Strikers shut down Underground

Most of the London Underground network was brough to a standstill by industrial action on 18 July. Members of the RMT transport union had voted by eight to one to strike over the threat to safety posed by the government's proposal to hand over maintenance of the network to a public private partnership.

A new dispute has begun at the Mirror-owned Newcastle Chronicle and Journal where members of the NUJ journalists' union have rejected a pay offer. The NUJ says the latest offer would give most of their members just 2%. The first strike action was set for 25 July and 1 August.

The long-running dispute at Manchester Airport over safety has continued with further stoppages on 20 and 30 July and 3 August. The T&G general union is worried that 30% cuts in safety and security costs will compromise safety.

In the wool textile industry a dispute over pay has lead to a series of one-day strikes commencing on 8 July. The T&G described the 1.5% pay offer as derisory and planned action based on selected companies who are party to the industry agreement.

Ground staff at five airports, all employed by Aviance, were being balloted over a new pay offer, up from 1.5% to 1.8%. The GMB general union was making no recommendation in the ballot of 1,500 members which began on 22 July. The ground staff are employed at Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham airports.