Socialist Appeal - Lonagannnet Workers Return

Lonagannnet Workers Return

By Tam Burke (Prospect member and Edinburgh South West Labour Party, both in a personal capacity)
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Lonagannnet Workers Return by Tam Burke (Prospect member and Edinburgh South West Labour Party, both in a personal capacity) Striking construction workers at Scottish Power's Longannet Power Sation in Fife decided at a mass meeting this morning to restart work to-day. They heard Rab Sherry,Unite Regional Officer, report news of the solution reached over the Lindsey sackings. Rab also said no vitimisation of the Longannet strikers would be tolerated. He pointed out that Scottish Power supports the Blue Book arrangements for the industry, part of which is avoiding the need for unofficial action. The Union too defended the Blue Book agreements and the dispute was not with Scottish Power. A couple of workers I spoke to afterwards said they'd "we'll start back now",but also made clear they distrusted the employers who were only out for themselves. Workers at all the sites remember employers also signed up to an agreement won in the January strikes. After the meeting, Socialist Appeal in hand, I introduced myself to Rab who told me about the necessity to stand up againt the BNP, which was trying to recruit to its own union. "If they ever got into power, then trade unionists would be the first for the concentration camps and execuion . People forget that's what happened under the NAZIS." He thanked me for coming and giving support. Workers are back for now, but watching to see if this latest deal will give justice to the sacked workers plus protect jobs and conditions throughout the indusry. If not,it is likely they would walk out again. Two Journals were sold to two stikers.