Strike at S.M.S. Continues
Raphael Cohen | 25.09.2004 11:40 | London
Strikers at SMS in London remain determined to change their working conditions inspite of management intransigence and use of scabs. They are pressing ahead with formal unionisation.
Strike at S.M.S. Continues
Friday 24th September
The spontaneous strike by couriers at S.M.S's Bayliss St. SE1 depot is
on-going as of Friday. Workers stated that the senior manager expected to
meet them on Thursday had refused to meet other than on a one-to-one basis.
While the strikers are suffering financial hardship by not working, they are
mostly continuing to resist managers calls for them to return to work. Those
who have resumed working have not been prevented in any way by strikers.
They have complained of continuing mistreatment by management.
One courier stated that he has worked for SMS for six years and in that time
the rate paid for drops has not risen at all.
Workers wished to clarify that their four representatives were sacked only after
they had all walked out last Fiday. The reps stressed that they had approached
management in a spirit of cooperation and seeking to negotiate. They were
rebuffed in aggressive and dismissive manner by London managers.
Contacts with the TUC have progressed and it is hoped to form a union as soon
as possible. A minimum of 25 people are required for this. One of the reps
explained that the company would have to listen to the TUC and the
government, even if it would not listen to the workers.
The strike is having some effect on SMS operations. Workers talked of couriers
beng brought in from Scotland and accomodated at the company's expense.
SMS is located at the corner of Bayliss and Murphy Sts.
Friday 24th September
The spontaneous strike by couriers at S.M.S's Bayliss St. SE1 depot is
on-going as of Friday. Workers stated that the senior manager expected to
meet them on Thursday had refused to meet other than on a one-to-one basis.
While the strikers are suffering financial hardship by not working, they are
mostly continuing to resist managers calls for them to return to work. Those
who have resumed working have not been prevented in any way by strikers.
They have complained of continuing mistreatment by management.
One courier stated that he has worked for SMS for six years and in that time
the rate paid for drops has not risen at all.
Workers wished to clarify that their four representatives were sacked only after
they had all walked out last Fiday. The reps stressed that they had approached
management in a spirit of cooperation and seeking to negotiate. They were
rebuffed in aggressive and dismissive manner by London managers.
Contacts with the TUC have progressed and it is hoped to form a union as soon
as possible. A minimum of 25 people are required for this. One of the reps
explained that the company would have to listen to the TUC and the
government, even if it would not listen to the workers.
The strike is having some effect on SMS operations. Workers talked of couriers
beng brought in from Scotland and accomodated at the company's expense.
SMS is located at the corner of Bayliss and Murphy Sts.
Raphael Cohen