Manchester Electricians - One Year On
Eleanor | 14.05.2004 11:51 | Social Struggles
On Wednesday 19th of May the DAF electricians will have been on strike for a year.
For the last 52 weeks they have continued their struggle against DAF electrics and the collusion of UNISON with their employer at the expense of their so called members! There will be a meeting at the Friends Meeting House 19th May at 7.30 in support of them.
For the last 52 weeks they have continued their struggle against DAF electrics and the collusion of UNISON with their employer at the expense of their so called members! There will be a meeting at the Friends Meeting House 19th May at 7.30 in support of them.
Manchester Electricians - One year on
This struggle highlights not only how skilled workers are discriminated against for being politicised (their dismissal came about because four of the electricians formed a branch of the TGWU and insisted on their rights to direct employment) but how the poorly paid, unskilled workers drafted in to replace them are also exploited and put into danger.
This issue is one which the whole construction industry faces as casualisation and non-unionised work becomes increasing the norm and the favoured method of exploitation by employers.
The electricians moved from striking at No1 Piccadilly to the new Crown Court building where DAF electrics contract with the City Council continues. They picket from 7 to 12 every working day. Their strike fund from the TGWU/EPIU has been stopped and they have been surviving only on donations from the public at their picket. Their employment tribunal has been repeatedly delayed and put off in an attempt to wear them down but this will finally happening in three weeks and thus our visible support now is very important.
Please support them in this struggle which is indicative of how hard won worker's rights are being ignored and worn away in our brand new Neo-Labour Globalised paradise!
Thank you!
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2004/02/285539.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2004/01/283747.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2003/05/69069.html
This struggle highlights not only how skilled workers are discriminated against for being politicised (their dismissal came about because four of the electricians formed a branch of the TGWU and insisted on their rights to direct employment) but how the poorly paid, unskilled workers drafted in to replace them are also exploited and put into danger.
This issue is one which the whole construction industry faces as casualisation and non-unionised work becomes increasing the norm and the favoured method of exploitation by employers.
The electricians moved from striking at No1 Piccadilly to the new Crown Court building where DAF electrics contract with the City Council continues. They picket from 7 to 12 every working day. Their strike fund from the TGWU/EPIU has been stopped and they have been surviving only on donations from the public at their picket. Their employment tribunal has been repeatedly delayed and put off in an attempt to wear them down but this will finally happening in three weeks and thus our visible support now is very important.
Please support them in this struggle which is indicative of how hard won worker's rights are being ignored and worn away in our brand new Neo-Labour Globalised paradise!
Thank you!
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2004/02/285539.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2004/01/283747.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2003/05/69069.html
Eleanor
Comments
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Stuff to help the electricians
14.05.2004 14:03
Send a donation or the electricians’ strike fund, contact: Steve/Tony on 07813 456831. Cheques can be made payable to: Daf Hardship Fund or A Jones. Send them to Steve Acheson, 13 Thompson Close, Dane Bank, Denton, Manchester M34 2PQ.
Get your Union Branch/Labour Party Branch /Trades Council or Campaign to send a message of support and/or a donation (to address above)
Write to Manchester City Council, demanding that it supports the electricians’ dispute. Send letters to council leader Richard Leese at the Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA.
AND
they always like people going down to say hello!
Eleanor
Industrial Tribunal info
14.05.2004 17:32
"Both the Manchester Social Forum and Northern Anarchist Network are backing the Locked Out Electricians. The Social Forum and local trades councils have produced a booklet explaining the dispute.
As said above, the electricians are not now getting any hardship pay from their union (Transport & General Workers Union). Their case goes to the Industrial Tribunal on June 7th, and there will be a commemorative meeting at the Friends meeting house on Wednesday, 19th May. We urge anarchists to support this dispute":
Cheques payable to:
'DAF Hardship Fund'
c/o Steve Acheson (shop rep)
13 Thompson Close
Dane Bank
Denton
Manchester
Note from me: this isn't just about the shit happening to these people (which is bad, bad, bad) but also about the wider issues of casualisation at work (see Simon Jones campaign link:
in case anyone reading this doesn't know
cheers
heather
Homepage:
http://www.manchestersocialforum.org.uk
oops, ran in, ran out
14.05.2004 23:56
didn't read carefully info above
oh well, you know when the tribunal is now anyway
and if you know it twice, you know it better
at least thats what my teachers always told me
and it worked
humm..
heather