Your next round of strike action is due to take place on Thursday the 20th of October and Monday the 24th of October. Following on from the successful 4 days of action. It is important that once again we all stand up for each other and demand the pay rise we deserve. Whether on the picket line or taking the day off – we ask all affected employees to support the strike send BT a clear message.
All Branch Pickets will aim to be active from 07:30 to 12:00
Basingstoke TE, Bounty Road, RG21 3BX (20th & 24th)
Guildford TE, Leapale Lane, GU1 4LY (20th & 24th) (Park & Ride available around Guildford)
Epsom TE, East Street, KT17 1BA (20th & 24th) (Short walk from Sainsburys/Wickes)
Merton Park TE, 203 Kingston Road, SW19 3NH (20th)
Crayford TE, Southwold Road, DA5 1LZ (20th)
On days of Industrial Action some officers and reps can be contacted on the numbers below.
Basingstoke TE - Phil Allen - 07810 543 154
Guildford TE - Chris Young - 07483 956 073
Epsom TE - Bill Dixon - 07777 670 164
Merton Park TE - Colin Bell - 07710 318 782
Crayford TE - Peter Minhas - 07802 912 380
Any questions please email or call the Branch on 0208 666 2727, theunion@cwuslsnh.org
STRIKERS CAN DO LIST
YOU HAVE IMMUNITIES FROM DISMISSAL FOR LEGAL STRIKE ACTION
If you take part in industrial action that has been legally called by the CWU your employer cannot single you out personally and dismiss you for taking strike action. The company cannot make any claims for losses suffered as a result of strike action if it has been legally called by the CWU.
YOU MAY REFUSE TO WORK
The company cannot apply for a court order to compel you to work or issue any such order to you. Threats of consequences for individuals in “breach of contract” are not legal and should be reported to the branch.
YOU MAY PEACEFULLY PICKET YOUR WORKPLACE (when organised by the branch)
You may set up on public ground outside employer entrances without causing obstruction (ie no barricading driveways). Guidance is for 6 people in total to picket a site (6 per accessway if multiple entrances / exits) at any one time, though this
is not a legal limit.
YOU MAY SIGNAL OR ASK A VEHICLE TO STOP
You may signal or ask for a vehicle to stop in order to peacefully communicate. You cannot force a vehicle to stop and the vehicle must always pass the picket line with due care and attention.
YOU MAY PEACEFULLY OBTAIN AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION
You may approach and speak to colleagues going into work and explain the reasons for the strike. You may hand out leaflets and hold placards (provided they are not threatening). The employer cannot stop you from doing this nor threaten those who are speaking with you. If a manager or security approach you refer them to the picket supervisor.
YOU MAY ASK PEOPLE NOT TO WORK (if they are involved in the dispute)
You may ask colleagues involved in the dispute not to work. If they have concerns over joining the picket please refer them to the picket supervisor who can explain their rights and the CWU welfare policy for financial assistance.
YOU MAY BE JOINED BY SUPPORTERS (if not in breach of covid / travel restrictions).
In this case they must be kept away from the picket. The picket itself should aim to be no greater than six in total (although this is not a legal limit, the police can break up crowds if there is a risk of public disorder or nuisance).
YOU MUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE PICKET SUPERVISOR
The picket supervisor may call off a picket if he or she believes the picket has or is likely to breach any of the CWU guidance or legal requirements. Supervisors may expel members from a picket line if they are unruly or at risk of getting themselves or other picketers into trouble.
The picket supervisor supports the pickets by giving directions and coordinating with the branch. He / she has many more legal responsibilities and guidelines to follow than are listed here. Please take their direction in good faith.
A PICKET IS A PEACEFUL METHOD OF COMMUNICATING AND PERSUADING COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT YOU
WE ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE SAME PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE ON THE PICKET LINE AS WE DO IN WORK
DO NOT BE BAITED INTO SAYING OR DOING ANYTHING BY PEOPLE BEING OFFENSIVE OR DIFFICULT
REMEMBER THAT WHEN THIS DISPUTE IS OVER WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER AGAIN
STRIKERS DO NOT DO LIST
DO NOT FORM A PICKET WITHOUT AUTHORISATION OF THE BRANCH
If you take part in unauthorised industrial action you could disciplined and the union could face sanctions. The branch needs to notify the police, employer and ensure the action is legal. Authorisation letters will be given to the picket supervisor which confirm the action is legal. If you want to add a new location to picket, please contact the branch to discuss.
DO NOT PICKET WITHOUT AN ALLOCATED SUPERVISOR
The supervisor must be appointed by the branch and will hold the authorisation letter. The supervisor is present to oversee the picket and to deal with the employer / police if any complaints are made. If managers approach you with an issue direct them to the supervisor. The supervisor must be familiar with their responsibilities and be appointed by the relevant branch or national officer. The supervisor may cover many pickets in a reasonable area provided they can return to any at short notice on request of the union, company or police.
DO NOT BLOCK ENTRANCEWAYS OR EXITS
Enforcing a “do not cross” picket line by way of obstruction (lying down, linking hands, physical obstructions) is illegal. Keep areas as clear as possible and do not detain people longer than is necessary to hand out your materials and discuss the reasons for the dispute. Do not stop or delay any emergency services, if any are visible in a queue of traffic or otherwise hindered by the action, cease immediately and return to the side of the road until certain that resuming will not delay / hinder them.
DO NOT PICKET ANYWHERE OTHER THAN YOUR ALLOCATED LOCATION
Flying pickets are now illegal, you cannot join multiple pickets. If you are uncertain of where you should picket, please contact the branch who will direct you to your appropriate location.
DO NOT ENCOURAGE UNAFFECTED EMPLOYEES TO STRIKE IN SYMPATHY WITH YOU
Only those involved in the dispute should be asked not to work. Secondary picketers would be open to discipline. Colleagues can speak to you and visit your picket on lunch breaks etc but they must not help picket - ie must not wear “official picket” stickers / clothing or hand out leaflets.
DO NOT USE COMPANY VEHICLES OR PROPERTY WHILST ON STRIKE
The use of company vehicles and property is prohibited unless expressly authorised by the company. Do not drive your work vehicle to take part in a picket or to drop it off at a yard. The company may request we cover blue light services or DRO reports, if this happens notify the branch to confirm agreed arrangements.
DO NOT TRESSPASS ON SITES – NOT EVEN TO GO TO THE TOILET OR TO TALK TO SOMEONE.
You are not authorised to access an employer’s site even if you hold an ID badge. Use of toilets, facilities or carparks is usually forbidden by the employer and should not be assumed to be ok – even to obtain personal property. If there is a desperate need to access a property speak to your picket supervisor or line manager to arrange permission from the company.
CRIMINAL OFFENSES
DO NOT DOWN TOOLS WHILST LEAVING HAZARDS / RISKS THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY / DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. MAKE SURE YOUR SITE IS CLOSED DOWN SAFE FIRST!
240 Breach of contract involving injury to persons or property. A person commits an offence who wilfully and maliciously breaks a contract of service or hiring, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the probable consequences of his so doing, either alone or in combination with others, will be— (a) to endanger human life or cause serious bodily injury, or (b) to expose valuable property, whether real or personal, to destruction or serious injury.
DO NOT THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, BE VIOLENT TOWARDS OR STALK ANY PERSON
DO NOT CARRY OFFENSIVE WEAPONS OR OBSTRUCT THE POLICE
DO NOT FOLLOW EMPLOYEES FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND DO NOT FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THE STREETS IN A CROWD (2 or more).
DO NOT INTERFERE WITH WORKSITES OR MOVE TOOLS OR OTHER ITEMS.
241 Intimidation or annoyance by violence or otherwise.
(1) A person commits an offence who, with a view to compelling another person to abstain from doing or to do any act which that person has a legal right to do or abstain from doing, wrongfully and without legal authority— (a) uses violence to or intimidates that person or his [spouse or civil partner] or children, or injures his property, (b) persistently follows that person about from place to place, (c) hides any tools, clothes or other property owned or used by that person, or deprives him of or hinders him in the use thereof, (d) watches or besets the house or other place where that person resides, works, carries on business or happens to be, or the approach to any such house or place, or (e) follows that person with two or more other persons in a disorderly manner in or through any street or road. (2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.