Blacklist Video/Documentary by Reel News - MUST SEE

The same firms who are de-skilling our industry and cutting our wages are also blacklisting innocent people. If you have heard sparks complaining about the blacklist on demo's and didn't know what they were talking about - watch this youtube video and all will be revealed - if you've never seen it before, it is truly shocking. As it stands I am not blacklisted but I do personally know a couple of people who are. It is a shocking practise and needs to be eradicated.

Wed 21st Glasgow

Tomorrow we take the fight to the client.  FACEBOOK

Land Securities have handed out a contract for the extension to Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow to Balfour Beatty.

Let's show them why they have made the wrong decision.

Meet, 8am at:
Land Securities Group
120 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 2EN

Hope to see you there.

Scottish Rank and File Committee

Latest Rank and File Update

‘They came for us and we fought back’  Rank and File end of year round up.....

What an incredible 4 months of Rank and File activity we have had, it must be the best action of any group of workers in last 10 years, and its gone worldwide.

Latest Unite The Union Press Release

On Thursday 15th December, Unite and the Seven Scum met at ACAS. We are yet to hear from the Seven Scum but Unite today released this statement:

Construction employers’ Christmas peace deal snub forces New Year ballot to go-ahead 

Round Up Of Last Weeks Action

Over the last week we have seen protests, pickets, occupations and blatant lies.

Wednesday morning started off with

Occupying The Clients

Early yesterday evening, Friday 16th, over 30 M&E workers occupied the head office of Network Rail in London.

Where To Be Seen This Week

There are protests/demonstrations across the country this week. In England, Scotland and Wales.

Report From Todays Scottish RnF/Unite Meeting

A message from a Scottish Electrician who was at the Rnf/Unite meeting in Glasgow today. It was attended by Gail Cartmail (Unite Assistant General Secretary) and Bernard McAuley (National Construction Officer)

BREAKING NEWS

The HVCA have been told that they will NOT be granted a license to issue CSCS cards. This is a massive blow to BESNA as it means that they will not be able to issue their own Skills Cards.

Two months ago Unite, GMB and UCATT joined forces to apply pressure on CSCS to not grant the HVCA a issuing license and it seems that they have agrees that BESNA is a bad move for the construction industry.

BIGGEST Unoffical Walkout For Years

Last week it was announced that Balfour Beatty M&E workers had voted 81.6% in favour of strike action against the forced implementation of new, lesser contracts.

Press Release From ECA

Building Services Coalition Calls For Unity Amid HVCA Plans To Fragement Industry

"You Can View It Here"

06 Dec 2011

A coalition of the Building Services industry comprising ECA, SELECT, APHC and SNIPEF warns of dire consequences for the industry if HVCA insists on going ahead with the Building & Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the proposed BESNA Agreement.

Rank & File - Siteworker Round Up Of Wednesday

7th December was supposed to be the 1st day of action in the electricians dispute following the magnificent Balfour Beatty ballot result 81% in favour of industrial action.

The Week Just Gone and The Week Coming

The Balfour Beatty ballot result was announced this week. There was an overwhelming 81.6% vote in favour of strike action. Cheers went up across the country. BUT then Balfour Beatty took the result to court and highlighted some flaws in the result.

Latest Rank And File Newsletter.....

Well there’s a surprise, they threaten and we back off! ‘What a load of old Ballots’

We got the ballot result 81.6% in favour of strike action on BBES magnificent!

Then shamefully Unite when they were ‘threatened’ with an injunction, bottled it and have decided to re-ballot.

Latest Press Release From Unite

Unite condemns Balfour Beatty’s legal challenge to its overwhelming ‘yes’ vote and vows to re-ballot

Did We Get Too Close To You Mr. Gratte?

The day that the M&E dispute arrived, literally, on the employers doorstep.

BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS

150 rank and file Electricians are currently occupying Grattes Brothers Head Office. Someone has put a chain on the doors. Looks like we might be here a while.
More to follow

The JIB/ECA Give BESNA A Kick

I have in my possession a copy of the letter that the JIB/ECA sent out to operatives last week.

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The gloves are well and truly off and the chips are down.

It’s up to us now!

 

Unite members at Balfour Beatty BBES should have been getting their ballot papers and they must be returned by next Monday November 28^th, With a ‘YES’ for strike action.

TWO New Press Releases From Unite The Union....

Balfour Beatty to replace 1,300 skilled jobs with semi-skilled 
agency labour

Unite has learnt that Balfour Beatty Engineering Services intend to cut up to 1,300 directly employed skilled electricians

Round Up Of Last Weeks Protests..........

Good evening all. Firstly my apologies for the delay in writing the round up of the weeks action.

The week started off with a bang when 200 electricians, pipe fitters and plumbers met up on Teeside from all over the North East.

Ballot Paper On The Doormat

Today, across the country Balfour Beatty operatives have started to receive their ballot papers, the rest should arrive tomorrow. Do not forget. YES to being a Spark. NO to being an installer

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

Cops vs demo's: a game of two halves with cabbies scoring the winner in extra time

More Balfour Propaganda and Todays Protests......

The Balfour Beatty propaganda machine is rolling on.

This Weeks Meetings and Protests....

National Day Of Action November 9th

Remember Remember 9th November When The Sparks Fight Back Kicks Off

Well that was the twelve week of being on the streets of London at 6:30am. We arrived to a mass of accents from the North East.

Latest Press Release From Unite The Union....

Unite to announce construction strike ballot timetable

8 November 2011

Thousands of workers to protest to defend pay and sector skills

'Union News' Report on Tomorrows Protests

The Union-News website have done a news report on Tomorrows National Day of Action

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

Clash of the Titans: Sparks versus the rogue 7 ‘London calling’

Sparks against the cuts! All out for November 9^th  Lets make it the Pinnacle of our protests so far.

For the last 3 months there have been tons of demos and protests going on around the country with barely a mention in the media.

Balfour Rattled??? Protest Round Up

I have now lost count of how many weeks we have been outside, bloody early on Wednesday mornings up and down the country. The end of August when this all started I didn't even think ahead to the prospect of standing in the dark in the rain with a dripping wet cigarette hanging from my gob.

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

Well they say 'everything comes to those who wait'...

BBES Unite members' 'Strike Ballot' timetable details...

MORE Balfour Propaganda............

Dont Beleive The Hype, You Can Say That Again

The Balfour Beatty propaganda machine is in full flow. Churning out crap leaflet after crap leaflet. I have once again been sent copies of leaflets given out to Balfour card labour.

Round Up Of Wednesdays Protests.......... 26/10/11

Wednesday 26th October

This week saw protests in London, Newcastle, Manchester and Glasgow

Tomorrow's Protests and the 9th November

In 9 hours time we will be standing in the cold outside jobs in Newcastle, Manchester/Liverpool, Glasgow and London.

Protests, Coaches and Even The Guardian Get Involved......

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON

News has started spreading that there will be a National demonstration in London on the 9th November. Unite are going to be running coaches from all over the country to get electrical and mechanical workers to London for the day. The details have not been fully announced yet but it seems that each regional office will be organising coaches. When the details are announced fully I will post them up on here.

Now Who Fancies A Laugh?????

I have been anonymously sent a copy of a letter handed out to Balfour Beatty employees today.

It is quite laughable what they have to say:

• Struggling to compete - Profits in excess of £50mill in 2010

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter AND Protest Details

RANK AND FILE PROTEST/S AGAINST 35% PAY CUT & DE-SKILLING

Latest Press Release From Unite The Union....

Strike ballot as Unite accuses Balfour Beatty of bringing mayhem to building sites

Unite, the UK's largest union, is preparing to ballot over 1000 members in construction firm, Balfour Beatty for industrial action.

The action could hit some of the UK's key infrastructure projects, including power stations and Crossrail.

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

Breaking news.....................Are we about to ballot?

The MPs Are Begining To Take Note

It has been drawn to my attention that John McDonnell MP has started an Early Day Motion in support for our cause.

So far it has collected 9 signatures, Peter Bottomley Con MP, Ronnie Campbell Lab MP, Martin Caton Lab MP, Katy Clark Lab MP, Jeremy Corbyn Lab MP, Jim Dobbin MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP, John Mcdonnell Lab MP and Dennis Skinner MP.

Video Of The Tate Modern Protest, Wed 12th Oct

New Update From Unite The Union....

Unite questions loss-making HVCA’s ability to deliver new role

 
Unite is calling into question the ability of the Heating Ventilation Contractors Association to take over from the Joint Industry Boards  to deliver improved industrial relations and apprenticeship training in the electrical and plumbing trades.

Unite has concerns over the financial stability of the HVCA which has failed to balance its books for the last two years.

Round Up Of Wednesdays Protests..........

Today there were protests in London, Newcastle and the North West. There is one tomorrow at Sellafield Power Station and there is a protest in London that needs our solidarity.

London Construction Branch Meeting Write up.......

This evening saw the London Construction Branch meeting at Conway Hall. Unite were there in full force with Gail Cartmail (Assistant General Secretary), Bernard McAuley (National Construction Officer) and Vince Passfield (London Regional Officer)

After a couple off beers in the nice and cheap Samuel Smiths pub round the corner, we arrived just in time for the 6:30 start. The meeting was split in to two halves. Unite first and then the Rank and File.

Following on.......

Firstly, apologies for the lack of updates over the weekend. I have been on this laptop every evening for the last 8 weeks now so needed a couple of nights off. Full updates and reports now resuming.


Following on from where we left off we arrive at Friday 7th October.

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

Let’s show the Tate Modern the ‘Art of Civil disobedience’!

Seven weeks of fantastic rank and file protests has seen off one of the big 8 [MJN Colston]. At rank and file meetings committees have been elected in London, Manchester and the North East. And this weeks target sites have been chosen

Article I Wrote For www.union-news.co.uk Was Published On Wed 5th October...

This is the article I wrote for www.union-news.co.uk , published on the 5th October 2011

“Walking off the job is the only way to express our anger”

An electrician tells UnionNews why he and his colleagues feel so angry about the imposition of new contracts

Round Up Of Wednesdays Protests..........

London

6:30am on Oxford Street and there are no shops to buy any cigarettes, what a pain in the arse.

Dates For The Diary........

Rank and file/Unite actions [that we know of] ……

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

Scotland Yard Attempt To Ban Latest Sparks Protest In Oxford Street

Scotland Yard has been in contact with UNITE the Union to try and stop a planned protest outside a building site in Oxford Street tomorrow morning Wednesday 5th Oct.

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

All very ‘Civil’ and very ‘Disobedient’

Latest Press Release From Unite The Union....

Unite to boycott top Scottish construction awards ceremony, as ‘rogue’ employers gear up to slash pay by 30 per cent

Protests, Meetings and Some Interesting Rumours

This week we have had the lot. Protests, rumours, meetings and a change at the top of the JIB. There were protests in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. With two meetings in the North West, Liverpool on Thursday and Manchester on Saturday. Plus the change at the top of the JIB on Thursday.

New JIB Chaiman, What Does It Mean?

Earlier this evening, a new statement appeared on the hardly used, rather outdated, JIB website.

NEW CHAIRMAN FOR THE JIB

 28th September 2011

The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry (JIB) confirmed today that Sir Michael Latham will step down as its Independent Chairman at the end of the year after 13 years of service since his appointment in January 1998.
Paul Corby will take over from Sir Michael on 1st January 2012 and he will start working immediately with Sir Michael to pick up current issues and ensure a smooth handover.
Sir Michael said “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chairman but it is now time to pass on my responsibilities and I have the highest regard for Paul Corby, who played a key role in the JIB’s activities for many years.”
Paul Corby said “I am privileged to take over from Sir Michael and he will be a very hard act to follow. The JIB has always been very close to my heart and I look forward immensely to working with the JIB staff, Unite and the ECA to take the JIB forward.”

Sir Michael is turning 70 in November and will have been in this current role for 13 years. Paul Corby is the former National Construction Officer for Amicus which he took voluntary redundancy from in 2005.

More to follow........

Latest Edition Of The Site Worker Magazine NORTH WEST

Latest Site Worker Magazine for the North West

New Update From Unite The Union....

This is the Latest update from Unite, dated 28th September. This update can be viewed in flyer form here which will be distributed at the end of this week.

Click here for the Unite campaign page for Updates, Advice, Posters, Placards and much more

Don't believe their lies - get ready to ballot

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

 

 

Latest Edition Of The Site Worker Magazine

Latest Site Worker Magazine On Health And Safety

SEND THIS LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL MP

Below is a template of a letter for everyone to copy and paste in to their email.
All you have to do is fill in the blanks.
If enough of the 650 MPs raise the issue on our behalf then that's a great start.

You can find who you local MP is here >>>> MP CONTACT LIST

Don't forget to add your address, as an MP can not take your email any further if they cant verify if you are in their constituency.

Whats This All About????

Just in case you have only just come across this page, cause, campaign or what ever you wish to call it. Here is a quick run through of what has happened over the last 2 months since this all started with links to all the pages explaining in more detail.
EVERYONE READING, regardless of whether you are a spark, fitter or a plumber. Join together with your fellow skilled trades, Join Unite
If I have missed anything please flag it up, Thanks

Well That Weekend Went A Lot Better Than Expected.............

Firstly there was the meeting in Glasgow at the Unite Office, John Smith House. Being in London and getting ready for a day at the football, I couldn't make it. But by all accounts it was a very, very positive meeting. There were so many more people in attendance than expected, that there wasn't even standing room available, people had to stand in the corridor to try and catch some of the meeting.

It's Been A Busy Week...................

SO where were we. I have now set up a Twitter account, a You Tube and  Flickr accounts to place all the pictures and videos of the protests I take and find. Check them out.

So this week we have seen protests in London at Farringdon Station, Newcastle at the Tyne Tunnel and Manchester at the Media City site. All of which made the news.

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

The Ball Is Rolling....

So it appears that Unite are now officially backing the protests. The Newcastle, London and Manchester protests even made Unites Official Twitter feed today. There are Rank and File meetings popping up all over the country with a good mixture of Official Unite meetings taking place too

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

Let’s answer the TUC’s call last week for "Civil Disobedience" against the cuts.

Latest Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

They have thrown down the gauntlet and Grangemouth shoved it down their throat!

Scotland Has Joined The Party, Pictures, Site Worker And Unite

Today saw the fourth successive week of protests across the UK against the de-skilling of the Electrical and Mechanical Industry.

Dates For Your Diary, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and London

Dates for the Diary :

Video Of The Protest At The Shard, London. 7th September 2011

September 7th demonstration from margaret dickinson on Vimeo.

Three Cities, Three Protests

Wednesday saw the third installment of the Rank and File protests against the de-skilling of the M&E industry.
The Shard was the target for the London protest which actually saw a Unite official turn up. Fingers crossed this will be a regular thing and Unite will start to back the Rank & File on all of the protests and throw some of their weight behind it.

The "eight" Have Sent Them Out..........

Over the last couple days, employees of the "eight" have been receiving their new contracts and the 90 days consultation period has begun. I got mine on Saturday and will be posting it on here soon. I just have to go through it properly first with a copy of the JIB book next to me. That way I can work out EXACTLY what we are going to lose. Hopefully I should be able to get this done at the weekend.

There are three protests

Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates directly to your email follow the LINK and join the group.

Taking the fight to the bosses,

The Momentum Keeps On Pushing, Up North We Shall Go...........

So it would appear that the momentum is really picking up now. Following on from the two well attended protests in London and the high profile protest planned at The Shard on the 7th September its time for our Northern Brothers to come and join the party.

RVI Hospital, Newcastle, 7th September, 6:30am

This is a Crown House Technologies site.

Spread the word

Updates For The Shard, London 7th September....

At The Shard, London Bridge 7th September, Jeremy Corbyn MP for Islington North will be attending and its waiting to be confirmed officially that Bob Crow (the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, RMT) will also be in attendance to offer support to the cause.

Unite Construction Rank And File Newsletter........

The "Unite Construction Rank And File Group" are the group headed by the committee that was elected at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London on the 13th August 2011. Working together with the Site Worker magazine. To receive these weekly news updates

Hello Westfield..........

Off to Stratford we trotted for the second installment of the Electricians protests. At 6:30am at Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford approximately 200 electricians gathered to let their feelings be known. By 7:15 the number had swelled to over 300 as people were joining the protest listening to the speakers. Once again there were cameras,

The Night Before The Big Day.......

There are only a few hours left until the protest at Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford is about to start. The question is, in 13 hours time, will you be able to hold your head up and say, yeah, I did my bit, I went to the protest to fight for my job, my trade, my industry, my future and to give the companies a collective BOLLOCKS? I know I will, I know alot of other sparks that will be able to. But the question is will YOU?


OR will you be one of those

Tommy Clarkes To Bring In New Rules At Christmas

With the momentum of the Unite Rank And File Campaign picking up every day, the Big 8 are starting to get nervous. They are getting so nervous in fact that Tommy Clarkes and a couple others are already talking about moving the start date of the new Rules list from March 2012 to Christmas 2011. So it could be ready as soon as you come back

Unite Construction Rank and File - Newsletter

Sign up to the Unite Construction Rank and File Group by following this  link

Unite Construction Rank and File

On Wednesday 24th August 300 electricians protested outside Balfour Beatty's Blackfriars Station construction project in the first of many. Alan Keys said “What a great turn out and this is just the beginning now let’s push on. We can win this battle and turn over the 8 firms who have threatened to pull out of JIB agreement we’ve done before and we can do it again.

Tell Everyone...

So far this morning I have emailed EVERY national newspaper. All of the national television news programmes. The London news programmes. The London newspapers and every London news website I can find on the internet. As soon as I get any promising responses I will post it on here. If you have any ideas of your own about how to raise publicity (legally of course) and how to inform people about whats happening then let me know.
If you are planning your own protest in other parts of the country or would like to. Then let me know.

Moving On To Westfield..........

There has been a piece here and a piece there on the internet about Blackfriars on Wednesday. The best one I have found was clients are getting concerned about these protests and if they escalate to such a scale that there are simultaneous large scale protest at sites up and down the country they could start putting pressure on the Big 8. If the clients end up turning round to C.House - T2, Baileys - Crossrail and voicing their uneasiness about the situation then they will be getting pressure from both sides. The workers and the clients. The two vital parts to the companies

The First Of Many............

Today saw the beginning of the fight back. At 6:30 this morning Electricians started gathering at the site entrance of the Balfour Beatty site, Blackfriars Station. The protest lasted from 6:30am till 8:30am and was attended by approximately 300 Electricians.

Tomorrow is the day..........

23rd August -  So tomorrow is the day that we find out if the sparks and fitters of London are really up for this fight. I know quite a few people going but the majority are agency workers, we need to get the carded labour involved too. Live updates and pictures will be added throughout the day.

And Once In Leeds They Unite?

17th August - So off to Leeds everyone goes for the early afternoon meeting. All shop stewards, officers and three members of OUR committee are invited to discuss what is happening and to bring everyone up to date.

Unites take on the meeting :

An extremely well attended meeting of the Unite Shop Stewards Forum representing Electrical, Plumbing & Mechanical workers took place today (Wednesday 17th August 2011) in Leeds.

The First Meeting..........

August 13th - During the days following the issue of letters from the Big Eight. A group of Rank and File from the industry organised a meeting at a pub near Kings Cross, London. The news of the meeting was spread by word of mouth, text message and the internet. It was soon aparent that the venue was going to be no where near big enough. So a new venue was found. Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London. It was attended by approximately 500 Electrical and Mechanical workers. The email sent out after the meeting:

Unite Come Out To Play.......

5th August - Unites campaign page goes live for us all to see. Included on the page is a copy of the new Rules that the company want to call their Agreement (link to new rules pdf document). It makes for fascinating reading. A few points that I have pulled out myself:

• Morning (paid) and afternoon (unpaid) breaks are to be combined for the one break a day strategy
• Overtime rates for Saturdays are time and a half, paid at the companies discretion (no overtime rates)

Its all ok though isnt it????

1st - 5th July  - With Questions mounting up from the workforce the companies have no choice but to release a questions and answers sheet to try and reassure them that all is ok. Which I have managed to get a copy of, thanks to a fellow Electrician.

And so it begins...........

Friday 29th July - The Big Eight, with the full assistance of the HVCA (Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association), wrote out to their respective workforces, indicating their intentions of pulling out of the National Working Agreements: