In support of the strikers at Cottam power station, near Lincoln
John Shemeld | 06.03.2006 22:11 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements
What Is Happening At Cottam?
An inspiring all-out unofficial strike is taking place at Cottam power station, near Lincoln, in protest against the exploitation of migrant workers.
An inspiring all-out unofficial strike is taking place at Cottam power station, near Lincoln, in protest against the exploitation of migrant workers.
PUBLIC MEETING
IN SUPPORT OF THE STRIKERS AT COTTAM POWER STATION
In the International Community Centre (ICC), 61b Mansfield Road (near the Victoria Centre) Central Nottingham.
At 7:30pm on Thursday, 9 March 2006.
Speakers from Cottam and the local Trade Union Movement.
Supported by the International Committee of East Midlands Region of Unison; the Environment, Transport and Regions, Nottingham Branch of the PCS (Civil Service) union; Mansfield Trades Council; Central-Networks Shop Stewards for the GMB and Amicus; E.ON UK Joint Trade Union negotiating team; East Midlands Amicus Unity Gazette.
What Is Happening At Cottam?
An inspiring all-out unofficial strike is taking place at Cottam power station, near Lincoln, in protest against the exploitation of migrant workers.
50 construction workers, members of the GMB and Amicus unions, have already spent two weeks outside the gate. Some of them have now been sacked.
The issue is very simple: multinational companies are moving workers round the EU to undercut wages - in this case, as agreed in the construction industry Blue Book.
At Cottam Austrian company SFL has been sub-contracted to build a de-sulphurisation plant. SFL hired British workers under standard Blue Book conditions and Hungarian and Austrian workers. Everybody was told not to talk to anyone else about wages and conditions.
In particular the Hungarians and Austrians were told not to talk to the English as they were troublemakers who had "silly little tea breaks". Weekend overtime was only allocated to Hungarians and Austrians.
Divide and rule didn’t work this time. Workers did talk to each other and, if they had trouble with each other’s languages, they could understand each other’s pay slips. The Hungarians discovered they were on nothing like the Blue Book rates.
The Hungarians joined Amicus, but found that they were mysteriously transferred back to the Continent.
Last Thursday (16 February), Hungarian welder Barnabas Bito paid for his flight back to the UK to explain to the British workers that the Hungarians had not been transferred to other jobs, but sacked.
19 British GMB construction workers immediately walked out. They were joined by Amicus scaffolders and laggers.
Magnificent.
John Shemeld
IN SUPPORT OF THE STRIKERS AT COTTAM POWER STATION
In the International Community Centre (ICC), 61b Mansfield Road (near the Victoria Centre) Central Nottingham.
At 7:30pm on Thursday, 9 March 2006.
Speakers from Cottam and the local Trade Union Movement.
Supported by the International Committee of East Midlands Region of Unison; the Environment, Transport and Regions, Nottingham Branch of the PCS (Civil Service) union; Mansfield Trades Council; Central-Networks Shop Stewards for the GMB and Amicus; E.ON UK Joint Trade Union negotiating team; East Midlands Amicus Unity Gazette.
What Is Happening At Cottam?
An inspiring all-out unofficial strike is taking place at Cottam power station, near Lincoln, in protest against the exploitation of migrant workers.
50 construction workers, members of the GMB and Amicus unions, have already spent two weeks outside the gate. Some of them have now been sacked.
The issue is very simple: multinational companies are moving workers round the EU to undercut wages - in this case, as agreed in the construction industry Blue Book.
At Cottam Austrian company SFL has been sub-contracted to build a de-sulphurisation plant. SFL hired British workers under standard Blue Book conditions and Hungarian and Austrian workers. Everybody was told not to talk to anyone else about wages and conditions.
In particular the Hungarians and Austrians were told not to talk to the English as they were troublemakers who had "silly little tea breaks". Weekend overtime was only allocated to Hungarians and Austrians.
Divide and rule didn’t work this time. Workers did talk to each other and, if they had trouble with each other’s languages, they could understand each other’s pay slips. The Hungarians discovered they were on nothing like the Blue Book rates.
The Hungarians joined Amicus, but found that they were mysteriously transferred back to the Continent.
Last Thursday (16 February), Hungarian welder Barnabas Bito paid for his flight back to the UK to explain to the British workers that the Hungarians had not been transferred to other jobs, but sacked.
19 British GMB construction workers immediately walked out. They were joined by Amicus scaffolders and laggers.
Magnificent.
John Shemeld
John Shemeld
e-mail:
john_shemeld@yahoo.co.uk
