New strike ballot confirmed in official press release from Unite the Union.
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) workers based in London are balloting for strike action over the sacking of two union reps, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.
Unite is calling for the immediate reversal of the unjustified terminations on January 15, which failed to follow internal procedures.
After Unite members challenged planned redundancies and went on strike in September 2025 for the first time in the 129-year history of the union federation, ITF management targeted two union activists.
Internal policy states that staff facing redundancy must first be offered an individual consultation as part of the employer’s responsibility to identify redeployment opportunities.
A Unite shop steward, who played a leading role in workplace negotiations and the strike effort, unexpectedly received a termination letter on 15 January stating that “we do not believe further consultation would be meaningful.”
He had previously been told that he would be invited to a consultation meeting after the hearing of his grievance, which has yet to be scheduled.
The grievance raised concerns over a pattern of detrimental treatment connected to his trade union activity, including the denial of his statutory protection as a new parent, and the lack of consideration for his status as a migrant worker on an employer-sponsored visa.
Another outspoken union representative received a termination letter on 15 January that acknowledged “shortcomings in your particular redundancy process” but insisted that the outcome “would not have changed” despite his own pending grievance regarding serious procedural issues.
Before prematurely issuing the dismissal notice, ITF management did not even give the staff member the opportunity to apply for vacant roles in his newly restructured team.
Unite regional coordinating officer Matt Freeman said: “ITF’s behaviour gives the unmistakeable impression of trade union victimisation. The two reps must be reinstated immediately. ITF’s London workforce have Unite’s complete support.
“Prior to the terminations, Unite made a proposal that would have avoided the need for any compulsory redundancies and saved the organisation money, which management promptly declined.
“This dispute will continue to escalate until ITF’s leadership stops union busting and takes concrete action to rectify the pressing and legitimate issues facing its workers.”
The ballot for strike action is over the sacking of the reps, the failure to take sufficient steps to tackle sexual harassment and misogyny, and the ITF’s proposals to implement detrimental changes to T&Cs in a manner which breaches agreed bargaining procedures. It opens on 2 February and closes on 26 February.
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