Lonagannnet Workers Return by Tam Burke (Prospect member and Edinburgh South West Labour Party, both in a personal capacity)
Striking
construction workers at Scottish Power’s Longannet Power Sation in Fife
decided at a mass meeting this morning to restart work to-day. They
heard Rab Sherry,Unite Regional Officer, report news of the solution
reached over the Lindsey sackings. Rab also said no vitimisation of the
Longannet strikers would be tolerated. He pointed out that Scottish
Power supports the Blue Book arrangements for the industry, part of
which is avoiding the need for unofficial action. The Union too
defended the Blue Book agreements and the dispute was not with Scottish
Power.
A couple of workers I spoke to afterwards said they’d
"we’ll start back now",but also made clear they distrusted the
employers who were only out for themselves. Workers at all the sites
remember
employers also signed up to an agreement won in the January strikes.
After
the meeting, Socialist Appeal in hand, I introduced myself to Rab who
told me about the necessity to stand up againt the BNP, which was
trying to recruit to its own union. "If they ever got into power, then
trade unionists would be the first for the concentration camps and
execuion . People forget that’s what happened under the NAZIS." He
thanked me for coming and giving support.
Workers are back for
now, but watching to see if this latest deal will give justice to the
sacked workers plus protect jobs and conditions throughout the
indusry. If not,it is likely they would walk out again.
Two Journals were sold to two stikers.
