Postal workers wildcat in York

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:31:54 +0000

Collections drivers at the York mail centre struck during the afternoon shift yesterday over disciplinary action being taken against a colleague. A Royal mail spokesman claimed that 30 workers walked out at 1.30 pm, leading to managers covering their duties, collecting mail from postboxes and businesses around the city.
A Communication Workers Union spokesperson declined to give details to the newspapers, for fear of affecting the disciplinary today. The CWU did confirm the strike was ended.

Royal Bank of Scotland protest

Wed, 28 May 2008 16:52:45 +0000

People from groups across the city and both Universities took part in a banner protest outside Royal Bank of Scotland's central branch in the city. Leaflets were handed out sumarising RBS's climate crimes.

The action was held on Mayday, the day of action against False Capitalist Solutions.

Local newspaper journalists go on 5 day strike in York over below-inflation pay rises

Thu, 22 May 2008 21:54:59 +0000

NUJ journalists at local newspapers The York Press and The Gazette and Herald of Malton have begun a 5-day walk-out over below inflation pay rises and continually worsening pay conditions. The strikers are demanding a 3.5% pay increase, in line with the offers made to journalists at other UK local newspapers owned by the same company, US media giant Gannet.
Both sides of the road outside the Walmgate offices are picketed, with a group of strikers canvassing for support in the city centre today being followed at a discrete distance by four police officers.
Workers on the pickets complain of the fact that US shareholders are currently "making a fortune" whilst their pay continually stagnates. Their daily strike paper, the York Stress points out that the business that owns the paper, Newsquest York, made an operating profit of £4.3 million last year, whilst the company's owners, Gannett, gave its shareholders an extra 18% in dividends in 2007. Gannet made a $1 billion dollar profit last year.
Both the workers and their strike paper complain of ever-worsening conditions and management belligerence:
Quote:
"Newsquest, a subsidiary of the massive American corporation Gannett - is refusing to budge beyond an offer of 3%. With inflation running at 4.2% this amounts to a real-terms pay cut of 1.2%, which is unacceptable to our members who have endured years of below-inflation pay rises. We have already lost out after the company announced pension scheme members would have to pay an extra 4% for the same benefits ...
last year, we suffered massive understaffing, meaning not only our members, but the quality of the paper suffered. The equation is always the same: more work for less pay ...
Newsquest is pleading poverty while raking in £4.3 million a year in York. That cash goes straight out of Yorkshire to satisfy Garnett's American shareholders who last year enjoyed $1 billion profits. How can this be fair when a graduate trainee at The Press, with a mountain of debt, is paid just £13,500 a year?
The most any non-management journalist at the company could ever hope to earn is £22,500 - even those with decades of experience cannot hope to break through this glass ceiling."
Whilst increasing workloads, contributing to already unsociable working hours, management has refused to move, even in the face of union concessions. A union offer to accept recommendations from arbitrators ACAS has been met with management silence.
The average wage in York is £30,000.

Five-day strike set for The Press

Wed, 14 May 2008 22:17:23 +0000

NUJ members
at Newsquest York are set to take five days of strike action next week
after a failure by management to make an acceptable pay-offer.

The
action will affect The Press, the company’s main paper in the city, as
well as other Newsquest titles including the Gazette & Herald. The
strike will run from Thursday 22 May until Monday 26 May.

The
decision to stage a five-day walkout was taken at a meeting of NUJ
members on 8 May, following eight months of negotiations that have
failed to result in a deal on pay. The company has made a
below-inflation offer of three per cent, which has been rejected by the
union’s members at the York titles.

There is particular anger
that management will not match pay-offers given to journalists at other
Newsquest centres. Chapel reps say the below-inflation pay-offer comes
against a background of increased workloads, understaffing and attacks
on members’ pensions.

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate said:
"NUJ members at Newsquest York are frustrated and infuriated in equal
measure. This dispute is a result of management intransigence getting
in the way of securing a reasonable deal.

"We’ve been patient
throughout eight months of negotiations and have put forward a number
of proposals to solve the dispute. We offered to bring in NUJ national
officials and suggested going to ACAS for arbitration. At every turn we
have been rebuffed and management is refusing to budge.

"Newsquest still has time to avoid this dispute by returning to the table for genuine and meaningful negotiations.

"Journalists
at The Press and the Gazette & Herald want to get on with reporting
news to the local community. It’s a real shame that management’s
failure to move on pay has forced them into taking this action."

See www.nujyork.blogspot.com for more.

International Women's Week: Benefit Dance Party

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:31:26 +0000

York put on a full and varied programme of events for International Women's Week. Professor Haleh Afshar gave a talk on the struggle for equal pay for women (followed by discussion and questions), York Lesbian Line held a disco, there was a Creative Writing session on the theme of Motherhood, a laughter workshop, and many other events, not all exclusively for women. I went to the Women's Hafla - Benefit Dance Party, and enjoyed tasters in various styles of dance, an indian head massage, and a delicious bring and share buffet.

The event was organised by York's Circle Dance group, who get many of their dances from the Balkans. They wanted to give something back to the region, therefore all profit from the event went to Medica Zenica, a charity who works with women rape survivors and their children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

January Critical Mass Ride Shock - Rain!

plainer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:23:16 +0000

The January ride saw the first time in fourteen months that's it's been raining too heavily to get a CM off the ground!

Those of us that braved the storms saw the sense of retiring to a pub for a warming pint.

The moral: there's always a reason to turn up, first Friday of the month by the Minster, 5:30 for 6.

NEW BIKE SLIPS ATTACHED!

York Critical Mass

Union success story

IWW York — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:30:25 +0000

£70,000 secured for workers - sacked worker reinstated

In its first nine months operating in York the IWW has won over £70,000 in back pay and compensation for local workers.

Cleaners, hotel staff, shop assistants and security guards are just some of the people finding out that a little union can pack a big punch.

Where employers have taken money off staff we have made them pay it back. Where they have sacked unfairly we have forced them to reinstate or pay for their actions.

Together we make a difference.

With the IWW people are doing it for themselves and making York a better place to live. They are securing dignity and respect at work and want to help others to do the same.

How it works

If you have an issue at work then the local IWW will provide you with an experienced union official to help sort it out. This can include on site representation at a meeting with your boss. If this does not sort it, then we can provide legal back up to help you take it further, for example to the employment tribunals.

Although our experience shows that workers gain more when they stand together, so we will also help organize the union where you work.

NEWS - recent IWW action in York

Unfairly dismissed Nursery Nurse wins her job back after local IWW intervention.
Bullied staff fight back and force cash settlement from boss with local IWW arguing their case on siteompany trying to keep workers pay as ‘punishment’ for resigning forced to pay up to avoid tribunal.
Migrant workers exploited by local employers enforce their rights with IWW support.

Supporting each other

Call 0845 458 2615 and find out how the IWW can work with you.

To keep on helping each other we need contributions.

Contribute your time – become a local IWW Organizer with full training and support from York IWW.

Contribute your money - join the IWW for £3.30 per month, or make a donation to the York Branch.

Contribute your skills and talents. We need creative volunteers such as ·

events organizers· artists· web wizards· writers· photographers· community activists

anyone who can help make York a better place to live.

IWW York Branch

15 Priory Street

York YO1 6ET

0845 458 2615

wowyork@yahoo.co.uk

www.wowyork.org

WoW York

York Green Festival back for 2008

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:08:28 +0000

After the success of last year's first ever 'Green Festival' in Rowntrees Park, the organisers have decided to come back again in 2008.

It is hoped through the experience gained last year, 2008 will see the festival grow and become something very special.

An initial planning meeting has been scheduled for 6 February at 8pm in the Black Swan on Peasholme Green. There will be feedback from the organisers of last year's event and this will be an opportunity to discuss ideas of how the festival should evolve.

All are welcome to attend, so if you want to be involved in the planning of what should be one of the highlights of the coming summer, please come along.

SUCCESS FOR NEW UNION

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:38:21 +0000

£70,000 secured for workers

Sacked worker reinstated

In its first nine months operating in York the IWW has won over £70,000 in back pay and compensation for local workers.

Cleaners, hotel staff, shop assistants and security guards are just some of the people finding out that a little union can pack a big punch.

Where employers have taken money off staff we have made them pay it back. Where they have sacked unfairly we have forced them to reinstate or pay for their actions.

Together we make a difference.

With the IWW people are doing it for themselves and making York a better place to live. They are securing dignity and respect at work and want to help others to do the same.

How it works

Although our experience shows that workers gain more when they stand together, so we will also help organize the union where you work.

NEWS - recent IWW action in York

Unfairly dismissed Nursery Nurse wins her job back after local IWW intervention.
Bullied staff fight back and force cash settlement from boss with local IWW arguing their case on siteompany trying to keep workers pay as ‘punishment’ for resigning forced to pay up to avoid tribunal.
Migrant workers exploited by local employers enforce their rights with IWW support.

Supporting each other

Call 0845 458 2615 and find out how the IWW can work with you.

To keep on helping each other we need contributions.

Contribute your time – become a local IWW Organizer with full training and support from York IWW.

Contribute your money - join the IWW for £3.30 per month, or make a donation to the York Branch.

Contribute your skills and talents. We need creative volunteers such as ·

events organizers·

artists·

web wizards·

writers·

photographers·

community activists

anyone who can help make York a better place to live.

IWW York Branch

15 Priory Street

York YO1 6ET

0845 458 2615

wowyork@yahoo.co.uk

www.wowyork.org

New East Coast franchise will squeeze passengers, warns RMT

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:48:10 +0000

Caribbean flights now cheaper than train to Inverness, says union
THE SQUEEZE on East Coast mainline rail passengers will continue with a vengeance when National Express takes over the franchise on Sunday thanks to the government's dogmatic refusal to abandon the failed franchise system, Britain's biggest rail union says today.

As the transport privateer prepares to take over the franchise that collapsed under its previous operator, Sea Containers, RMT revealed that it had found return flights to the Caribbean cheaper than a standard open return from London to Inverness (see below).

Increases of more two per cent above inflation on unregulated fares every year for eight years are built into the new East Coast franchise, under which the Treasury hopes National Express will pay more than £1.4 billion in premiums.

The union warned that it would resist any attempt to make its members pay for the 'ludicrous' franchise agreement with their jobs, pay or conditions.

"GNER's collapse under Sea Containers jeopardised jobs and services on one of our key spinal railways, but the government is refusing to learn the lesson that franchising won't deliver the railway we need," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"The environment is crying out for a rail network that is affordable and encourages people out of their cars and onto trains, but the new East Coast franchise will deliver the opposite.

"An open standard return to Inverness from King's Cross could already cost you £298, and you could fly out to Antigua for £2 less, even including fuel and passenger duty.

"Add eight years' worth of inflation-busting increases onto that and the Caribbean will be even cheaper by comparison.

"The Transport Select Committee has highlighted the nonsense of a set-up in which private operators keep siphoning profits, shoulder almost no financial risk and get to walk away when it all goes wrong.

"The government has absolutely no incentive to make rail fares fairer if they're hoping for a share of National Express's spoils - and if they've got their revenue sums wrong they'll be using even more public money to shore the franchise up.

"The franchise system is a mess and has to go, and we give fair warning that we will resist any attacks on our members' jobs, pay and conditions," Bob Crow said

ends

Notes to editors:
XL Airways fly return from London to Antigua for £190, once fuel supplement, air passenger duty and credit fee is added the total cost is £296.00
Source: XL Airway website on 7.12.07

Standard open return fare London to Inverness is £298.00
Source: GNER website, 7.12.07

The distance between London and Inverness is 448 miles

The distance between London and Antigua is 4,077 miles