Disputes set to spill over into 2010

Talks on the Royal Mail dispute were continuing as Labour Research went to press, with the CWU communication workers’ union welcoming six-month financial results that “betray the myth that the CWU has been blocking change”. A number of other disputes looked set to spill over into 2010.

Following the High Court ruling against the strike vote by cabin crew at British Airways, Unite leaders warned that the company must negotiate or face a further ballot for industrial action. In a separate development, porters at Gatwick Airport prepared to strike over a pay freeze, accusing their employer Interserve of giving shareholders a 17% increase in dividends while paying them the National Minimum Wage.

On the railways, the RMT was continuing its opposition to a cut of 1,500 maintenance jobs by Network Rail, leafleting passengers with the message “Rail Cuts Cost Lives”. Meanwhile, signallers in South Wales and the Marches struck over plans to impose new rosters when a new control centre opens this year.

Fujitsu faced the first ever national strike in a UK IT company over jobs, pay and pensions as Unite announced plans for action in December and January.

The sacking of 54 workers and five shop stewards by West Midlands-based poultry firm 2 Sisters in a row over racial insults (see Labour Research, November 2009, page 4) also threatened to result in a strike as 380 workers were balloted. The result of the ballot was expected on 4 January.