What's new Heathrow cargo workers strike as Nippon Express refuses to talk
j | 15.08.2007 12:47 | Climate Camp 2007 | Workers' Movements | London
Drivers and warehouse workers at Heathrow cargo handler Nippon Express walked out on strike at 6am this morning after the company once again refused to settle the pay and shifts dispute. THE PICKETT IS 2 BUS STOPS AWAY FROM THE CLIMATE CAMP TOWARDS HAYES. SHOW SOME SUPPORT!
Speaking from a lively picket line, Kevin Hall, Unite regional industrial organiser, said every attempt had been made by the workers' trade union to get Nippon Express to honour a longstanding agreement to go to the independent Arbitration Conciliation and Advisory Service (Acas).
The dispute has arisen after the company offered a below inflation pay award of only 2.8 per cent to the 45 strong workforce who deal with warehousing, cargo handling and truck driving. Mr. Hall said new shift patterns, which the company was seeking to impose at the same time, would mean the union's members losing over a thousand pounds each year.
"We have done everything we can to settle this dispute fairly for our members and in line with the agreements we have with the company," stressed Mr. Hall. "But we have been met by a brick wall. That's why we're out on strike today."
Unite leaders have also confirmed that approaches are to be made through local politicians to the Japanese embassy to see if pressure can be brought to bear through that route.
Further strikes are planned for Friday 17th and Saturday 18th August if no resolution can be found.
Unite has seen its membership double at Nippon Express since the dispute started earlier this year. Mr. Hall said the continuing refusal to go to Acas only reinforces the union's view that the company is "hell bent on not only reducing our members' terms and conditions of employment but also removing Unite from Nippon Express."
ENDS
Unite was formed on 1st May 2007 from a merger of amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G)
Some pictures from the picket line are available from
adodgshon@tgwu.org.uk For further information please call the T&G section of Unite Press Office on 020 7611 2550
The dispute has arisen after the company offered a below inflation pay award of only 2.8 per cent to the 45 strong workforce who deal with warehousing, cargo handling and truck driving. Mr. Hall said new shift patterns, which the company was seeking to impose at the same time, would mean the union's members losing over a thousand pounds each year.
"We have done everything we can to settle this dispute fairly for our members and in line with the agreements we have with the company," stressed Mr. Hall. "But we have been met by a brick wall. That's why we're out on strike today."
Unite leaders have also confirmed that approaches are to be made through local politicians to the Japanese embassy to see if pressure can be brought to bear through that route.
Further strikes are planned for Friday 17th and Saturday 18th August if no resolution can be found.
Unite has seen its membership double at Nippon Express since the dispute started earlier this year. Mr. Hall said the continuing refusal to go to Acas only reinforces the union's view that the company is "hell bent on not only reducing our members' terms and conditions of employment but also removing Unite from Nippon Express."
ENDS
Unite was formed on 1st May 2007 from a merger of amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G)
Some pictures from the picket line are available from
adodgshon@tgwu.org.uk For further information please call the T&G section of Unite Press Office on 020 7611 2550
j
Comments
Hide the following comment
solidarity
15.08.2007 14:24
Climate change is a social issue. It is caused by the meteoric expansion of global industrialisation over the last 150 years. In this minute fraction of human history the ruling classes have managed exploit human and environmental resources to the point of collapse. The solution will have to be social change - not lifestyle change. No amount of 'environmentally friendly' light bulbs or planes for that matter are going to prevent climate chaos. Maybe, despite our best efforts, we will also not create the political will to bring about the necessary changes to prevent climate chaos. We have seen the beginning of it this summer. In which case, we need to ask - what opportunities does climate change present to us for radical social change? It will have massive social effects: food and fuel shortages, power cuts, mass migration and the resulting backlash of fortress europe, increased social control - ID cards, terror legislation, etc. As everything goes to shit, we have to be in a position to provide libertarian and egalitarian solutions, to provide solidarity to those worst hit and resist the shift to the right as a scared population looks to the state to protect them. We have to clearly make the case that it is this economic system that is the driving force behind climate change and it's masters care no more about how that change will affect ordinary people any more than they care about their working conditions.
Can anyone give clearer directions to the picket? see you there.
a camper