Latest news with #paydispute
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Scottish Water staff to hold third strike over pay
Scottish Water workers are going on strike again after rejecting the company's latest pay of three unions - the GMB, Unite and Unison - will walk out for seven days until Sunday, following strikes in March and have again been offered a 3.4% pay increase, which unions say falls short of what other public sector workers in Scotland have Water said the offer was "comfortably" above inflation and there was no need for the strike to go ahead. It initially offered workers a basic pay rise of 3.4% or £1,050 for those on the lowest after a 24-hour strike in March and two strike days in April, the offer was changed to 2.8%.A further walk-out was due to be held earlier in May, though this was paused when pay talks resumed to allow workers to consider the latest 51% of Unison workers voted to reject the pay offer and 49% voted to accept. The turnout was 86%.GMB said 60% of its members voted against the offer, and 40% chose to accept, on a turnout of 78%.Unite's statistics were not available. 'Game-playing' claim Unison's Scottish Water branch secretary Patricia McArthur said that staff were "extremely frustrated" and accused management of "game-playing".She said: "The company seems more interested in spending public money on anti-union tactics than in finding a solution to this pay dispute."Its managers proposed a possible pay offer, but then retracting it, only to come up with something much worse."The upcoming strikes are expected to disrupt emergency repairs, testing and maintenance, though Scottish Water said "robust" plans were in place to maintain essential services.A joint union demonstration will take place outside Scottish Water's Shieldhall offices in Glasgow on operating officer Peter Farrer said: "It is now time for the unions to come forward with a proposal that is fair for workers, customers, and the future of the business."He said it was in everyone's interests to avoid the strike, adding that workers would lose wages and the service would be put under "unnecessary pressure".
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Doctors threaten co-ordinated strikes to bring NHS to standstill despite Labour begging them to accept inflation-busting pay offers
Doctors are threatening co-ordinated industrial action to bring the NHS to an effective standstill unless pay demands are met. Resident doctors - previously known as junior doctors - have suggested they will work together with consultants and specialists to maximise the impact. The move comes as a ballot is held over strikes that could last six months in England, despite Health Secretary Wes Streeting begging medics to accept inflation-busting pay offers. Mr Streeting said walkouts should be the last resort, with warnings they would be 'immensely disruptive for patient care'. He pointed out that the average 5.4 per cent award for resident doctors is the highest in the public sector. They controversially claim wages have fallen 23 per cent in real terms since 2008. 'I met twice with Resident Doctors in May and at the last meeting I offered to meet their entire committee. I can't offer a higher pay increase: resident doctors have the highest pay award in the entire public sector. These are not grounds that warrant strike action,' Mr Streeting said. The co-chairs of the British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors committee are calling on members to vote for strikes. Mr Streeting said walkouts should be the last resort, with warnings they would be 'immensely disruptive for patient care' Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt told The Sunday Times that consultants and specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors could work together over their separate disputes. Dr Ryan, who works in Nottingham, said: 'We know how much the strikes last time were disruptive to patient care and the waiting list, but we also know exactly how much they cost the government and it was more than what it would cost to get to full pay restoration. 'Resident doctors are balloting for strike action but now you've got the consultant committee and you've got the SAS doctors also in a pay dispute with the Government. 'So last time we ended up co-ordinating some action and it was immensely disruptive for patient care, and we can see that on the horizon for this Government too.' 'We will have a mandate that runs from the end of July to the beginning of January 2026,' she continued. 'I am hoping that we will never get to the point where we have to take strike action but… we have three grades of doctors that are in pay disputes with the Government and there could be terrible disruption if the Government doesn't intervene soon.' Dr Nieuwoudt, a resident doctor in Liverpool, claimed Mr Streeting has become unwilling to engage. '(He) seems to have gone from being the guy that was saying, 'Get in the room; talk it out; solve the problem,' to the guy that's not even willing to have that conversation with us,' he told the newspaper. A recent YouGov poll found that 48 per cent of Britons oppose resident doctors going on strike, while 39 per cent support them taking action. YouGov said this 'marks a shift in opinion' of public support of striking junior doctors last summer, when the majority of Britons – 52 per cent – said they supported the action. It highlighted how Labour supporters were most supportive of strike action, with Conservatives expressing the strongest opposition. Resident doctors said their pay has declined by '23 per cent in real terms since 2008'. If they vote to strike, walkouts could begin in July and could potentially last until January 2026. The Government accepted salary recommendations from pay review bodies earlier this month, resulting in an average 5.4 per cent rise for resident doctors. A leading patients' organisation said it was 'deeply concerned' about the prospect of strike action in the NHS over the busy winter period. The Patients Association highlighted how previous strike action from doctors in training led to 1.3million appointments, procedures and operations being postponed, with the true figure 'likely to be much higher'. The BMA ballot is due to close on July 7.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Gatwick strike action poses threat to start of summer holidays
British holidaymakers may face disruption ahead of summer as staff at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are to stage fresh strikes in a dispute over pay and conditions. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union based at sites including Gatwick airport will walk out on June 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18, following stoppages in January and March. Pay negotiations for 2025-26 are under way, but PCS warned the gap between the two sides was 'significant'. Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said: 'We're frustrated and disappointed after management imposed a 2024 pay offer without engaging in meaningful negotiations. 'The current offer – a one-off, non-consolidated payment of £1,150 – has been rejected by union members as inadequate amid rising living costs and concerns about long-term pay erosion. 'Our members deserve a fair pay rise that reflects the cost of living, restores the value of their salaries and recognises the value of their work. Instead, CAA has chosen to bypass negotiations and impose a deal, which is unacceptable to us.' A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'We continue to engage with our PCS trade union colleagues, and after prolonged discussions it is disappointing that PCS trade union members are taking industrial action in June. 'PCS trade union members make up approximately 5 per cent of the CAA's employees and we do not anticipate any disruption to the aviation sector, or any impact on our regulatory oversight activities or other safety and security critical work, as a result of this action.' Previously in April, Unite, the union, warned of 'flight delays, cancellations, long queues at check-in and baggage delays', in Gatwick. Staff who worked for Red Handling, a firm that provides baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers for the airlines Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace, staged the strike over the Easter weekend.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Scottish Water staff plan seven-day strike after pay offer rejected
Scottish Water staff are to strike for another seven days after they rejected the latest pay offer. Workers represented by the GMB, Unite and Unison unions announced on Friday they have rejected a 3.4% pay increase, and will now take subsequent action 'to demand the fair deal they deserve'. Strikes will begin on Monday and will continue throughout the week, with the last day being Sunday June 8. It follows two prior days of industrial action in April. In a marginal majority, 51% of Unison workers employed by the water supplier voted to reject the pay offer, and 49% voted to accept. The turnout was 86%. GMB said 60% of its members voted against the offer, and 40% chose to accept, on a turnout of 78%. Unite's statistics were not available. Scottish Water said it had made a 'strong offer that is comfortably above inflation'. The upcoming strikes are expected to disrupt emergency repairs, testing and maintenance, and a joint union demonstration will take place outside Scottish Water's Shieldhall offices in Glasgow on Wednesday. Unison Scottish Water branch secretary Patricia McArthur said: 'Staff are extremely frustrated. They deserve better than game-playing by senior Scottish Water managers. 'The company seems more interested in spending public money on anti-union tactics than in finding a solution to this pay dispute. 'Its managers proposed a possible pay offer, but then retracted it, only to come up with something much worse.' Unison Scotland regional manager Simon Macfarlane added: 'The latest pay offer falls far short of what other public sector workers in Scotland have received. Scottish Water staff will now form picket lines across the country to demand the fair deal they deserve.' GMB Scotland accused Scottish Water bosses of making the strikes an inevitability after pay talks faltered. Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser in Scottish Water, has now written to Gillian Martin, the acting Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, detailing concern about the dispute. She said: 'Doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result is both the definition of madness and Scottish Water's idea of industrial relations. 'The company has allowed these negotiations to stumble on for months when a simple, transparent and fair pay offer would have been welcomed by our members and averted industrial action. 'Scottish Water's refusal to engage with negotiations in a serious and uncomplicated way has led us here and, unless that changes, the dispute will continue and industrial action will escalate.' Sam Ritchie, industrial officer for Unite, said: 'Unite's 500-strong membership at Scottish Water have overwhelmingly rejected the latest wage offer. It only amounted to an extra £250 over two years, which is unacceptable. ' Management also withdrew an offer to increase a performance-related bonus which could boost pay by a further £200, which has further infuriated the workforce. Over nine months Scottish Water has had the opportunity to make a fair and reasonable offer to our members, and they have consistently refused to do so. 'The chief executive, Alex Plant, has refused to become involved in pay negotiations while walking away with a publicly funded remuneration package totalling £483,000.' Scottish Water says it made the pay offer in line with the unions' recommendations. Chief operating officer Peter Farrer said: 'There is no need for next week's industrial action to go ahead. 'Scottish Water has made a strong offer that is comfortably above inflation. 'It is now time for the unions to come forward with a proposal that is fair for workers, customers, and the future of the business. 'We're ready to meet at any time this weekend. It is in everyone's interests to avoid next week's strike. 'If it goes ahead, those who take part in the industrial action will lose valuable wages and an essential service will be put under unnecessary pressure. 'In the meantime, we have robust plans in place to maintain essential services should the trade unions press ahead with their strike action.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Ministers have set out their policy in relation to public sector pay. 'It is a matter for Scottish Water and its Unions to agree a settlement within the constraints of that policy and affordability. 'The Scottish Government urges both parties to resume negotiations to find an agreement.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
NSW government has made a deal on a long-running pay dispute with train unions
The long-running pay dispute between the NSW government and train unions, that led to months of on-off chaos for commuters, appears to have been resolved. The government and unions on Friday agreed in the Fair Work Commission to a 12 per cent pay rise over three years. The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union and the Electrical Trades Union had been seeking a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, while the government offered a 9.5 per cent rise over three years. 'This agreement will bring relief to the disruption from protected industrial action that a million daily rail commuters have been forced to endure while just trying to get to work and get around,' Transport Minister John Graham said. The dispute led to a series of industrial action, that disrupted travel for millions since last September. The deal ends protected industrial action by the Combined Rail Unions and allows Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink to focus on improving reliability across the network, the government said in a statement. However, the ETU is expected to reject the deal. 'This afternoon, the Combined Rail Unions (CRU) reached an in-principle agreement with Sydney Trains and NSW Trains for a new enterprise agreement,' the CRU said. 'Unfortunately, the ETU is blocking a vote by members effectively withholding any pay rise or new conditions that our EA delegates have fought so hard for. 'The reason they are blocking a vote is due to a misconceived claim to create a 'new section' for their members, for a purpose nobody understands.' The proposed Enterprise Agreement, facilitated by the Fair Work Commission, delivers rail workers a 12 per cent pay rise over three years plus back pay. It will deliver agreement on a number of technology-based solutions to improve recovery times when incidents on the tracks bring the system to a halt. For example, train crews will support the introduction of a new digital disruption management system that will end the current practice that relies on a manual system of phone calls and paper-based instructions during recovery from an incident. The unions and government have also reached agreement to move to a streamlined process for consulting on new fleet, systems and infrastructure projects. Mr Graham said the bitter dispute had 'strained the patience of train passengers'. 'But in finalising this deal we have made a very important investment in reliability,' he said. 'This much-needed reset allows us to implement improvements for passengers with the full support of the rail workforce and unions. 'We said we would sign off on a fair and reasonable wage rise for our rail workers that protects taxpayer's money, and that is exactly what we have done. 'I want to thank the commuting public for their patience as we got this agreement done.'
