UK Indymedia - UK Workers' Movements Newswire Archive

Chicago Factory Occupiers Face 'Serious' Challenge

24-02-2012 21:27

In 2008, two hundred and sixty workers at Chicago's Republic Windows and Doors occupied their factory, after the company sacked them at the moment's notice, and offered no redundancy payments. Over a week, the Republic case became emblematic of blue collar workers paying for others' mistakes, and the occupation became a media cause célèbre. Then President Elect Barack Obama was embarrassed into raising the issue, and Michael Moore later highlighted their action in his film Capitalism: A Love Story. The workers eventually won significant severance packages, and the new owners - Serious Materials - pledged to rehire them.

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Occupy gets Serious: Chicago Factory (re)occupied!

24-02-2012 03:35

Workers have re-occupied the 'Republic Windows and Doors' factory that was occupied in 2008. The factory is now owned by 'Serious Materials', and so the occupation has earned the amusing and appropriate title #seriousoccupation on twitter. Circa 65 workers occupying the factory following threat of closure and loss of jobs, eerily reminiscent of situation...

Repost from libcom plus additional links below

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Sparks win electrician dispute - pay-cut company contracts dead in water

23-02-2012 20:49

Electricians today learnt that the new national agreement for mechanical, electrical and plumbing workers in the building engineering services sector (Besna - the Building Engineering Services National Agreement) which planned to tear up the long-standing Joint Industry Boards agreements and impose new semi-skilled grades which would have reduced wages for those affected by up to 35%, is dead!

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Sparks Electricians Claim Victory Over Employers

23-02-2012 20:19

This evening the rank and file Sparks group of electricians is claiming victory over the construction companies who sought to tear up their current contracts, and enforce a new settlement which would have cost many 35% of their wage packet, and severely deskilled the trade.

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SATURDAY: Memorial demo for murdered 21-year-old Russian Antifascist

23-02-2012 00:22

Urgent: This Saturday 26th February, we will be laying a wreath at the International Brigades Memorial, Jubilee Gardens SE1 at 1pm to commemorate our fallen comrade. We encourage all antifascists and radicals to join us.

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Political Upheaval Looms Large in Greece

22-02-2012 23:56

There is no doubt that Greece is on the verge of a dramatic political change, following years of banker-dictated austerity measures which have slashed living standards for all but the super-rich. But there is much doubt about exactly what will happen next. Are Greek workers about to storm heaven, or will they be crushed under fascist jackboots? I think there seem to be four main possibilities.

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It`s not just Greece that needs reform, it`s the whole EU.

20-02-2012 17:05

Throughout the world working people are being dumped with the debts of the corrupt politico-economic elites and greece is no exception. Only a FAIR bailout package will be accepted which requires serious reform of a rotten Greek political system. But will this imply such reform throughout the EU?

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Andrew Lansley Humiliated by Pensioner

20-02-2012 17:00

Andrew Lansley Humiliated by Pensioner

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Organized Non-violent Civil Disobedience vs. Occupy Wall St.

19-02-2012 15:12

I'm all for organized non-violent civil disobedience but that is not what Occupy Wall St. has been doing.

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Libya one year on

19-02-2012 11:21

Remembering the events that led up to NATO waging war and the subsequent imperialist blitzing of the Libyan People's Jamahiryia

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Viva The Greek Revolution!

18-02-2012 19:12

It seems the only way out for the Greek people is open revolt.

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Greece: Steelwork strikers welcome neo-Nazis

18-02-2012 11:15

Taken from Contra Info:

Aspropyrgos, Attica: Neo-Nazis ‘support’ the Greek Steelworks strikers, and workers’ spokesmen and several other strikers welcome the scum warmly, instead of kicking their ass

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Boycott Workfare National Day of Action, 3rd March, Poundland Picket

18-02-2012 10:16

Picket & Demonstration outside Poundland, on Union Street in Birmingham City Centre calling for them to withdraw from workfare schemes. If they have withdrawn before the 3rd of March, we will picket Tesco on New Street instead. If Tesco have withdrawn make sure you check here to see who else remains.

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Balfour withdraws sign or be sacked contracts

17-02-2012 13:44

In a major breakthrough, Unite has announced that Balfour Beatty has withdrawn the self-declared BESNA contracts at the centre of a 7-month dispute which has brought chaos to industrial relations across the contruction industry.

Balfour Beatty Engineering Services was regarded by Unite as the ring-leader of a group of seven firms seeking to impose new contracts on thousands of sparks, plumbers and other engineers which they said would have substantially eroded skills of new workers and enforced cuts in pay and allowances of up to 35%.

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Tesco’s Secret Workfare Slaves

16-02-2012 17:05

Furious shoppers are threatening to boycott Tesco after their use of forced labour schemes came to light yesterday.

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When The Shop Keepers Join The Revolt!

15-02-2012 02:01

When the shop keepers join the revolt things must be very bad indeed.

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Calling All Sheffield Anarchists

14-02-2012 11:00

Discussion on setting up a Sheffield Wide Class Struggle Anarchist Group

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Boycott Workfare meeting in Kings Heath, 7th March

12-02-2012 15:44

Poundland and Asda are just two of the high street names using unpaid labour sent on mandatory "work experience" placements from the job centre. These placements are full time, and can last for up to 6 months. Meanwhile, people are finding hours cut or paid jobs lost, as companies use people on workfare schemes for free.

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No Borders Convergence: final details & programme

09-02-2012 01:21

The No Borders Convergence, on next week (13-18 February), is a week of discussion and action to bring together all those fighting for free movement and against border controls

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Birmingham IWW Solidarity Picket with IWW Pizza Hut Union

06-02-2012 09:46

On Saturday 4th February, members of IWW West Midlands General Membership Branch picketed Pizza Hut on New Street, Birmingham,"] in Solidarity with Sheffield workers who are fighting for improved pay and conditions. This was part of a national day of action, with pickets also held in Sheffield, London, Bristol, Liverpool and Hull.