Reinstate Chris Lockwood!
Industrial Workers of the World | 03.09.2008 13:32 | Repression | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Sheffield
IWW member fired in Sheffield for union activity. Support picket's on the 12th September to fight for his reinstatement.
On the 21st August Chris Lockwood, union organiser and member of the Industrial Workers of the World was fired from his bar job at the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield (UK). This has been part of a long campaign by management of picking off and isolating workers who have voiced objections to recent changes that have worsened the conditions of all who work there. The Showroom cinema is a registered charity and claims to be an "investor in people", yet has consistently attacked workers pay and conditions with the sole aim of greater profits.
We believe that every worker (no matter what the industry) is entitled to respect and should be organised to defend themselves in the work place. Chris’ firing represents a direct and illegal attack against union organising. Management have refused our request to review his dismissal so on the 12th of September members of the Industrial Workers of the World will be picketing the Showroom cinema to demand the immediate reinstatement of Chris Lockwood.
Please support us by –
1) Joining the picket lines.
Picketing will begin at 10am and go on until the bar shuts at 1:00am. Busiest times, however, are between 12 and 3 and 5 and 8. If you are able to bring food or drinks to support picketers this will also be very much appreciated.
The Showroom cinema is at –
7 Paternoster row
Sheffield
S1 2BX
If you are coming by train then the cinema is directly opposite the entrance to the train station. If you are coming by coach then you have to walk up pond street (towards the train station) to get to paternoster row. If you require accommodation this can be arranged (please email
sheffield@iww.org.uk beforehand).
2) Solidarity actions or emails and calls of protest to affiliates
The Showroom cinema has a number of affiliate organisations who provide it with funding and support. These include –
Europa cinemas –
EUROPA CINEMAS
54, Rue Beaubourg - F-75003 Paris
Tél. + 33 1 42 71 53 70 - Fax + 33 1 42 71 47 55
General Director
Claude-Eric POIROUX
e-mail: cepoiroux@europa-cinemas.org
International Relations & Events
Fatima DJOUMER
e-mail: fatim@djoumer.de
The Independent Cinema Office –
Independent Cinema Office
3rd Floor
Kenilworth House
79–80 Margaret Street
London W1W 8TA
T. 020 7636 7120
F. 020 7636 7121
E. info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk
The UK Film Council –
The UK FILM COUNCIL
10 Little Portland Street
London W1W 7JG
Tel 44 (0) 20 7861 7861
Fax 44 (0) 20 7861 7862
3) Support our telephone and email blockade.
On the 12th September from 10am til 1am on the 13th we are calling for an email and phone blockade on the showroom cinema.
Either telephone (+44) 0114 276 3534 and ask to speak to Julie Simpson (or a member of the senior management team about the dismissal of Chris Lockwood.
Or copy and paste the following email and send to info@showroom.org.uk and commercial.admin@showroom.org.uk.
Template email:
------------------------------------------------------
To whom it may concern,
I am contacting you today to register my protest against the illegal
dismissal of Chris Lockwood. Chris is a union organiser and member of
the Industrial Workers of the World and has been discriminated against on
this basis. A member of senior management has stated in conversation to
a union delegate that you believe Chris’ dismissal to be fair because he
was only a “casual” labourer. This may be how you chose to label those
who work just above minimum wage in your bar and cinema. I, however,
believe that workers are entitled to respect in their workplace and the
right to organise. The clearly trumped up charges (and failure to follow
statutory procedure) represents an illegal move by your management team
against union organising. I will not support or patronise your business
and will do everything in my power to publicise and protest your actions
until the complete reinstatement of Chris Lockwood.
Yours Faithfully,
-----------------------------------------------------------
Thankyou in advance for your solidarity and support.
Industrial Workers of the World (Sheffield)
IU 660 – General Distribution Workers
www.iww.org.uk
sheffield@iww.org.uk
We believe that every worker (no matter what the industry) is entitled to respect and should be organised to defend themselves in the work place. Chris’ firing represents a direct and illegal attack against union organising. Management have refused our request to review his dismissal so on the 12th of September members of the Industrial Workers of the World will be picketing the Showroom cinema to demand the immediate reinstatement of Chris Lockwood.
Please support us by –
1) Joining the picket lines.
Picketing will begin at 10am and go on until the bar shuts at 1:00am. Busiest times, however, are between 12 and 3 and 5 and 8. If you are able to bring food or drinks to support picketers this will also be very much appreciated.
The Showroom cinema is at –
7 Paternoster row
Sheffield
S1 2BX
If you are coming by train then the cinema is directly opposite the entrance to the train station. If you are coming by coach then you have to walk up pond street (towards the train station) to get to paternoster row. If you require accommodation this can be arranged (please email
sheffield@iww.org.uk beforehand). 2) Solidarity actions or emails and calls of protest to affiliates
The Showroom cinema has a number of affiliate organisations who provide it with funding and support. These include –
Europa cinemas –
EUROPA CINEMAS
54, Rue Beaubourg - F-75003 Paris
Tél. + 33 1 42 71 53 70 - Fax + 33 1 42 71 47 55
General Director
Claude-Eric POIROUX
e-mail:
cepoiroux@europa-cinemas.org International Relations & Events
Fatima DJOUMER
e-mail:
fatim@djoumer.de The Independent Cinema Office –
Independent Cinema Office
3rd Floor
Kenilworth House
79–80 Margaret Street
London W1W 8TA
T. 020 7636 7120
F. 020 7636 7121
E.
info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk The UK Film Council –
The UK FILM COUNCIL
10 Little Portland Street
London W1W 7JG
Tel 44 (0) 20 7861 7861
Fax 44 (0) 20 7861 7862
3) Support our telephone and email blockade.
On the 12th September from 10am til 1am on the 13th we are calling for an email and phone blockade on the showroom cinema.
Either telephone (+44) 0114 276 3534 and ask to speak to Julie Simpson (or a member of the senior management team about the dismissal of Chris Lockwood.
Or copy and paste the following email and send to
info@showroom.org.uk and commercial.admin@showroom.org.uk. Template email:
------------------------------------------------------
To whom it may concern,
I am contacting you today to register my protest against the illegal
dismissal of Chris Lockwood. Chris is a union organiser and member of
the Industrial Workers of the World and has been discriminated against on
this basis. A member of senior management has stated in conversation to
a union delegate that you believe Chris’ dismissal to be fair because he
was only a “casual” labourer. This may be how you chose to label those
who work just above minimum wage in your bar and cinema. I, however,
believe that workers are entitled to respect in their workplace and the
right to organise. The clearly trumped up charges (and failure to follow
statutory procedure) represents an illegal move by your management team
against union organising. I will not support or patronise your business
and will do everything in my power to publicise and protest your actions
until the complete reinstatement of Chris Lockwood.
Yours Faithfully,
-----------------------------------------------------------
Thankyou in advance for your solidarity and support.
Industrial Workers of the World (Sheffield)
IU 660 – General Distribution Workers
www.iww.org.uk
sheffield@iww.org.uk
Industrial Workers of the World
e-mail:
sheffield@iww.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.iww.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following comment
Why we must fight this..
04.09.2008 12:29
It replaced the Anvil Cinema Sheffield that was funded by Sheffield city council and closed due to cut backs, in part due to the era of Thatcher,ism it was run by Dave Goddin,
The phrase Northern Soul did not exist until 1970 when Blues and Soul journalist Dave Goddin ventured North from London to sample the all-nighter scene and coined the phrase Northern Soul. This was referring to the type of soul played up North (of Watford). Usually more up tempo than than the tunes played in the South.
Not sure who came up with the phrase - “Keep The Faith” - but it still used today.
What’s with the black power thing a friend once asked ? referring to the symbol of a black raised fist. Well it was never a power thing at all, simply a mod thing of wearing black driving gloves.
Dave Knight got ousted from the Co-op after building it up - so they could take all the money and they bought in Geoff Scragg and Geoff asked me to stay on which I did until 1974. I also continued to do sessions at The Brit until about 73 I think.
It was The Anvill i begin to fall in love with film and the opportunity it gave to politicise and inspire people, one film i saw amongst many at The Showroom was the brilliant Black Rain is a 1989 Japanese film by director Shohei Imamura and based on the novel of the same name by Ibuse Masuji. The events are centered on the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Dave become a close friend and fucking insparation. one reson ill be supporrting the action on the 12th, and the creeping privtisation of this place should lead us all to action, otherwise we will lose a place of value that gives people like myself access to a different culture one you would not find in the main stream, and i have no desire to go sit in a multiplex and be fed the shit on offer there.
The Showroom, is a fucking inspiration, if at times the Bar is overpriced and some of the people there are Middle Class, this is far more than just a sacking of a worker and we should all get out of our armchairs to be there on the 12th, instead of siting in them slagging of others due to your sectarianism , for some the Showroom plays a part in there politics, it is also incumbent of me to be there in The Memory of Dave Goddin who gave more than the fucking armchair anarchist indeed a stream of consciousness and irrelevant bullshit from myself, but then being working class you get used to this bullshit..
make the middle class history
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