One year after it was announced that employers in the construction
industry were looking to break workplace agreements and implement savage
cuts in pay and conditions, and one year after the magnificent rank and
file campaign was launched in response, site activists from around the
country met in London to plan the way ahead.
PRESS RELEASE: A group of blacklisted workers have launched a High Court claim against Sir Robert McAlpine which could potentially be worth £600million. Guney Clark & Ryan
solicitors served a claim on behalf of 86 claimants for "Tort of
unlawful conspiracy" at the High Court last week. The claimants are part
of the Blacklist Support Group, a network campaigning
on behalf of construction workers illegally blacklisted because of their
trade union activities by major building contractors as part of the Consulting Association scandal first exposed in 2009.
Workers at the electrical appliance company Miele are fighting back. One of their workers, organised by Unite, explains why.
Essex Firefighters have called another strike day for July 18th. They are
appealling for support from all members of the Labour and trade union
movement. Come along to Chelmsford on the 18th!
Here is the latest newsletter from the construction Rank and File campaign.
Last month’s day of action by doctors attracted a lot of criticism from
the Tory press – no surprise there! Here is an article we have received
from a doctor putting their case and explaining what really happened.
The trial of the Shrewsbury pickets is a
gross miscarriage of justice in the 20th century still unresolved. Please sign the online petition.
A Socialist Appeal fringe
meeting on lessons of the Sparks’ dispute at the Unite Trade Union Policy
Conference in Brighton attracted 30 people.
The need for socialist policies and for the nationalisation of the
commanding heights of the economy dominated much of the agenda of the
UNITE policy conference this year, and following a very radical
conference the union has committed to supporting the nationalisation of
the private banks, utilities and railways. The mood of the conference
shows a sharp shift to the left amongst the UNITE rank and file recently
and its reflection in the leadership. Not one speaker from the union’s
executive or from the conference delegates openly opposed the principles
of nationalisation or of the need to adopt socialist policies.
Friday,
22nd June witnessed something unprecedented in British industrial
relations. For the first time, London bus drivers, engineers and supervisors
struck together in solidarity. We are striking for the same bonus being given
to other transport workers in recognition of the hard work we’ll be
putting in over the Olympics. But the strike is about much, much more
than a one off bonus
The UCU Annual Congress held in June in Manchester took
place against the backdrop of three important factors: the return of a
double-dip recession heralding even more cutbacks in public spending, the
continuing battle over public sector pensions and the attempts of the UCU
General Secretary, Sally Hunt, to bypass established democratic procedures
within the union by conducting an e-ballot amongst members on policy
development.