Today has seen the third day of strike action by teachers in Nottingham. Further strikes are planned next week as part of this campaign. This is happening at the same time as a number of local disputes are coming to a head. With national action planned by Unite members in the NHS for May 10th and the possibility of a strike by tanker drivers still on the table there appears to be a small, but very welcome, surge in industrial action.

Teachers

Thousands of children in Nottingham have stayed home as teachers staged a third one-day strike over changes to school terms.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is opposing council plans to switch to a five-term academic year.

The union said the action could be followed by a further two-day strike next week after it complained about a lack of progress in negotiations.

Teachers are against the plan to move to a five-term academic year with a shorter summer break.

The authority said the move would lead to a more balanced work and rest pattern but the NUT said there was no evidence to support this.

The third strike has seen 15 city schools shut and another 40 partially closed - a similar number to the two previous walk-outs on 29 March and 17 April.

The union had called a three-day strike from Tuesday to Thursday next week in response to a perceived unwillingness to negotiate by the council.

It has now revised this to a two-day strike after the authority agreed to a meeting on Monday.

Ian Stevenson, from the NUT, said: "The fact we've got exactly as many schools on strike today as on the first day of action shows there's been no weakening in the resolve of teachers.

"We're hoping for a positive outcome on Monday but are still ready for more action if it is needed."

Another teaching union, the NASUWT, which has not so far taken industrial action, confirmed it was prepared to ballot its members if the council did not review its "entrenched" position.

Striking teachers met in Market Square at 11:00 BST before marching to the Mechanics Institute in Sherwood Street.

Source: BBC News

East Midlands Trains

Drivers at East Midlands Trains have announced a series of one-day strikes.

Drivers' union Aslef has voted for action over plans by the company to reduce pension fund contributions for both workers and the firm.

The action, due to take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the first three weeks of May, is likely to disrupt services to London and Lincoln.

An Aslef spokesman said: "East Midlands Trains is proposing to reduce its contributions into the scheme despite the turbulent economic climate which is likely to have reduced the fund's assets since the last valuation.

"The company's short term cost-cutting measures will have long term implications for all staff and their pensions."

Strikes are due to take place on 1, 3, 8, 10, 15 and 17 May.

Source: BBC News

Imperial Tobacco

WORKERS at Imperial Tobacco are set to take industrial action over the workplace parking levy.

Members of the GMB union have voted to work to rule – meaning they will not work overtime or cover any additional duties – for the first week of May.

Imperial Tobacco, based at the Lenton Industrial Estate, has said it plans to charge staff around £100 of the annual cost.

But the GMB union says workers will have to pay £192 each.

Chris Needham, GMB representative for Nottingham, said: "Imperial Tobacco is a big, successful company, and shouldn't be asking its workers to foot this bill.

"We will have a ban on over time and only do our set jobs in protest."

Industrial action is set to last from Tuesday, May 1, to the end of Sunday, May 6.

An Imperial Tobacco spokesman said factory managers had still not received notice of the planned action, but the union denies this.

Source: Nottingham Post