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.

Unite Construction Rank And File
 
Please find a press release: [Also note that there was a small demo today in Manchester].

The fight is gaining momentum and we are hearing that the employers and their clients are beginning to get a ‘little edgy’,  Keep on keeping on, yours in solidarity....................Jerry Hicks.

Press Release – Press Release---Press Release--- Press Release—Press Release 31st Aug 2011

Veteran of the Labour movement Tony Benn addressed over 150 electricians in Stratford East London today 31 August 2011. Benn spoke to the electricians who were demonstrating against the move by a breakaway group of electrical contractors who want to set up an alternative negotiating body which may undermine the preferred terms of the Joint Industry Board, the current national negotiations body. Many of the breakaway electrical contractors are the same ones who are prominent in Blacklisting workers, Balfour Beatty, Crown House Technologies, N G Bailey and SPIE (Matthew Hall). However this is not deterring the demonstrators.

Electricians angry at the move to deskill their trade & undermine their bargaining position have hit back. The sparks in London have decided on a series of demonstrations outside major high profile sites in the hope of building momentum and support from other workers.

Speaking to the workers Benn told them that the essence of trade unionism was joining to together to become stronger using an analogy of a child stuck in a well who asks his rescuers to join their ropes together to get him from the bottom of the well.

Other speakers included Michael Dooley who is a candidate in the current UCATT General Secretary election, Steve Headley from the RMT and other supporters.

Alan Keys a spokesperson for the sparks said “this is a fight we will need to win if we want to maintain our bargaining position. We only hope that our union UNITE will move quickly in support of the sparks, but we will proceed with our plans and future activities”

The next will be demonstrating outside of the tallest tower being built in Europe,

Wednesday the 7th September 2011 at The Shard,  London Bridge from 6.30 a.m.

There are also plans for simultaneous demos in other parts of the country.

For more info please contact Alan Keys on siteworker@virginmedia.com