Latest news with #industrialAction
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Angela Rayner's civil servants launch 'work to rule' protest after being told they cannot WFH
Civil servants in 's department are launching a 'work to rule' protest after being told they cannot work from home. Staff at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, will begin the industrial action next week. It follows a dispute over the closure of six offices, the scrapping of 'location-neutral' contracts, and the enforcement of 'rigid' office attendance policies. Members of the Public and Commecial Services (PCS) union, which represents civil servants, will begin action short of a strike on Monday. This will see MHCLG staff who are PCS members work to contract, remove goodwill, and refuse to comply with non-contractual policies and processes. Civil servants in Ms Rayner's department are said to feel particularly frustrated as the Deputy PM is spearheading Labour's reforms to workers' rights. The Employment Rights Bill includes a right to request flexible working, including working from home, and measures to boost trade unions' powers. The legislation will increase the burden of justificaion on bosses so that they must accept a flexible working request unless it is 'not reasonably feasible'. The Bill also seeks to give trade unions greater freedom to organise, represent and negotiate on behalf of their workers. Martin Cavanagh, the PCS president, said: 'From removing staff from an office before the lease expires to spuriously challenging lawful notices of industrial action, the employer seems intent to avoid proper consultation, disregard fair process and alienate its staff. 'Closing local offices while rigidly enforcing mandatory office attendance doesn't make sense. The way out of this dispute is to negotiate, not frustrate.' A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'We have engaged with unions and staff about a number of proposals – including plans to expand four offices outside of London and close six offices over the next two years, as leases come to an end. 'The department will continue to have offices in every English region as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and all staff affected will be able to continue in their roles.'
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Tearing up strikes law branded ‘recklessness' by Government opponents
Ditching a strikes law meant to curb the impact of walkouts on key services is 'recklessness', Tory critics have warned at Westminster. In moving to scrap the legislation, introduced by the previous Tory administration, the Government argued it was ineffective, having failed to prevent a single day of industrial action while in force. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act became law back in July 2023 in the face of fierce opposition. The controversial move allowed ministers to impose minimum levels of service during industrial action by ambulance staff, firefighters, railway workers and those in other sectors deemed essential. It was brought in against a backdrop of disruptive strikes in the NHS and on the railway. Labour promised at the time to repeal the legislation if it got into office. Provisions contained in the Employment Rights Bill, currently going through the House of Lords, will deliver on this pledge. The Conservative opposition frontbench has called for a review to assess the impact on the emergency services of ripping up the law. Describing it as 'a public protection measure', Tory shadow business minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom said: 'The truth is that this law has teeth, it provides leverage, and it establishes a legal baseline. 'The Government want to remove it not because it is useless but because it places limits on how far certain interests can allow disruption to stretch.' He added: 'What is the Government's alternative? If we strip away the only existing mechanism for maintaining safe service levels during strikes, what replaces it? Nothing in the Bill offers an equivalent safeguard.' Lord Sharpe went on: 'We are about to discard the only statutory mechanism for ensuring minimum service level provision during strikes… without evidence, without a plan and without a single word of accountability to Parliament. That is not governance; it is recklessness.' But former general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Labour peer Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway pointed out the legislation had not been used. She said: 'That was because the Act was so widely regarded as unfair and unworkable and, in addition, that it would put fuel on the fire of difficult industrial disputes when all decent people wanted to resolve those disputes. 'Finally, it ignored the fact that life-and-limb voluntary agreements are in place in the industries and sectors where safety is genuinely at stake.' Conservative peer Baroness Noakes said: 'I accept that those in the party opposite, throughout the passage of that Bill, registered their strong opposition to it. 'So I understand that, in power, they seek to expunge it from the statute book. However, that is a grave mistake that ignores the needs of ordinary citizens and places unions above the needs of ordinary citizens.' Fellow Conservative peer Baroness Lawlor said repealing the legislation would appear to many 'as an irresponsible act of Government'. Responding, Labour minister Lord Leong said scrapping the strikes law had been an election manifesto commitment. He told peers: 'It has not prevented a single day of industrial action but has contributed to industrial unrest. 'Before the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, most industrial action was consulted on, and voluntary agreements were put in place for minimum service levels in the interests of security. The system worked perfectly, so I do not see why this Act should be in place.' In reply, Lord Sharpe said: 'All we have done is ask for the Government to pause and consider the real-world consequences of repealing a law that was designed to protect public safety during times of industrial action.' He added: 'There is no analysis of outcomes, no tracking of safety impacts, no consultation findings and no plan for what replaces the protections that they are so eager to tear down. In short, there is no case, just conviction without content.'
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Birmingham bin strike could last until end of year as workers make crucial vote
Unite has cautioned that the Birmingham bin dispute may extend until December, following a vote by workers to continue industrial action over jobs and pay. The union reported that 97 per cent of its members voted in favour of striking, with a 75 per cent turnout. The strikes initially began in January, after Unite claimed that the council had informed bin workers of potential pay cuts of up to £8,000, which for some, represents a quarter of their wages. Despite talks held under the conciliation service Acas, the dispute remains unresolved. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week." 'True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May. 'It had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations. 'It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully. It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. 'The decision-makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. 'Unite calls on the decision-makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.' A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute. 'We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response.' The council denied that the leader or the Commissioners had watered down any offer. It added that Unite's ballot was not a response to the council's latest offer that made through Acas. A spokesperson for Acas said: 'We recognise the challenges on all sides and the desire to find a resolution, and we stand ready to offer our support.'
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Bin workers in Birmingham vote to continue strikes over pay and jobs
Unite has warned that the Birmingham bin dispute could last until December after workers voted to continue industrial action in a long-running dispute over jobs and pay. The union said its members voted by 97% in favour of strike action on a 75% turnout. Strikes began in January after Unite said the council told the bin workers they would face pay cuts of up to £8,000 – a quarter of their wages for some. Talks have been held under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week. 'True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May. 'It had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations. 'It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully. It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. 'The decision-makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. 'Unite calls on the decision-makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.' A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and the council remains committed to resolving this dispute. 'We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response.' The council denied that the leader or the Commissioners had watered down any offer. It added that Unite's ballot was not a response to the council's latest offer that made through Acas.
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Birmingham bin strikes ‘could last until Christmas'
Unite has warned that the Birmingham bin dispute could last until December after workers voted to continue industrial action. The union said its members voted 97 per cent in favour of strike action on a 75 per cent turnout. Strikes began in January after Unite claimed Birmingham city council told the bin workers they would face pay cuts of up to £8,000 – a quarter of their wages for some. Talks have been held via the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked. Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, said a proposal the council sent in writing last week 'came weeks late and was not in the ballpark' of offers discussed during Acas talks in May. She added: 'After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week. 'True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May. 'It had been watered down by the Government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations.' She said it was 'hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on.' Ms Graham added: 'The decision-makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. 'Unite calls on the decision-makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.' Kevin Hollinrake MP, shadow local government secretary, said: 'It is yet more misery for residents of Birmingham at the hands of a Labour Party in hock to the unions. 'All Labour has done since they have got in is bend over backwards for the union barons who bankroll their party, but they still hold local residents to ransom. With the Employment Rights Bill looming and Angela Rayner on manoeuvres, it's a taste of things to come. 'It's about time Labour either ended this once and for all or apologised to hard-working residents affected by their gross incompetence.' Labour has previously been accused of 'sabotaging' talks to end the strikes as Unite alleged an offer was 'blocked' by Government-appointed commissioners. The commissioners were brought in by the previous Conservative government after the council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'This will be disappointing news, especially for the city's residents. We urge Unite to suspend its industrial action so both parties can continue negotiating in good faith and bring this dispute to an end. 'We will continue to act to protect public health whenever necessary.'
