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construction workers met in Birmingham on 14th January to discuss the
ongoing JIB dispute. Gail Cartmail (Unite Asst. General Secretary)
spoke on the dispute and the pending ballot of Balfour Beatty workers.It
was attended by construction workers (sparks, pipeys, etc) & their
supporters from all parts of the country, such as Manchester, Liverpool
London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Dundee, the Midlands, North East, South Coast
& other parts of Wales & Scotland.
The Balfour Beatty strike ballot papers have gone out with the result
back in by 2nd February. This is a reballot following the first one in
December which returned a 81% vote for strike action. Balfour Beatty
threatend a legal challenge and Unite backed off. We expect a bigger
majority this time round and, all being well, no legal challenge or
capitulation by Unite.
If all goes to plan the strike could commence as early as the 9th.
Steve
Kelly (RnF - blacklisted spark) chaired the meeting and Gail Cartmail
opened the discussion, speaking about where Unite is now with the ballot
for Balfour Beatty and also what’s happening with the ballots on the
other companies. She took questions from the floor and the temperature
started to rise when there was a debate about blacklisting and the role
of union officials.
Gail was questioned by rank and file members on Unite’s role up to now
in the dispute. If it wasn’t for the work of the Rank and File
organisation where would we be now in this struggle? Unite have dragged
their heels all the way so far and must toughen up their act. There is a
lot at stake here - not only workers pay being cut but the whole
construction industries future. If the bosses defeat the Sparks, other
trades will get hit as well. Union organisation is poor in construction
compared to other sectors. This is partly due to the transient nature of
the industry but Unite must also take a lot of the blame. Ucatt
members have been let down even more over the years. There are too many
sweetheart deals and backhanders flying about.
Gail assured us things are changing and that we must move forward and
forget the past. This isn’t easy for construction workers, especially
when it comes to blacklisting and possible collusion by previous union
officers. Russ Blakely (Pompey) spoke about the boss class political
forces at work right across every aspect of our construction industry
and our everyday lives which are keeping us under the bosses' heel.
Next to speak was blacklisted ex-bricklayer Brian Higgins who was then
followed by blacklisted spark, Steve Acheson. They both spoke about the
great work the Rank and File activists were achieving right across the
country with their demos, protests & occupations saying that it was
the only way forward.
It was generally felt that unoffical action will be neccesary to help
win the dispute and the weekly protests will continue. All power to the
sparks !
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Milions of workers came out on strike in defence of their pensions. This was the biggest such action for decades. The fight goes on!
