Today's top stories...Selby bin strikes off after pay win

Selby bin strikes by refuse workers employed by Urbaser on behalf of the North Yorkshire unitary authority have ended after an improved pay deal was secured.

The workers voted to accept the deal, which will see pay increase by eight per cent backdated to April for all workers. Drivers will also see their bonus for this year consolidated into basic pay, meaning their wages will increase by 15.1 per cent.

In addition, a single payment of £57.45 will be applied when collection crews are reduced from three workers to two. These payments will be backdated for every instance of reduced crew working since April.   

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Urbaser’s Selby workforce were determined to win a fair pay deal and they should be applauded for standing firm in their union and achieving this excellent result. Once again, Unite’s unrelenting focus on improving jobs, pay and conditions is winning for workers.”

Luton airport facing major disruption tomorrow due to industrial action

Passenger using Luton Airport tomorrow (Wednesday August 30) are facing extensive disruption and delays as workers at three different companies are involved in strike action.

The most severe disruption is set to be caused by the walkout of workers at ground handlers GH London, due to a complete breakdown in industrial relation. GH London is responsible for all Wizz Air’s ground handling operations at the airport.

The 100 plus workers are taking strike action as a result of GH London continually targeting and threatening a Unite rep with disciplinary action; the use of CCTV and audio recording of workers in break rooms without agreement; the company’s failure to follow its own disciplinary and grievance process; the disproportionate use of discipline against ethnic minority employees; and its failure to pay wages in full and on time. Further strikes have been announced for September 6 and 13.

Last ditch talks aimed at resolving the dispute held at the conciliation service Acas today (Tuesday, August 29) ended without agreement.

Workers employed by Saase Limited on the airports outsourced cleaning contract will also be on strike tomorrow. The workers who are paid just £10.90 an hour, have rejected a below inflation pay increase. The strike will result in dirty toilets and an unkempt airport.

Both groups of workers will also be joined by car park workers employed by APCOA. The workers are taking industrial action as a result of their company imposing a below inflation pay offer. Strike action results in delays for passengers and staff who use the car parks and terminal at Luton Airport. The workers taking action include valet parking workers and bus drivers transporting passengers and staff from car parks to the airport terminal.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Passenger delays and flight disruption are inevitable at Luton Airport tomorrow. The strike action being taken is a direct result of the companies concerned failing to treat staff fairly and decently.”

“Unite’s focus on workers’ jobs, pay and conditions means that there is no way we will accept our members being mistreated or underpaid.”

Scottish university and college workers strike set to disrupt new academic term

Unite the union has today (August 29) confirmed that around 1,000 members employed in four universities and four colleges across Scotland are set to take strike action during the first weeks of the new academic term.

The trade union recently confirmed it received industrial action mandates from its members at the University of Glasgow, Dundee University, Abertay University, Edinburgh Napier University and Strathclyde University. 

There will be five days of action over the course of two weeks involving staff at four universities, which are as follows: 13-15 September and 18-19 September. No date, as yet, has been announced for Edinburgh Napier, where Unite also has a mandate for strike action. Unite’s members involved in the pay dispute include technicians, cleaners, security officers, and janitors.

The vast majority of Unite members have had a 5-6 per cent pay offer imposed on them. The pay imposition follows a derisory uplift of 3 per cent for the majority of members in 2022. The current dispute is part of a UK wide higher education pay dispute. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Around 1,000 Unite members across four universities and four colleges will take strike action because their employers do not value them enough to make a fair wage offer. Unite will not tolerate the imposition of any pay offers, never mind a real terms pay cut.”

“Any disruption to students will be on the heads of those running the pay bodies, colleges and universities, who incidentally are not suffering any cost-of-living crisis. Unite will fully support our higher and further education members in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

Compiled by UniteLive team