TOP NEWS
STORIES LOGISTICS Solidarity wins for drivers
There were celebrations in Doncaster in December, after the successful resolution to the Unite Tesco drivers’ dispute, following an improved package for the drivers. Unite called it ‘a victory for worker solidarity’.
The dispute goes back to August when the transport workforce was
FOOD WORKERS
Firm plays chicken with
workers’ pay As we go to press 1,200 workers at Two Sisters Food Group in the West Midlands are ready to stage a further 24-hour strike after talks broke down.
The strike threatened supplies of cut chicken to major supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas.
Unite regional officer Des Quinn said, “Discussions made good progress on some of the issues, but we remain deadlocked on pay and seven-day day working. Further discussions are welcomed by Unite, but since a settlement is not within view, the dispute will carry on.”
Members voted almost unanimously for strike action over the company’s original paltry pay offer. Members are struggling on incomes just above national minimum levels.
transferred from Tesco to Eddie Stobart Ltd (ESL). In September, ESL issued notice of termination of employment, with no promise the drivers would be re-employed once the 90-days were up.
Unite national officer Adrian Jones said, “This is a victory for the drivers
HEALTH
Boost school nurses plea
Money should be redirected into frontline school nursing posts to combat the obesity problems affecting school children, Unite said in December.
Unite’s health visitors commented on figures from the national child measurement programme which showed a third of final year primary school children are overweight or obese.
Unite also called for all secondary schools in England to have a dedicated qualified school nurse to work with the new directors of public health, once local government takes over the public health function in the spring.
Unite’s Ros Godson said, “Evidence shows that overweight children are likely to become overweight adults,
8 uniteWORKS January/February 2013
Good health – school nurses key to keeping kids fit and well
so it is vital that qualified school nurses are employed across the country in sufficient numbers to coordinate all efforts to deal with this public health crisis.”
who have displayed unity, strength and resolution throughout this difficult time against a hardline employer.”
The 180 drivers voted overwhelmingly to accept the enhanced package from their new employer. It will mean that the drivers will end working in January.
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