Union solidarity round-up: 15 to 21 December

As the employment rights bill comes through parliament once again this week, Rockstar North, maker of the hit computer game series Grand Theft Auto, is accused of sacking over 30 workers because they attempted to unionise. The employer says that they were all fired for gross misconduct, which the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain contests.

This comes as the BMA announced today (15) that its members working as resident doctors have rejected the government’s latest offer on pay and jobs. In the face of government’s casting aspersions on the propriety of their online ballot over the weekend, and guilt-tripping strikers over broadly systemic NHS issues, resident doctors will go ahead with their planned five-day strike, beginning on Wednesday (17 to 21).

UK activity

PCS members across the DWP have announced they will launch a statutory ballot for strike action next year over low pay and grade compression. Colleagues in the Lincoln City Hall Service Centre continue their second wave of strikes (begun 1) until 2 January 2026. And members at the Office for National Statistics, the Civil Aviation Authority (with Prospect), and the Ministry of Housing all continue action short of a strike.

Unite members working as cleaners for outsourcers OCS in Heathrow’s British Airways offices will strike on Thursday and Friday (18 and 19), demanding a pay offer equal to the London Living Wage, with sick pay and extra pay for night shifts. And about 200 members working for DHL in EasyJet check-in and baggage handling services at Luton airport will strike at the weekend after rejecting a low pay offer.

Strikes continue for Unite bin workers in Birmingham. Members at BAE at two sites in Lancashire remain on strike (since 5 November) until Wednesday (17). Members at Veolia Energy Recovery Facility in Newhaven begin a second wave of strike action all this week (15 to 19) over pay, with further waves planned for 12 to 16 January and 9 to 13 February.

Members at Newham Centre for Mental Health, employed by profit-making outsourcing firm Grosvenor Facilities Management, continue their second wave of strike action (begun 8 December) set to last until 5 January. Members at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield remain on strike (since August) until 28 January 2026. 

Unite members working as tram drivers in Greater Manchester for KeolisAmey Metrolink Ltd will strike again over the weekend over fatigue from unfair and unsafe shift. And bus workers at First Cymru remain on strike (since 20 November) until 21 January 2026 over stalled pay talks.

Members working as phlebotomists for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust continue their indefinite strike. And Unite ICU nurses at Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will also strike action all this week (15 to 19) over fears the trust intends to degrade the Bassetlaw hospital in favour of Doncaster. Members continue their dispute at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Finally, Unison members working as theatre assistants in Leeds Teaching Hospitals will also strike on Thursday and Friday (18 and 19) in protest at being paid at a lower grade, UCU members at Brunel University continue their academic boycott and RMT train drivers at CrossCountry will strike again on Saturday (20).

International

In Portugal, following protests by tens of thousands last month at proposed new labour laws, unions called a general strike on Thursday (11). Some of the most opposed clauses of the legislation, which will most affect younger workers, would remove the requirement to re-hire unfairly dismissed workers, remove the ban on fire and rehire, and permit indefinite temporary contracts.

Then, in Italy on Friday (12), CGIL union called out on strike an estimated 61% of public and private sector workers in protest at the government budget. Right-wing prime minister Georgia Meloni has committed to increased defence spending at the expense of education and healthcare.

And this week, in Greece, a national public sector strike is planned for tomorrow (16), alongside farmers, in protest at the government’s latest budget. The unionists demand fair wages, economic protection and rolling back austerity measures.