Latest news with #industrial action
The Herald
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald
FlySafair pilots to embark on two-week strike after deadlock in wage negotiations
FlySafair pilots belonging to the Solidarity workers' union will embark on a two-week strike from Monday after a deadlock in wage negotiations with management. The duration of strike, which was initially planned to take place over one day, was changed to 14 days after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) agreed to the rules for the industrial action. In a statement on Friday, the union said due to the company's unwillingness to meet the demands of the workers, they were left with no other option but to down their tools. 'In its reaction to the company's aggressive action, Solidarity decided to extend the one-day strike initially planned to 14 days.' The more than 200 pilots are demanding a 10% salary increase and improved working conditions. FlySafair's offer to workers of a 5.7% salary increase along with some additional adjustments to compensation was rejected by the vast majority of Solidarity's members. The labour union accused the airline of issuing a seven-day lockout for pilots represented by Solidarity. 'This step indicates that the airline is deliberately opting for a prolonged and destabilising conflict, which could possibly be extended by another seven days should Solidarity and its members not comply with management's controversial demands. This means that no flights can be guaranteed for the next two weeks.' The union claims the airline is in a good financial position as it recently made millions through the sale of shares. 'Ironically, this lockout was announced while, according to media reports, two of FlySafair's most senior management members, CEO Elmar Conradie and CFO Pieter Richards, have recently realised more than R90m by selling shares — possibly at the expense of FlySafair's licence conditions.' TimesLIVE
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Workers at huge site 'set to go hungry' in row over 'poverty pay'
Canteen staff at Fawley refinery are set to strike in a move their union says will leave fellow workers at the huge site "famished". Caterers employed by the London-based Compass Group are threatening to walk out later this month and again in August over what the union Unite describes as "poverty pay". Unite claims that canteen workers receive only slightly more than the minimum wage. According to the union, Compass is the world's largest catering provider and made more than £1.2bn in operating profits in the six months to March 2025. Canteen staff at Fawley refinery are set to strike over what their union describes as 'poverty pay' (Image: Stephen Bath) Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: "The Compass Group is a hugely rich company that is refusing these workers a fair pay rise. "Unite will not let this happen - the Fawley canteen workers have their union's full support in taking strike action for as long as is necessary." READ MORE: ExxonMobil Fawley to burn blue flares in the New Forest Two strikes on July 25-28 and August 1-4 will involve more than 20 staff at three facilities. Rebecca Johns-Lawrence, the union's regional officer, said: "Esso will not be happy that workers at Fawley will be famished. "There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require the company putting forward an acceptable offer, which Fawley bosses should be pressuring Compass to do." Canteen staff at Fawley refinery are set to strike over what their union describes as 'poverty pay' (Image: Stephen Bath) The refinery occupies a 3,250-acre site and is the largest facility of its type in the UK. It makes a wide range of everyday products using processes that provide employment for more than 2,500 staff and contractors. A spokesperson for Eurest, which is part of Compass, said: "We are disappointed by the decision of our employees to ballot for industrial action. "We have proposed a pay offer we believe is fair in light of the current economic backdrop. Our colleagues are all paid Real Living Wage or above and have access to a range of benefits. We remain open to resolving this issue swiftly. 'We have put in place alternative arrangements to ensure catering is still provided to the employees on site while industrial action is underway." Esso is part of ExxonMobil, which said the proposed strikes were not in anyone's interest. "We encourage employers and representatives to work together constructively to reach a resolution as quickly as possible. We have taken contingencies to ensure on-site personnel are not impacted."
The Independent
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Unite boss accuses Angela Rayner of ‘totally and utterly abhorrent' behaviour as clash with Labour escalates
The leader of Unite has described Angela Rayner's behaviour during recent bin strikes as 'totally and utterly abhorrent' as tensions ramp up between the government and Labour's biggest union backers. General secretary Sharon Graham hit out at the deputy prime minister after the union voted to suspend her in a row over how the Labour-run council in Birmingham treated striking bin workers. The union, one of Labour's biggest financial backers, claims fire and rehire tactics had 'effectively' been deployed against striking workers, who are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay and job conditions. In a fresh attack on Saturday, Ms Graham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Angela Rayner refuses to get involved, and she is directly aiding and abetting the fire and rehire of these bin workers, it is totally and utterly abhorrent." The general secretary said Ms Rayner had been "a member of our union for over 10 years". Allies of Ms Rayner have said she resigned from Unite in April. Ms Graham said the politician may well have done 'Houdini act' in recent months by trying to leave the Union, but added: "She was very clearly a member when she asked us to give her £10,000 for the election. And on our system, obviously we go by quarters, so up to the March quarter." She added: "Now, if she has over the last couple of weeks, because she's seen the mood music, because this isn't the first time that we've discussed that we're not happy with what's going on, then she may well have done that." Ms Graham hinted that the union may have to rethink its relationship with Labour, adding that Unite members have to see that the fee to affiliate with Labour is "worth something'. "At this present moment in time, it is hard to justify it, if I'm being honest,' she continued. 'Would that money be better spent on frontline services for my members? But the decision will be a serious decision. It's not a rash decision."
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Unite votes to suspend Angela Rayner's membership over Birmingham bins dispute
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been suspended from membership of Unite over the Government's handling of the Birmingham bin strikes, the union said following a vote of its membership. Despite the union's vote, a source close to Ms Rayner said she had already resigned membership of Unite some months ago. But in a sign of a growing divide between the major union and Labour, Unite also voted to 're-examine its relationship' with the party. The move comes after Unite members debated a motion at their conference in Brighton, where they condemned the Labour-run council in Birmingham, and the Government, for their approach to the bin workers. The union said fire and rehire tactics had 'effectively' been deployed against striking workers, who are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay and job conditions. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite is crystal clear it will call out bad employers regardless of the colour of their rosette. 'Angela Rayner has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts.' She added: 'The disgraceful actions of the Government and a so-called Labour council is essentially fire and rehire and makes a joke of the Employment Relations Act promises. 'People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour Government on and coming up with the answer not workers.' A Downing Street spokesman said the Government's priority throughout the dispute had 'always' been Birmingham's residents. The No 10 spokesman also told reporters: 'As you know, Unite's industrial action caused disruption to waste collection. 'We have worked intensively with the council to tackle the backlog and clean up the streets for the residents for public health. 'We remain in close contact with the council and continue to monitor the situation as we support its recovery and transformation 'I think it's important to look back to the context of this dispute: Unite is in dispute against Birmingham City Council's decision to reform unfair staff structures, which were a major cause of unequal pay claims and left the council liable to hundreds of millions of pounds in claims, and that was a key factor cited in the council section 114 notice in 2023, declaring bankruptcy.'
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Angela Rayner stripped of Unite union membership over Birmingham bins dispute
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been suspended from membership of the union Unite over the Government's handling of the Birmingham bin strikes. Unite has also voted to 're-examine its relationship with Labour', in a sign of a growing divide between the major union and the Labour Party. The move comes after a vote by Unite members at their conference in Brighton, where they condemned the Labour-run council in Birmingham, and the Government, for their approach to the bin workers. The union said fire and rehire tactics had 'effectively' been deployed against striking workers, who are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay and job conditions. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite is crystal clear it will call out bad employers regardless of the colour of their rosette. 'Angela Rayner has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts.'
