BBC staff due to strike in July

8 July 2011 Last updated at 10:57 GMT NUJ members went on strike in November over BBC pension proposals Journalists at the BBC are to hold two 24-hour strikes on 15 and 29 July over compulsory redundancies, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said.

Last month, its members voted to take industrial action after bosses dismissed a World Service journalist on the grounds of compulsory redundancy.

The NUJ urged the BBC to conduct the redundancy process in "a humane way".

The BBC said it was "disappointed" by the action which could affect news on radio, television and the website.

In the ballot, just under 40% of union members voted, with 72% saying they would be prepared to strike.

'Humane and fair'

A small number of people working in the World Service and BBC Monitoring were facing compulsory redundancy this summer, the NUJ said.

Union general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: "We know that there are hundreds of people who want to leave the BBC and who have been denied that chance.

"Yet at the same time people are now being targeted and forced out of the door. We merely want the BBC to manage the redundancy process in a humane and fair way."

The BBC's director of operations Lucy Adams said the number of posts had to be reduced by 387 following significant cuts to central government grants supporting the World Service and BBC Monitoring.

'Impossible to avoid'

She said: "We continue to do all we can to mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies by offering voluntary redundancy and redeploying staff elsewhere.

"However the number of posts that we are having to close means that unfortunately it is likely to be impossible for us to avoid some compulsory redundancies."

Both the BBC and the NUJ said they hoped to avert action through talks.

BBC journalists went on strike last November over planned changes to their pensions.

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Strike to hit over 5,000 schools

28 June 2011 Last updated at 16:20 GMT By Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporter Education Secretary Michael Gove: "Strike will cause a massive inconvenience to hard-working families"

More than 3,000 schools in England and Wales will be closed and some 2,200 partially closed on Thursday when two teaching unions stage strike action.

Education Secretary Michael Gove, who announced the figures, said the strike action, over pension changes, was regrettable, unnecessary and premature.

He was responding to an urgent Commons question by his shadow, Andy Burnham.

Action is being taken by members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

They say the changes will mean they will have to work longer, pay more and get less when they retire.

Mr Gove told the Commons the strike would cause "massive inconvenience to hard-working families" and would hit working women particularly hard.

"This strike, at this time will not help our schools," he said.

He said his department had established that 3,206 schools would be closed and 2,206 would be partially closed on Thursday.

In total 84 academies would be shut and 128 partially closed.

Mr Gove said when the figures were collated on Monday, the situation with another 10,872 schools was "not at that stage known".

Further updates would be released on Wednesday and on Thursday.

He said: "In order to minimise the impact of this strike on working parents I wrote last week to all local authorities, as the employers of teachers, and to all schools, emphasising their duty to keep schools open wherever possible.

"In response to requests from governors, I also laid out the flexibilities at the disposal of schools to ensure that they stayed open.

"Schools can vary staff/pupil ratios, they can depart from the national curriculum and they can draw on voluntary support from the wider community, with those who have been CRB-checked able to provide particular help.

Ballots

"Nothing can replace the great teaching offered by gifted professionals, but I would far rather see schools stayed open and offered a restricted curriculum than see hard-working families have to lose a day's pay themselves or have to pay for ad hoc and expensive last-minute childcare."

Mr Burnham said: "On Thursday children should be at school, their parents at work.

"On this side we have said consistently that these strikes are a mistake."

But he said he the government could not "evade its share of the responsibility for the disruption".

About 220,000 NUT members were balloted over the pensions changes. Around nine out of 10 (92%) of those who voted, backed the strike action with a turnout of 40%

Just over half of the ATL's members were eligible to vote - the rest are not members of the pension scheme.

Some 83% of its eligible members who voted backed the strike action - on a turn-out of 35%.

The Girls' School Association, which represents independent girls' schools, said some of its schools had ATL members who would be taking action.

But a spokewoman said schools would remain open as usual.

"We're not aware of any schools that are closing. All schools seem to be making reasonable adjustments to keep the schools open," she said.

Civil servants are also staging strikes over pension changes.

Prime Minister David Cameron has urged them to call the action off.

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PM's plea to workers over strike

28 June 2011 Last updated at 16:26 GMT Cameron: "It is the changes we propose that are right, right by the taxpayer but, above all, right by you."

David Cameron has told public sector workers unhappy about their pensions that striking would be "wrong - for you, for the people you serve, for the good of the country".

The PM said reform was "essential" to stop the pensions system "going broke".

And, he added, the changes were fair to both workers and the taxpayer.

Up to 750,000 teachers and civil servants are set to strike saying that the government's plans will mean them working longer and paying more.

There was no breakthrough in talks between ministers and unions on Monday. Labour leader Ed Miliband has said strike action would be a "mistake".

'Good deal'

The government has insisted it has contingency plans in place to prevent any major disruption to essential services on Thursday but Education Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that more than 3,000 schools in England and Wales will be forced to shut and over 2,000 partially closed as a result.

Continue reading the main story Iain Watson Political correspondent, BBC News

David Cameron's speech was an exercise in myth-busting, pointing out that some lower paid workers would be better off, not worse off, as a result of the proposed changes.

And that some measures were driven by our increasing longevity as a nation not short term debt.

Above all, the prime minister used the words "fair" and "fairness" prolifically.

He knows his words won't avert Thursday's strike action but he is attempting to drive a wedge between what he sees as "reasonable" and "unreasonable" unions, and between "unreasonable" union leaders and what he regards as their misinformed membership.

He's been criticised as more of a salesman than a strategist by his opponents.

But it's perhaps those sales skills the prime minister will need when telling public sector staff that working longer and contributing more to the cost of their pensions is fair.

The planned 24-hour walkout involves members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), the University and College Union and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union.

The UK Border Agency has said the PCS walkout will affect its staff working at points of entry into the UK and, while it had put contingency plans in place, "people travelling into the UK may experience delays at border control".

It said the strike would have a "different" impact at individual airports, ports and railway stations.

Speaking to the Local Government Association conference, Mr Cameron urged workers to reconsider their actions and not to believe what he said were "scare stories" about the government's proposals.

"To those considering strike action, when discussions are ongoing, I say to you these strikes are wrong, for you, for the people you serve and for the good of the country. It is the changes we propose that are right, right by the taxpayer but, above all, right by you."

He added: "The changes we propose are a good deal. They are fair for the low-paid, fair for the taxpayer. They secure affordable pensions, not just now but for decades to come. And they mean that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available."

Given workers were living longer in retirement, it was right that they should contribute more to their pensions and that the pension age should rise.

"The reason we can't go on as we are is because as the baby boomers retire, the pension system is in danger of going broke," he said.

'Nonsense'

Union leaders have said there are still major divisions between unions and the government over three key proposals - to raise the pension age, to increase workers' contributions and to link pension values to the generally lower consumer prices index (CPI) rather than the retail prices index (RPI).

"On the key issues where we are taking strike action, the government has said it won't negotiate," Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, told Radio 4's PM.

She said Mr Cameron's speech contained "half-truths and misrepresentations" and that a deal agreed in 2007 would ensure a ?57bn reduction in public sector pension liabilities over the next 50 years.

"The notion that public sector pensions will go broke is nonsense. He should not have said it."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said both sides should get back round the negotiating table since public sector pensions did need to be reformed.

"We are on the side of parents and children. That is why I say these strikes would be a mistake," he said.

The strikes "should not be going ahead as they will inconvenience parents and children", he argued.

He added: "Public sector pensions do need to be reformed. But the government has to take its share of responsibility for the provocative way they have handled these negotiations."

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Strike could hit half of schools

28 June 2011 Last updated at 14:51 GMT Almost 40,000 teachers and civil servants will strike in a dispute over pensions.

Nearly half of Wales' schools will be affected on Thursday if planned strike action by teachers goes ahead.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) have said they will take part in industrial action over pension changes.

Of approximately 1,880 schools in Wales nearly 400 have said they will be closed and around 440 partially closed.

The Welsh Government said it aimed to "minimise the impact" on its services.

UK Education Secretary Michael Gove has said the strike would harm the teaching profession's reputation.

With thousands of teachers expected to join in the action on Thursday, parents across Wales are having to reconsider their childcare arrangements.

Some areas look likely to be worst hit than others.

They include Newport where 43 schools are set to close or partially close, whereas in Ceredigion the authority said it had received no confirmation of any school's intention to take strike action.

More than 100 schools will be closed or partially closed in Cardiff with only 16 across the city saying they expect to be fully open.

In Pembrokeshire two schools out of 71 will fully close and 41 will be open but closed for some classes, while in Conwy around 38 will be affected. In Wrexham, nine of its schools are scheduled tol be closed or partially closed, with two open.

A list of councils and how they expect to be affected is here.

Continue reading the main story

ATL is renowned for its moderation. This is the first time in 127 years that we have gone on national strike”

End Quote Dr Philip Dixon ATL The walk outs across Wales and England are the unions' response to changes to public sector pensions.

Ministers and union leaders are holding talks in the run up to a planned strike.

Thousands of other public sector workers, including court workers and police support staff, will take co-ordinated strike action on Thursday.

Members of the PCS union will join teaching unions in a walkout over pay and pensions.

Dr Philip Dixon, director of ATL Cymru, said he had never seen such spontaneous anger from teachers before.

"Teachers are not doing this lightly," said Mr Dixon. "ATL is renowned for its moderation. This is the first time in 127 years that we have gone on national strike.

"That's an indication of how strongly our members feel about the proposals, and how angry they are that the government in Westminster will not enter into meaningful negotiations, that they just want to impose this onto teachers."

Dr Dixon said the union's members were particularly angry about the proposal that teachers work until they are 68.

"Teaching is a very demanding job, both physically and mentally," he said. "Do we really want children being taught by 68-year-olds?"

David Evans, secretary of NUT Cymru, said the union remained committed to try to have meaningful discussions with the UK government, and that the day of strike action was "the last resort".

He said: "No one wants to go on strike and we would happily call it off if the government wanted to play ball, but it seems to be their way or no way.

"There's clearly essential information they are withholding from us. Their refusal to budge on any issues is unfortunate.

"That's not the way government should operate when you are talking about so many thousands of public sector employees.

"It's almost as if they want the strike action, but that's not in anybody's interests."

Continue reading the main story

Pensions are not a devolved matter and our focus is on minimising the impact of any industrial action on our public services”

End Quote Welsh Government Teaching unions not striking on Thursday have issued their members with legal advice on the strike.

Anna Brychan, director of NAHT Cymru, said: "We have made our members aware that the decision on whether to keep their school open or not will depend on a health and safety risk assessment on the day.

"We would also expect employees to make every reasonable attempt to cross the picket line."

Ms Brychan added that NAHT Cymru would be balloting for strike action "probably in the autumn".

"We do have significant concerns about current pension proposals and their impact on recruiting," she said.

Though not taking part itslef, Wales-based education UCAC said it supported the strike action.

Elaine Edwards, UCAC's general secretary said: "We're one hundred per cent behind this strike. The viciousness of the Government's attacks on public sector pensions is entirely uncalled-for.

"The government's proposals will mean a severe and immediate pay cut for staff, and will see teachers and lecturers struggling to make ends meet in their retirement."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "Most public sector workforce groups in Wales are covered by UK or England and Wales pay arrangements.

"This includes the civil service, the NHS, teachers, other local government, higher education and further education staff.

"As such, pensions are not a devolved matter and our focus is on minimising the impact of any industrial action on our public services."

Prime Minister David Cameron is due to make another call for public sector workers to call off Thursday's strike over pensions later.

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Union calls for sustained strike

21 June 2011 Last updated at 14:15 GMT Mr Prentis said he was willing to negotiate but prepared to strike The head of the UK's second largest union has issued a "call to arms" to his members over pension reforms.

He told them to prepare for a campaign of strikes "without precedent".

"Every day we keep up the pressure we wear them down, sap their strength, and bring them closer to breaking point," said Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union.

Although he indicated his willingness to negotiate, he said they must "prepare for the worst".

Negotiations with the government over pension reform resume on 27 June.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday prior to his speech, Mr Prentis warned that any industrial action was likely to be a protracted fight.

"It is quite clear that this coalition will not move if there is one day of industrial action, it will take sustained action, and we will not be starved back like the miners," he said.

'When not if'

Some 2,000 delegates from Unison - which represents workers in healthcare, utilities, local government, police support and teaching - are meeting in Manchester over four days.

Other unions have announced plans to strike on 30 June, however Unison says it would need more time to organise a vote among its 1.3 million members.

Dave Prentis: "Of course we don't want to knock the UK economy ... but what else do we do?"

It was "now a case of when talks break down, not if they break down" a the Unison spokeswoman, following a speech in London by Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander on Friday that was described by unions as "highly inflammatory".

Mr Alexander accused the unions of spreading "scare stories" about planned reforms, which he claimed were "not an assault" on pensions.

He added that while he was prepared to discuss the detailed implementation of the proposals, the government would be sticking to the broad principles.

Meanwhile, Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has urged unions not to fall into a government "trap" by striking over plans to reform public sector pensions.

Danny Alexander: "I think that's a very fair and balanced offer"

Among the changes to public sector pensions that Unison objects to:

pension contributions will increase from 6% to an average 9% of paythe retirement age is to be extended to 66 for men and women by April 2020the inflation linkage of benefits will be switched from the retail prices index to the consumer prices index, which is typically lower

Besides pensions reform, the union also opposes the hundreds of thousands of job losses it expects to result from planned government spending cuts, and the public sector pay freeze, which comes at a time when inflation is running at 4.5%.

Motions to be considered by the conference include an explicit call for strike action over the "coalition's attack on public services".

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Equality staff to set to strike

3 June 2011 Last updated at 14:19 GMT Unite fears proposed cuts are part of a move to make the EHRC a think tank Staff at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are to strike next week in protest at planned job cuts.

Trade union Unite said its members would walk out for an hour on Monday at EHRC offices in London and Birmingham, with more strikes possible on 30 June.

Richard Munn, of Unite, said the union felt the proposed cuts could move the EHRC away from helping individuals.

There was a feeling that the cuts were aimed at turning the body into a think tank, he said.

"Plans are afoot to close regional offices, and the helpline and grants function are under threat as well," he claimed.

He accused senior management of being wary of discussing plans with trade unions in a "constructive fashion", adding that the public "should be worried about the direction the EHRC is taking".

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Virgin pilots plan strike ballot

16 May 2011 Last updated at 15:03 GMT Virgin's 750 pilots were described by their union head as "very angry and disappointed" Virgin Atlantic pilots are to be balloted for their first strike after year-long pay talks broke down.

The ballot will take four weeks to carry out, starting on 24 May.

"Virgin's pilots feel very angry and disappointed at the way they are being treated," said Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the pilots' union Balpa.

Virgin Atlantic said in a statement that it had made a "fair, affordable and sustainable offer that is in line with the rest of the industry".

The company added that it remained open to dialogue.

Balpa, which represents most of Virgin's 750 pilots, says its members have accepted a pay freeze since 2008 to help the company during the recession.

"During the tough years, pilots have made sacrifices to help the business on the basis that fair pay would return, but that hasn't proved to be the case," added Mr McAuslan.

He said his members had been offered rises of 4% in 2012 and 3% in 2013, which he said fell short of the current 5% inflation rate.

However, the Bank of England expects inflation to fall sharply next year, and some members of its monetary policy committee have called for interest rate rises to head off the risk of the high inflation feeding into higher wage settlements.

According to union boss Mr McAuslan, the Virgin pilots deserved a bigger pay rise to make up for the years of no increases.

"The company is asking us to effectively sign up to five years of cuts in pay," he said.

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