resolve this pay dispute without any disruption to the travelling public. 'If the company fail to table a better offer to our members, Unite will have no option but to ballot our members for strikes over the summer holidays.' The union said the ground crew workers – who include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers – provide essential support for a host of major airlines. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite's Menzies members have emphatically rejected unacceptable pay offers. 'The Menzies group is posting sky-high profits and our members who contribute towards this success deserve far better from the company.' Phil Lloyd, senior vice-president UK for Menzies Aviation, said: 'Following the rejection of recent pay award proposals, we remain committed to seeking a resolution. 'We have invited Unite to return to the table to continue discussions this week and hope to reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees at both Edinburgh and Glasgow. 'We will continue to work to pursue an agreeable solution to protect services for our airline and airport partners and their customers.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
