The Electricians this evening have blockaded the meeting of annual 'Electrical Contractors Association' ball' at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. Traffic on one side of Park Lane is blocked as 150 workers and their supporters protest against 35% wage cuts and blacklisting. Speeches are being given for those in the area to hear the reasons for the demo. The original ball was supposed to have been cancelled when they heard about the demo but the Sparks turned up anyway to make their point, it seems this was a good move as Ken Livingston was just seen going in and he is one of the invited speakers. Police say if the sparks don't clear the road backup units will be called, unfortunately they can't find the 'organiser' to tell this to, 30 or so police are there now trying to clear the road.

Update from Mattsson on twitter: Execs forced to retreat by #sparks as try to enter hotel they ran after them with chants of scum. Protestors deciding whether to stay and fight or go to the pub - decision - 15 minutes of fighting then go to the pub...

More info: The ECA is the trade association representing the BESNA parties (Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, NG Bailey Building Services,Crown House Technologies, Gratte Brothers, Spie Matthew Hall, Shepherd Engineering Services (SES), T Clarke PLC). Because of this call to protest, the ECA Ball has been cancelled! So the message has reached the bosses. But to make sure it still gets to the bosses load and clear, we will still be assembling outside the Grosvenor House Hotel when the ball was scheduled. See here for more info on why the demo was called and what they are fighting against. 

Union News info here.