Socialist Appeal - Trade Unions

Trade Unions - Send us your letters, articles or workplace and trade union reports!

PCS Conference: 'We should not pay for this crisis'

By Matt Wells, PCS activist
Sunday, 07 June 2009
The Annual Delegate Conference of the public sector union PCS took place on 20-22 May in Brighton against the background of the worst global recession for a generation and an unprecedented political crisis at Westminster.Matt Wells reports on the issues discussed at one of the most important union conferences of the year,

Royal Mail ballot result: London postal workers support industrial action

By Presley Antoine, CWU
Friday, 05 June 2009
The issue behind the ballot was cuts. The last time our union took industrial action was in 2007. When we went back there were 4 phases to the agreement that was signed. Phases 1 and 2 have gone through. Phase 3 is currently being implemented and is being met with stiff resistance. If a worker doesn’t turn up for work unforeseen, the others have to cover their duty – and we don’t get paid for it!

Superform Aluminium: enough is enough

By Andy Fenwick
Wednesday, 03 June 2009
“How much more do they want from us? We will end up working for nothing.” This is the feeling amongst shopfloor works at Superform Aluminium in Worcester. Andy Fenwick of Socialist Appeal talked to workers who are not prepared to take any more cuts.

More support for Mitie cleaners

By Socialist Appeal
Thursday, 28 May 2009
We republish an article from the Morning Star that shows MP John McDonnell’s backing for the Mitie and other cleaners fighting for their rights. We have been covering the cleaners’ battles for months now (http://www.socialist.net/mitie-cleaners-fight.htm) and welcome John’s intervention. We urge that support for and solidarity with them be taken up in every section of the labour and trade union movement.

Hundreds March Against Job Cuts

By Will Roche
Monday, 25 May 2009
North London saw hundreds march through its streets last Saturday in protest at a wave of planned cuts in jobs and public services in the surrounding areas.

6th May Olympic Workers Demo Report

By Steve Kelly
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
6th of May was a long time coming - from the Unite activists' meeting held on 16th March, when it was agreed we should demonstrate outside the Olympic site in Stratford. It was organised and planned by rank and file construction workers despite the tactics of the official unions GMB and Unite who did their best to stop it.

Birmingham: Unions March For Jobs

By Darrall Cozens

Monday, 18 May 2009

"It's not banks we should be looking after, it's workers." Tony Woodley, Joint General Secretary, Unite Trade Union.

With these words Tony Woodley sought to galvanise and enthuse the crowd of marchers who had braved the elements of torrential rain on this Saturday May 16 to march to Centennial Square off Broad Street in Birmingham to demand action on jobs.

Alberto: "...a clear case of victimisation".

By Paul Haste
Friday, 15 May 2009
Last week Justice For Cleaners activist Alberto was arrested as part of a clear stratergy of victimisation. We publish here with thanks a report by Paul Haste which first appeared in The Morning Star dated 8th May. Meanwhile the struggle of the Mitie workers goes on with demonstrations in the City of London each Friday lunchtime.

What can you say? Part 2

By A. Father

Friday, 08 May 2009

What can you say to your son when he asks "why is my life so sh*te?" All you can do listen and sympathise.

"A. Father" on the frontline of life in capitalist Britain shows how he decided to do something about it!

Workers' Rights Demo At Olympic Site

By Socialist Appeal

Thursday, 07 May 2009

Here are some pictures from the construction workers' demo held early morning on May 6th at the Olympic site in Stratford, East London. Later on workers assembled outside Parliament in order to lobby their MPs.

Workers Score Victory at Visteon

By Rob Sewell
Sunday, 03 May 2009
Workers at Visteon, following a four-week battle, have gained a victory. After the occupation of the Visteon plants and 24 hour picketing when the company announced its liquidation, Ford/Visteon bosses were finally forced to concede to the workers' demands. Workers in Enfield and Basildon have already voted in favour of the deal, while those at Belfast will be voting soon. Rob Sewell interviewed Rob Fitch, shop steward at the Visteon plant in Basildon, who was also one of the national negotiators that secured the new deal.

Visteon: Visit to Basildon picket line

By Steve Jones
Sunday, 03 May 2009
Supporters of Socialist Appeal from Romford paid a solidarity visit to the pickets outside the Visteon plant at Basildon on Sunday. Although the workers have voted to support the deal conceded by the Visteon bosses (see report posted above this one) they are staying on the line until they are 100% certain that the deal will go through

Swansea Union Activist Victimised (Updated)

By Steve Jones
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Rob Williams, a well-known union activist and Unite union convenor at the Linamar car parts site in Swansea, was called into the management office last Tuesday and without warning given the sack. Why? Officially because of a ‘breakdown in trust and confidence’ (what ever that means!) but in reality because of the role of the union in challenging the bosses attempts to run the factory down.

Exploitation in TV Industry worse than ever

By Will Roche, BECTU
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Landing a job in British Television would be considered by most to be a real prize. The industry has long since been associated with decent wages, prestige, and glamour. It’s no surprise then that thousands of young people compete to get into the industry each year. But the industry is hiding a dirty secret. Many of these young applicants, who have often gone to great effort and expense to gain media degrees, are given their first job in the industry paying them… wait for it… £0.00. That’s right. Nothing! Over the past decade, as budgets have shrunk in an ever more competitive market, privately owned production companies, collectively known as the independent sector, have been cheating applicants into accepting unpaid ‘work experience’ positions. Lured by the shallow promise of ‘promotion’ later down the line, ‘work experiencers’ are often held for many months before being offered paid work. In many cases companies never offer them pay at all.

Ford Visteon workers appeal for your support !

By Mel MacDonald

Thursday, 23 April 2009

After the trauma of losing their livelihood and pensions and a difficult seven nights of occupation on the cold floors of the factory, Visteon Enfield car parts workers were advised by their trade union leaders (Unite) to leave the premises and continue the struggle outside the gates.

Now, funds are running low and the workers are getting tired. Now is the time for the financial, physical and political support from the broader community in order to make sure these workers win their just demands.