7th December was surposed to be the 1st day of action in the electricians dispute following the magnificent Balfour Beatty (BB) ballot result -  81% in favour of industrial action.

Shamefully Unite the Union capitulated and have decided to reballot after the threat of an injunction by BB.

It was claimed by BB that 25 office workers (unite members) were not balloted .This small number wouldn't have made any difference to the result.The result will not now be known until 6th January. Meanwhile, the rank and file rose to the occasion on 7th December. It was the biggest unoffical strike seen in construction for many years.There were protests at a number of BB sites in Scotland and London where there were running battles with the police. A 500 strong picket was put on at Blackfriars in London -  Bob Crow spoke as well as many other trade union reps, John McDonnell mp, members of the Unite  ec also spoke - many thanks to all.

Also a protest was held at the BB HQ in Victoria  and a protest at a Grattes site nearby.  Some bright spark set off fire alarms stopping production for 2 hours. A meeting was held in the street with site workers to convince them to join us, maybe they will next time.

In scotland Camblasang fire station site offices were occupied  and a protest held at the Scottish BB HQ.  Grangemouth was out in support, Liverpool, Teeside, Hull, Cardiff - all had protests and pickets on large sites.

Manchester workers protested outside the town hall and protestors got into the council meeting, demanding that Laing O'Rourke and NG Bailey are removed from the City project as they are blacklisters. Labour mps have agreed to meet rnf committee members to discuss this soon.

The whole day was a brilliant sucess and was rounded off with a picket on the Blackfriars nightshift - no sparks worked there at all that day  and there was support from scaffolders and cable pullers who refused to cross the picket lines.The day's events shows the enormous power and potential of the rank and file when they pull together.This dispute may go on for many months yet as the rogue 7 dig their heels in.

We must continue the weekly protests and maintain the numbers  and push Unite to make it an offical strike in construction in the new year. Whatever happens the rank and file have transformed the construction sector of Unite in the last 4 months.  We should all get involved with the offical union, not to do so would be a mistake.  Use our rank and file power to get onto sector committees and jib bodies, put motions through our branches and make it union policy, fight the blacklist, expose any collusion unite would like to brush  under the carpet.There are 100s of blacklisted sparks,  stewards who cannot get work in construction. Unite should challenge employers who are still blacklisting and site workers must demand and help these workers to get onto sites .We musn't give a inch to the bosses, we have lost too much over the last 10 years: enough is enough.No cuts, no changes to jib agreement, no sell outs!

The naieci agreement is also under attack. This is another area to be organised by the rank and file, jib workers can assist each other. Make no mistake, if the sparks and pipefitters agreements are smashed other trades will be targetted next. Stand firm, educate, agitate, organise ! Victory to construction workers! Thanks to the support from all the various labour movement and trade union members, unite members  and Labour mps.PLEASE DONATE TO OUR FIGHTING FUND: CHEQUES (PAYABLE TO JOINT SITES COMMITTEE) CAN BE SENT TO US c/ob 70 DARNAY RISE, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX, CM1 4XA.

Many thanks and gratitude for kind donations recived so far .

By Alan Keays