Aer Lingus pilots: Ongoing
Pilots for Aer Lingus have been working to rule since 26 June, due to a dispute with the airline over pay.
The pilots will not work overtime or carry out any out-of-ours duties.
The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA), which represents the pilots, accepted an invitation from Aer Lingus to discuss the dispute on 27 June, and called for a 24% pay increase for the pilots, to reflect inflation. The IALPA claimed that the pilots had not received a pay rise since 2019.
Action took place on 29 and 30 June and 1 and 2 July, though Aer Lingus has cancelled more than 500 flights, including 76 cancellations between 8 and 10 July, to prevent further disruption to services amid the ongoing dispute.
Mark Tighe, IALPA president, said that Aer Lingus had not seen “the reasonableness of our accumulative inflationary pay claim”.
Aer Lingus and IALPA were due to negotiate the pay claim on 3 July.
Redbridge refuse workers: 1 July to 7 July
In the week of the general election, refuse workers in the London Borough of Redbridge began striking due to a “deterioration of working conditions”.
The workers, who are represented by Unite, have raised issues with their working hours being extended due to vehicle breakdowns and the council adding an additional hour to their working day, despite their contracts saying that this would only happen in exceptional circumstances.
They also claimed that they feel pressured to work overtime every weekend, which they said affects their mental wellbeing and social lives.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement that the council's behaviour was "disgraceful".
She stated: “Redbridge council is guilty of trying to operate a vital frontline service on the cheap. It must immediately get its house in order. Our members have the union’s total support.”
Sick pay for refuse workers is lower than for other members of Redbridge council, Unite has stated, as they have 10 days of paid sick leave rather than six months.
Steve Moore, corporate director of communities at Redbridge council (RCS), said: "Throughout discussions to prevent strike action, RCS has done everything possible to meet conditions requested by the union.
“Given RCS' extensive package of support, including generous salary increases in 2022 and 2023, totalling an average 16% rise in wages, this decision by Unite to conduct a strike is disappointing.”
Merseyside Stagecoach drivers: 5 July to 8 July and 12 to 15 July
Bus drivers employed by Stagecoach in Merseyside are due to strike over a disparity in their pay with that of Arriva drivers in Liverpool.
Unite, which represents the drivers, said it was angry that Arriva drivers were paid £1.40 more per hour, equating to around £3,000 a year, for performing the same role.
Drivers have threatened an all-out continuous strike if Stagecoach does not make an acceptable pay offer.
Matt Davies, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, said: "We deeply regret the industrial action is taking place and are open to resolving this dispute and are available to hold talks at any time.
"We genuinely want to settle the dispute but the overall cost of a pay rise needs to be affordable at the depot. We’ve informed Unite of a number of ways in which we could resolve the dispute; they involve movement by both parties, and we are willing to do to that."
Read more: Tata Steel and Unite reach agreement to postpone strike action and site closure
Teachers’ unions: 10 to 16 July
Teachers who are members of three unions – National Education Union (NEU), NASUWT and Unison – are to strike for four days at Sir Francis Hill Community Primary School in Lincoln.
Teachers and staff are due to walk out on 10, 11, 15 and 16 July in a long-running dispute with the school over bullying and poor leadership.
A NEU spokesperson said: "The employer failed to agree to assurance around the process, and was unwilling to ensure our members were protected under the process, with a guarantee of no changes.
“Our workers aren’t going to stand for it anymore and will demonstrate their level of anger on the picket line next week.”
London Trams engineers: 11 July to 15 July
Engineers for London Trams are to strike over unfair pay from 30 June to 8 July, and again from 11 July to 15 July.
The strikes are due to operate at the same time as the Wimbledon Championships, affecting transport to and from Wimbledon as well as services in Croydon and across south London.
The engineers had previously gone on strike in March, as they claimed they are being paid £10,000 less than engineers on London Underground, who they argue have the same qualifications and job role.
Unite's Graham commented: “TFL thinks it can employ these workers on the cheap and treat them as second-class employees. The situation is totally unacceptable and our members are absolutely right to take strike action. They have Unite’s unflinching support.”
Gatwick Airport workers: 12 to 21 July
Around 300 workers at Gatwick Airport have announced strikes on 12 to 14 July and 19 to 21 July over low pay.
The workers, made up of security screeners employed by IT service provider ITCS and passenger services staff employed by logistics provider Wilson James, earn a little over the minimum wage.
Unite, which represents the workers, stated that both groups have rejected pay offers from their employers (28 June).
Unite's Graham said: “These workers undertake incredibly demanding roles at one of the UK’s busiest airports. They are simply seeking a fair day’s pay.
“ICTS and Wilson James are wealthy companies and can well afford to put forward acceptable pay offers. Our members at Gatwick have Unite’s total backing in taking strike action for a decent pay rise.”
Read more: Punishing strikers violates human rights, Supreme Court rules
Security guards at Job Centre: 15 July to 4 August
More than 1,400 security guards employed by private security company G4S and working at jobcentres are due to strike for a week on 15 July.
The security guards are in a dispute with G4S as they claimed it has failed to pay them the minimum wage. According to the union representing the guards, GMB, the Department for Work and Pensions provided them £211 million to run security at jobcentres, despite employment costs being £161 million during the same period.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “Jobcentre security guards are punched, attacked and savaged in the neck by dogs, just for carrying out their duties.
“Yet 90% of them struggle to get by on the minimum wage, while G4S trouser millions from the DWP. It’s abhorrent. These strikes will keep escalating unless G4S agrees to pay them a wage they can live on.”
A G4S spokesperson commented: "We urge the GMB to present our offer to our employees, which is both above minimum wage and inflation. We are keen to bring this dispute to an amicable conclusion."
Bedford Stagecoach drivers: 9 July to 6 August
More than 140 drivers for the Stagecoach subsidiary Cambus are due to strike for four days. The Bedfordshire-based drivers, who are represented by Unite, claimed that they are paid substantially less than other bus drivers in the area.
The Cambus drivers are paid £13.46 per hour while other drivers are paid £15, Unite reported (1 July).
Drivers are angry that their pay offers have been repeatedly rejected and have arranged strikes from 9 to 13 July, 19 to 23 July, 2 to 3 August and 5 to 6 August. The strikes are to affect services in Bedford, Wooten, Flitwick, Ampthill and as far as Luton, Stevenage and St Neots.
Unite regional officer Mark Plumb said: “Cambus needs to start valuing its workers and understanding their sense of frustration at being the lowest paid drivers in the region.
"Instead it is making absurd demands about reducing sick pay and overtime while demanding more and more of its drivers."
Darren Roe, managing director of Stagecoach East, described the strikes as "unnecessary".
"We are disappointed that our pay offer has been rejected by the Bedford driving team," he said.
"We are committed to offering good pay packages for our people and remain open for talks with Unite. However, at the same time we have to think about the future of the bus network and the implications that higher pay demands have on the cost and scope of the services we offer the local community.”
