Unite Construction Rank and File

You are the weakest links... goodbye!

With MJN Colston backing down there is 7 to go and concentrating on the next weakest links seems the right tactic now. They are Tommy Clarkes, SPIE Matthew Hall and Grattes.

The pressure is building on the  not quite so big now  7 as we hear that they are getting grief from the clients.

Last Saturday in Manchester at the North West rank and file meeting 100 sparks and supporters discussed, debated then decided  what next . And, despite the efforts of a unite official, the meeting elected its own North West committee to plan and organise action in Manchester and Liverpool area. £281.27 was collected for siteworker.

Here are a couple of video links from Saturday s meeting in Manchester.

Sparks of Resistance 1 - YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTRD5cnGAoM

Some elected members of the rank and file committee elected at Conway Hall and Mick Dooley UCATT General secretary candidate.

Sparks of Resistance 2 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfGrwgMevAQ

It is now widely accepted that we can t and won t wait for the ballot, though we will all be glad when it comes. But until then we must step up the campaign to one of even more unofficial action, walkouts on sites with solidarity action from others. News is that Ratcliffe power station may well be leading a walkout this week.

Our demos need to be asking workers not to cross our lines  protest picket lines , as was said at Manchester  this fight can only be won by direct action, no ifs, no buts, no cuts!

A good tactic is to leaflet sites a few days before the planned protest/picket, informing workers on that site and they have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the sparks other trades. All trades out a national strike of construction workers, on November 30th.

Thousands of sparks and other trades, joining the 2 million public sector workers taking strike action on 30th November.

While we wait for news of the ballot keep on inundating Unites National Construction Officer Bernard McAulay with emails This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it demanding a date for the ballot.

Rank and file meetings are setting the pace and there needs to be one in Scotland as soon as possible so they too can elect their own committee and up the ante. Whilst we know that Scottish sparks have a different agreement as we all know but the deskilling will definitely affect them.

Teeside is getting organised, there are some big sites starting up there soon. There is a meeting of the Hartlepool Construction Branch this Thursday 6th October. It would be great if as many as possible could turn up there to discuss future actions. The venue is Belle Vue Social Club, Kendle Road, Hartlepool, TS25 1QU starts at 7:30 pm.

Rank and file actions [that we know of] 

London Wednesday 5th October 6.30 at Parkhouse Oxford Street opposite Selfridges T Clarke

Newcastle: Wednesday 5th October 8am Balfours regional HQ, Silverfox Way, Cobalt Business Park.

Manchester: Wednesday 5th October 6.30-10am Manchester town hall, Peter Street site entrance

Liverpool: Wednesday 5th October 6.30 Shepards site at central Library

Cambuslang: Wednesday 5th October 6.30am Fire Training Centre Project - Clydemill Industrial Estate Cambuslang -

Nottingham: Friday 7th October 6.00am Ratcliffe power station

Glasgow: Friday 7th October 6pm Radisson Blue Hotel Protest at  building awards night   

Glasgow Govan shipyard: Wednesday 12th October 07.00am - Assemble at the middle Gate. Govan Shipyard - Govan Road.

Manchester: Wednesday 12th October 6.30-10am Carrington Paper Mill, Trafford.

Rank and File meetings...........

Hartlepool Construction Branch October Thursday 6th at 7:30 pm. Belle Vue Social Club, Kendle Road, Hartlepool, TS25 1QU

Glasgow Govan shipyard: Saturday 8th October - Time and Venue to be confirmed

London: Tuesday 11th October 6.30pm Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holburn.

Email us with ideas and let us know if you have actions planned This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Get regular updates: Electricians Against The World http://www.jibelectrician.blogspot.com/

* Please put this in your diary and spread the word to contacts and blacklisted workers who may not be on our email list.

Blacklist Support Group AGM:

Saturday 29th Oct 11am - 3pm Nunn Hall, Institute of Education, Euston, London.

Premier of new film by Reel News about the campaign against the blacklist.

Blacklisted construction workers will be joined by MPs, MEPs, barristers, academics, trade unionists and human rights activists to discuss the ongoing campaign for justice for workers caught up in the Consulting Association blacklisting scandal.

Blacklist Support Group www.hazards.org/blacklistblog