An
amazing couple of days in the Besna dispute - the fight against attempts by the Besna 7 in construction to quit the JIB and implement new contracts with lower pay and worse conditions.
The fun began at the ECA
dinner and dance at Grovesner hotel, Park Lane - 15th Feb. Around 150 workers gathered at 5.30pm outside the construction bosses' party - we decided we would have our
own party in the street. Sean Prophet was mc and provided some
great party music outside the hotel and it wasn't long before we had
blocked off Park Lane. Traffic soon backed up into Oxford Street and we were dancing in
the street to the Irish Rover and many other top tunes. We blocked
the road off for over an hour. PC Plod finally arrived - they were stuck in
traffic and had to come on foot. After a vote we gave them one lane
back.
We barracked the dinner suit brigade no end, chasing them all
round the hotel as they scurried inside through side doors to enjoy their champers
and fine grub. They are nicking food from our tables with their 35% pay cut intentions so we let them
know that we wern't happy. We also collared London Mayor "Red Ken" Livingstone as he went in
(shame on you) to address the dinner as a quest speaker - although he did say afterwards that as Mayor he would not use a Besna firm.
The following day we were overjoyed to hear that the High Court had
ruled in our favour on the strike vote. Balfour Bearry had lost the injunction and the strike could go
ahead as planned on their sites.
On Friday we heard that Balfour Beatty had withdrawn from Besna - what a result!. One of the biggest construction companies in the world had crumbled
- superb our struggle had paid off. The rank and file are truly on the
march and we believe it won't be long before the other firms pull out as
well. Our sister unions in USA and Australia have helped enormously with
demos in solidarity. We are maintaining protests for now and hope to take
out "no good" Baileys (a major blacklister) next.
A campaign is also being
mounted with the backing of Unite where we protest at Morrisons
supermarkets countrywide. One of the Besna gang, NGB have a maintenance contract with Morrisons
as well as doing refurbishments and working on new stores being built.The word on the
street is Spie are also ready to pull back soon - all our hard work is paying
off.
When all the Besna 7 have retreated we need to go for the jugular and
renegotiate a brand new deal for sparks and mechanical trades.
Rank and file reps must be part of the negotiating committee - we need a list of demands. Here's a few suggestions:
- 1) RULE 17 MUST BE ADHERED TO - NO AGENGY LABOUR UNTIL A JOB IS
NEARLY COMPLETE AND THEN ONLY SMALL NUMBERS. NO REDUNDANCIES WHILE AGENCY
LABOUR ARE ON ANY SITE.
- 2) AN INCREASE IN THE HOURLY RATE.
- 3) NO DESKILLING.
- 4) PROPER APPRENTICESHIPS.
- 5) NO MORE BLACKLISTING OR VICTIMISATION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN DISPUTE SO FAR.
- 6) INCREASE IN FARES , TRAVELTIME AND LODGING ALLOWANCE
- 7) A SICK PAY SCHEME
- 8) ONE HOURLY RATE ACROSS THE BOARD
- 9) FARES FROM HOME FOR ALL
- 10) 35 HOUR BASIC WEEK. OVERTIME RATES INCREASED
- 11) FULL TRAINING FOR ELECTED STEWARDS AND SAFETY REPS WITH PAID TIME OFF FOR UNION DUTIES.
- 12) ELECTED REPS ON ALL LARGE PROJECTS.
- 13) DECENT REDUNDANCY PAY.
- 14) DECENT PENSION SCHEME.
- 15) FULL EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS FROM DAY ONE.
We also need more reps and lay activists on JIB committees with
democracy restored to our unions. Union officers should be paid no more
than a skilled worker. We also need the election of all officials with the right of
recall available and for these officials to be more accountable to the members. With patient organised
work this can be achieved. Any new deal must be put to membership for
agreement and then a ballot to vote on accepatance or rejection.
All in all a momentous week for the rank and file. The power of the workers
with a strong union behind them is immense. Let's not let this opportunity
for transforming construction pass us by - united the
workers will never be defeated. Not a light bulb shall shine or a wheel
turn without our permission. A massive round of applause to one and all -
our time has come comrades.
