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Small victory for self-employed workers

Corvus | 07.12.2001 16:18

and, by extension, asylum seekers.

It was reported earlier this week that the government has been declared to be in breach of European human rights law for its policy of imposing heavy fines per capita on lorry drivers who, even if proven unknowningly, bring in refugees and asylum seekers in their cargo.
Not all truckers work for large companies; many are self- employed and bear no ill-will to the people they have been forced to act against in the manner of unpaid customs officials. Many drivers are struggling to pay off the cost of the lorries they personally own and are under constant peril of bankrupcy. as the judges ruling stands, subject to appeal, fines cannot be colected (some £2K per capita) and the pressure is off for a bit.

It remains a source of personal sadness for me that the left in general failed to link up with the fuel-tax protesters last year, many of the activists whom were truck drivers of course, embarking perhaps on their very first demonstration. This could have opened up new vistas for the left, but it never came about. pity.

Corvus

Comments

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truckers

08.12.2001 02:17

I totally agree with your comment about the fuel tax protests. It is a shame that such a massively successful (and popular) bit of direct action was ignored (and often even opposed!) by much of the left.

oh well...

j
mail e-mail: r3515t4nc3@hotmail.com


yeh, i confirm that

08.12.2001 17:51

imagine, all these direct action newcomers, huge lorries, and NOT a single SWP paper seller in sight. what a chance to have given some inspiration to some real workers AND built a power base away from the SWP.
obviously, the case would have to be put , with no guarantee it would have been taken up, but what a lost chance to have toppled blair!

bill bore


so Bill

11.12.2001 12:25

What did you do to support the truckers then?

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