Most readers will remember the big strikes in the construction industry beginning at the Lindsey Oil Refinery earlier this year. After the victories won by those actions it’s no surprise that employers are now fighting back.
Following the sacking of 51 workers at the Lindey site by one sub-contractor, Shaws, there was an unofficial strike by around 1,200 workers across the site. As a result of this the owners of the refinery have sacked around 900 people for taking this action and strike action has escalated.
This is from the latest Socialist Party LOR newsletter:
Supported by Keith Gibson ex LOR strike cttee, Trevor Grewar Hull Amicus/Unite branch chair, John McEwan national stewards forum, Steve Jones LOR steward (all in personal capacities)
The Facts:- Last Weds 10th June, 51 Shaws workers were give “imminent redundancy notices” to take effect from Friday 12th.THERE WAS NO CONSULTATION. On Monday 8th June, Blackett & Charlton (RBC) had taken on 61 recruits in almost identical numbers and trades to those being sacked by Shaws.
The Shaws workers were given NO OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER. Remember that RBC are only at LOR as a result of the 102 new jobs created by January’s strike which was provoked by a third of Shaws contract being awarded to anti-union firm IREM.
On Thurs 11th, Shaws workers walked out of the gate, supported by scaffolders from S.G.B, electricians for B.K., and other trades from B.I.S.
O’Hares and RBC, and have all stayed out on strike. Jacobs’ management, who’s strings are being pulled by Total, have refused to negotiate unless there is a return to work.
But have stated that the 51 will still be sacked anyway. Faced with this ultimatum, a mass meeting of LOR workers yesterday (Weds 17th) voted unanimously to continue the strike until the 51 redundancies are withdrawn.
It is clear now that the LOR bosses are using this dispute (caused by their own mis-management and their reneging on agreements made in February) to seek revenge for their forced climbdown by the strike earlier this year.
Taken with the leaked ECIA advice to employers on subverting the official union strike ballot, the bosses have declared war against the trade unions, shop stewards and the NAECI agreement.
That is why we appeal for your support. Unity is strength. Together we will win. AGAIN.
- WITHDRAW THE 51 REDUNDANCIES
- SHARE OUT THE WORK
- PROPER CONSULTATION & NEGOTIATION
YESTERDAY’S MASS MEETING (Weds 17th) VOTED TO:
- Continue the Strike at LOR until 51 redundancies withdrawn
- Place pickets at all LOR gates and appeal to tanker drivers not to cross
- Call for solidarity strike action across all NAECI sites
The BBC is reporting that the following sites walked out on strike today in solidarity:
The sacking of 900 workers for taking strike action is unprecedented in recent years and indicates that construction industry bosses are preparing for a serious fight (as this leaked memo on dealing with the ballot for the industry wide strike action also shows).
This looks to be shaping up to be a long and complex dispute with striking workers involved in a three way fight between employers and the parasitical behaviour of the British National Party eager to hijack this dispute that basically has nothing to do with them.
This makes sending solidarity messages all the more urgent:
Email: geminis@geminis.karoo.co.uk or
Text: 07706 7 10041.
4 Comments
June 23, 2009 at 12:51 am
[...] There have indeed been a number of excellent commentaries on the dispute from some of the best Left bloggers. But actually the level of coverage has been quite [...]
June 23, 2009 at 10:16 am
A shameless plug of sorts…
http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/films/film/the-stall/
June 24, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Good to see that the Sellafield construction workers are out in solidarity in Cumbria.
July 18, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Hmm
First of all, I’m not a socialist, but I am sympathetic in the case of the Lindsey Oil Refinery strikes.
However, wasn’t this a wildcat strike? Socialists usually emphasise their democratic credentials, so this would have greater legitimacy and support if they had voted first.
On the radio I heard it as being “we didn’t have enough time”, and a conversation with an ex-miner and trade unionist the other week commenting on the situation produced the quotation “but we don’t always get the right result first time round”.
Could you please explain this to me, as it seems very anti-democratic of the union leadership, even though I believe the LOR bosses acted unfairly (if not, then the EU directive on the matter of contract workers that reputedly allows this to happen probably needs changing)