Public Sector Strike & the NSSN

IT's official - the pay strike will continue into the autumn. The first
serious step has been taken towards building the strike coalition that saw
over 1 million public sector workers take action together on July 10th.
Council workers from Unison, Unite and the GMB have agreed that October 14th
will be the next strike day in the pay dispute. Importantly, Unison will be
balloting members in academy schools during September so they can join the
strike. September also sees Scottish local government workers being balloted
for industrial action over pay likely to commence with a one-day strike, which
of course should be October 14th.

The National Shop Stewards Network calls on all the public sector unions to immediately meet together to ensure at least the J10 forces are involved but as NHS workers are also
balloting, a strike of N30 2011 proportions is now possible. Moreover, coming
just four days before the TUC ‘Britain needs a pay rise’ demonstration, the
prospect is raised of a mobilisation on the scale of the mammoth March 26th
2011 demonstration that saw 750,000 workers march through London.

October 14th is an opportunity to increase generalised action that must be
seized with both hands. Even during their well-earned summer break, many
teachers in the NUT will be trying to put pressure on their union to ensure
they again line up with school staff on strike. There should be no need to
wait until October to confirm their presence. All public sector unions should
be involved in the action. A real momentum can be built to get the maximum
turnout.
We also call on private sector unions to co-ordinate discussions on how their
members can join the action. Over the last year, we have seen a rash of
disputes from workers at London Underground to Doncaster Care UK, Tyneside
Safety Glass and Argos. The Ritzy Cinema workers are currently voting on
whether to accept a deal that is only on the table because of an incredible
struggle. Thousands of private sector workers could be involved if there is a
general call for any live disputes to be co-ordinated with the October 14th
strike.

Union members have to keep the pressure on. If your union hasn’t confirmed for
October 14th, move a motion at your next branch. Come to the lobby of the TUC
Congress that the NSSN has called on September 7th. That will be a fantastic
opportunity to rally activists and rank and file trade unionists where we can
discuss how to broaden the action.

The 2014 NSSN conference agreed that the Network to hold a public rally at the
TUC Congress in Liverpool to lobby delegates to keep up the pressure for
further co-ordinated strikes – 2pm Sunday September 7th in Jury’s Hotel
opposite Echo Arena conference centre in Albert Dock. PCS General Secretary
Mark Serwotka is one of the confirmed speakers.

Download NSSN leaflet -
http://www.scribd.com/doc/235907571/NSSN-TUC-rally-2014-leaflet

GMB website -
http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/councils-and-schools-october-new-strike-date
Unison website -
http://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/local-government/key-issues/local-government-pay/home/
Unite website -
http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/unions-to-escalate-pay-strike-action-in-october/

NSSN News:
Over 300 shop stewards, union rep and anti-cuts activists attended the 8th
Annual NSSN Conference on Saturday July 5th. The speakers included Ronnie
Draper BFAWU bakers’ union General Secretary, POA General Secretary Steve
Gillan, Janice Godrich PCS President and Peter Pinkney RMT President…plus
Ginger Jentzen from the victorious Seattle $15Now campaign.

Watch a video of the first session here -
http://shopstewards.net/2014/07/nssn-conference-1st-session-feat-peter-pinkney-and-ronnie-draper/