Today is the anniversary of a very strange Covid-19 lockdown year. Six Meteor reporters reflect on working through the pandemic and the challenges faced.
Burnham brands ‘fire and rehire’ practices ‘industrial blackmail’
Andy Burnham met Go North West bosses last week to discuss service disruption.
While careful to distinguish the industrial dispute between GNW and its drivers from other instances of ‘fire and rehire’ practices, the mayor says issuing Section 188 notices to renegotiate workers’ employment contracts is tantamount to ‘industrial blackmail’.
‘Fire and rehire’ plans by Go North West force bus drivers into strike action
Bus drivers in Manchester employed by Go North West voted 82% in favour of taking industrial action against the bus company for its ‘fire and rehire’ practices, on a 77% turnout.
Unite, represents the drivers, stressed there was still time for Go North West bosses to return to the negotiating table.
Manchester bus drivers poised to ballot on strike action as Unite and Go North West talks collapse
Unite will ballot 485 bus drivers on strike action if Go North West does not return to the negotiating table. The decision to consider balloting was made in response to the bus company announcing it will no longer negotiate with the union and will instead consult drivers individually.
Rail workers strike in Longsight over Alstom Christmas pay-freeze
Maintenance staff at Manchester’s Longsight train depot have walked out and are set for multiple 24 hour strikes across December over an international pay freeze imposed by train manufacturer Alstom.
Manchester’s teachers and Co-op Academies Trust clash over school safety
Workers at Co-op Academy Manchester write to headteacher and the Co-op Academies Trust calling for school closures and better working conditions, while Andy Burnham lends support for partial closures under a “tier system” during the winter.
Students’ Union staff condemn controversial furlough deal leaving them with minimal pay and an uncertain future
Student staff of the Students’ Union at the University of Manchester have spoken out about a lack of support after management decided to furlough zero-hours workers with conditions that severely limited their pay and left many unable to cover their rent and living costs.
Stop using pandemic as cover to ‘fire and rehire’, Unite warns Manchester bus company
Unite leader Len McCluskey warns Go North West parent company Go Ahead Group it risks industrial action if it continues with plans to “fire and rehire” nearly 500 Manchester bus drivers, which would see each driver lose an estimated £2,000 a year.