on-the-job action

80% of those balloted supported action short of strike, and 54% of those taking part in the ballot backed union plans for industrial action, which includes national civil service wide strikes, targeted strike action and overtime bans.

It is understood that a report prepared for Home Office officials after the first week of a work-to-rule describes significant arrears in work which could considerably delay prospective nurses, teachers and social workers obtaining the necessary clearance to work with children and vulnerable adults.

The action has hit:

The workers who are extending a section of the Lewisville High School said they are on go-slow and will continue their protest until their employer meets with them. They are employed by a privately owned construction company based in Kingston.

The workers are also upset that they are being made to work without health insurance.

Accident and Emergency staff carried out a mass sick day strike at San Fernando General Hospital on the 16th of April in protest at overcrowding. Overcrowding has gotten so bad at the hospital, that the asthma room, a room supposed to be dedicated for those awaiting emergency asthma treatment, is being used as a holding bay for those awaiting hospital beds.

The first strike in the history of the MCA on 6 March drew strong support hitting emergency and 999 distress calls and led to the closure of nearly half of the UK's 19 rescue co-ordination centres. The remainder operated on a severely reduced service and were staffed by a handful of managers.

A boat carrying an arms shipment destined for Zimbabwe is anchored at the South African port of Durban. However the South African Transport Workers' Union has already announced that their members will not offload any of the cargo, nor will any of their truckers transport it.

Lecturers in over 250 colleges were balloted by UCU. The UCU website states that the the result shows solid support for industrial action: 65.5% of those voting* supported strike action and 86.2% also supported other forms of industrial action short of a strike.

The coastguard station in Holyhead, Anglesey, was closed with calls being handled by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in Liverpool. Milford Haven and Swansea coastguards were also be involved in the strike.

The UK-wide strike started at 7am April 11th, involving 600 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and will affect coastguard operations rooms.

The ban took effect on Sunday (March 9th), and has been maintained on Monday (March 10th) as well. This step is a direct response to current conditions, which preclude overtime pay from counting into workers` pension plans.

The stoppages will start next Wednesday (12th), with the majority of the 12,000 employees of the service expected to observe it.