Socialist Appeal - Significant victory at Severs

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Significant victory at Severs

By Severfield Reeve workers

Monday, 10 May 2010

Since last we wrote on events surrounding the struggle at Severfield Reeve in Dalton North Yorkshire, there has been a significant change. While office workers at the site and workers throughout the group accepted a 15% wage cut, shop floor workers at the Dalton site stood firm and have been rewarded with a massive 7hr reduction in their working week, with the loss, for the most part, of only £17, which represents a wage reduction of around 4%. This is seen by all as a significant victory and shows what can be achieved by uniting forces against the almost criminal attitude of the bosses.

In addition to this victory, only 2-3 weeks prior to the agreement, some members of management were chiding Union Reps. with the question, "What will you do when a settlement is reached and people leave the Union?"; well the answer to this question is simply this; "Since an agreement was reached 4 days ago ( today being Sat. 1st of May ) membership in the union at the site has increased." Let's keep on fighting, for only through engaging in battle with the bosses, can we hope to bring about the necessary changes which every working man & woman, throughout the world, deserves.

This victory at Severs represents a big step forward. Many thousands of workers have been faced with job losses and wage cuts, but we explained that at a certain stage the situation would change. Severs management are investing in the Dalton site and they have orders for steel coming out of their ears. Under these conditions, a strong union, which really means a strong united workforce can win back some of what has been lost in the past. This is a significant step forward.

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