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Furious Gate Gourmet workers march in Southall

Guido | 06.12.2005 22:43 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | London

On Sunday several hundred sacked Gate Gourmet workers and their supporters held a march led by a traditional drumming duo (who were brilliant) through Southall. It was followed by a rally in a local hall addressed by speakers from across the Trade Union movement.

Previously the workers had marched chanting vitriolic slogans about Gate Gourmet and British airways. Now their condemnation also targets their own trade union the T&G and its leader Tony Woodley. TUC chief Brendan Barber is also in the frame for selling them out.

Southall beats.
Southall beats.

Head of the march.
Head of the march.

Undefeated
Undefeated

Sacked worker gives her verdict on Tony Woodley's leadership.
Sacked worker gives her verdict on Tony Woodley's leadership.


The so called 'victory' that the T&G won for the sacked workers is nothing more than a sellout.

Of the sacked workers (over 600) 144 have forcibly been made redundant. Unsurprisingly they are mostly shop stewards and people who stood up to management bullying.7 are sacked without compensation. The redundancy package negotiated by the union has ensured that:

They were also denied the right to appeal, denied the right to take Gate Gourmet to court and denied the right to sue the company for false imprisonment and assault from the day they were sacked.

The workers have refused to agree to this deal.

They are also demanding that the T&G makes their dispute official. Right now they get no strike pay or any financial help from the union (one of Britain's richest) at all. Needless to say they feel betrayed and very angry.

Guido
- e-mail: guidoreports@riseup.net