Since
last we wrote on events surrounding the struggle at Severfield Reeve in Dalton
North Yorkshire, there has been a significant change. While office workers at
the site and workers throughout the group accepted a 15% wage cut, shop floor
workers at the Dalton site stood firm and have been rewarded with a massive 7hr
reduction in their working week, with the loss, for the most part, of only £17,
which represents a wage reduction of around 4%. This is seen by all as a
significant victory and shows what can be achieved by uniting forces against
the almost criminal attitude of the bosses.
In
addition to this victory, only 2-3 weeks prior to the agreement, some members
of management were chiding Union Reps. with the question, "What will you
do when a settlement is reached and people leave the Union?"; well the
answer to this question is simply this; "Since an agreement was reached 4
days ago ( today being Sat. 1st of May ) membership in the union at the site
has increased." Let’s keep on fighting, for only through engaging in
battle with the bosses, can we hope to bring about the necessary changes which
every working man & woman, throughout the world, deserves.
This
victory at Severs represents a big step forward. Many thousands of workers have
been faced with job losses and wage cuts, but we explained that at a certain
stage the situation would change. Severs management are investing in the Dalton
site and they have orders for steel coming out of their ears. Under these
conditions, a strong union, which really means a strong united workforce can
win back some of what has been lost in the past. This is a significant step
forward.
