UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Saturday 20 March 2010

Management diktat instead of negotiation the common cause of BA and Civil Service disputes - solidarity with Unite & PCS‏

The two national disputes concerning BA cabin crew and members of PCS working in the civil service have the same underlying cause – the unilateral imposition by management of changes - and repudiation of past agreements - which create significant detriment to the affected workers.

Cabin crew members of Unite commenced 3 days strike action just after midnight today after talks at the TUC collapsed.

BA had refused to table acceptable proposals on the issues of job cuts at the airline. Unite is holding a rally today in London in support of those members taking action. As Unite Assistant GS Len McCluskey stated in the Guardian last week: ‘Over the last few months these employees have been bullied by some of the airline's pilots, harassed by its managers, demonised by its PR specialists and stalked online by its internet snooping brigade. It is testimony to the determination of these "middle-England" employees that they have twice voted for industrial action to defend their dignity in the face of these tactics, worthy only of a Victorian mill owner.’
http://www.unitetheunion.com/campaigns/ba_united_we_stand.aspx


PCS members across the UK will be taking a further day of action on 24 March following two days of solid national action on 8/9 March.The dispute concerns changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme which significantly cut redundancy pay entitlements. Negotiations were ended by the Government before agreement had been reached with PCS and almost half of PCS members stand to be worse off. Yesterday the PCS campaign battle bus called at UNISON head office on a tour of London and next week will see PCS campaigning activities and protests taking place nationwide – for details see:
http://www.pcs.org.uk/