UK Indymedia - UK Workers' Movements Newswire Archive

Tube strike. They had PLENTY of warning.

07-09-2007 12:30

One of more nauseating (if predictable) aspects of this weeks strike by RMT maintenance workers was the pitiful claims by the corporate media. The usual ‘They went on strike without warning’ and ‘they sabotaged the negotiations by walking out’ claims have been flying around the national newspapers and TV news. Actually the ballot for strike action was announced VERY publicly (see photos below) 7 weeks before Tuesday’s stoppage.

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UK Bangladeshis robbed via 'First Solution' still haven't got their money!

07-09-2007 10:06

We are continuing to the put these Open Questions to Bethnal Green and Bow MP George Galloway because it was his involvement [including his speech on the subject in the House of Commons on 18 July 2007] 'to help the victims' that was used by a number of elements to implement their diversion away from the shoulders of the perpetrators.

We are also doing so because we have not had any response from the offices of G Galloway or answers from anyone that has been claimed by the 'Respect' 'coalition ' to be 'campaigning for the victims'

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Barking mad Metronet bosses.

06-09-2007 16:40

On Tuesday morning a small group of striking RMT members held a picket of the Metronet headquarters in Holborn. By 9am things had become so surreal that to be honest most of those present were pinching themselves to check they were not dreaming…

Its a funny old world.

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Supporting the RMT strikers.

06-09-2007 14:34

Metronet employees are barred by their conracts from speaking to the media or commenting on the performance of the failed private company they work for. Having said that there is no law stopping supporters of the strikers from attending the picket lines and handing out literature like the leaflett seen below.

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RMT Underground maintenance strike paralyses London.

06-09-2007 14:24

These days it seems that every five minutes the government are reminding us about the importance of our pension. It is given far more coverage than most things. As issues go it seems to be on the agenda every other day with some ‘expert’ warning us to invest in some private pension scheme or else.

So it is the height of hypocrisy for Gordon Brown to be describing the RMT Metronet strikers as “wholly irresponsible” when they are in fact on strike to protect their pensions!? Mr Blair (oops I mean Brown) goes on to call their action “totally unnecessary” when all they are doing is following government advice. And that, by the way, is the same government who introduced the ‘Public Private Partnership’ (PPP) to the Underground to begin with. Which resulted in years of total incompetence by PPP company Metronet. Which has now gone bust threatening everything from safety on the Underground, to massive job losses in the maintenance sector to the wiping out of peoples pensions.

And which chancellor introduced PPP?

Nice one Gordon……

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20 Feminist Fightback conference, 20 October 2007

06-09-2007 14:04

Back for a second year, the Feminist Fightback activist conference is organised by a group of socialist feminists, including the Education Not for Sale student network. It aims to bring together feminists from a wide range of perspectives to debate ideas and develop practical strategies for fighting women’s oppression and exploitation.

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Union claims victory as Metronet strike ends

05-09-2007 15:55

The RMT has claimed victory over jobs and pensions defence following a solid strike of Metronet engineers.

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RMT union suspends strike by London Underground maintenance workers

05-09-2007 15:50

As we go to press it is reported that the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has suspended the strike action taken by some 2,300 London Underground maintenance workers. The planned 72-hour strike began at 1800 hours on Monday in a dispute over jobs and pension rights following the collapse of rail maintenance company Metronet.

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Sehabden Family Need Urgent Help

05-09-2007 10:16

Currently detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, the family are due to be forcibly removed this evening Wednesday 5th September 2007 on Sri Lankan Airlines Flight UL504 from Heathrow To Sri Lanka at 21.45hrs.

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Royal Mail: Stockport wildcat strikers return to work whilst national talks exte

04-09-2007 20:47

Several hundred workers at Stockport Mail Centre returned to work today having walked out unofficially on Friday. Meanwhile national talks between the CWU leadership and Royal Mail have been extended until Sunday.

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RMT Metronet workers strike: violence on the picket line!

04-09-2007 18:57

Attack on a cameraperson on picket line outside Metronet HQ

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Tube maintenance workers begin six days of strikes

03-09-2007 22:10

The first of two 72 hour strikes by more than 2,300 workers at failed private maintenance firm Metronet is to go ahead from 6pm tonight.

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Independent report into ICL plastics disaster finds health and safety regime 'da

03-09-2007 11:13

On 11 May 2004, nine workers were killed and more than thirty-three injured in an explosion at the ICL Plastics plant of Grovepark Mills in Maryhill, Glasgow. This was the worst health and safety incident in Scotland since 1988. An independent study into the health and safety regime at the factory before the explosion has now been released.

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Workers Vs Workers Beer Company

02-09-2007 21:02

Servers who work at events with the Workers Beer Company have set up a union, in an attempt to protect ourselves from the creeping further influence of profit margins on our conditions.

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Worldwide support for Cuban Five grows

02-09-2007 19:14

The Cuban Five—Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González—were prosecuted for defending Cuba from U.S.-backed terrorists. They were arrested in Miami Sept. 12, 1998 by the FBI and charged with espionage conspiracy, murder conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents—a total of 26 counts...

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Mental health workers on strike in support of colleague

01-09-2007 15:13

Nearly 700 UNISON members in Manchester Community and Mental Health branch went on strike yesterday in support of their colleague Karen Reissman, suspended from work since June.

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Prison officers in mass unlawful strike

01-09-2007 15:05

Some 20,000 prison officers in England and Wales took illegal unofficial action on Wednesday 29 August against Gordon Brown’s public sector wage cuts and the disastrous overcrowding in prisons.

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Workers at Royal Mail contractors Romec strike

01-09-2007 15:02

Following an overwhelming 12 to 1 yes vote for industrial action, engineers and admin workers are Romec were due to strike today over a sub-inflation pay offer.

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Prison officers strike in England and Wales in defiance of High Court injunction

31-08-2007 23:39

Some 20,000 prison officers in England and Wales ended their first national strike on Thursday, following an agreement between the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) and the government to hold new negotiations over pay.

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Screw The Law!

29-08-2007 20:02

For obvious reasons to do with their chosen occupation, prison officers aren't exactly popular amongst radical activists. Many of us have been on the receiving end of their 'justice', or know people who have, or perhaps fear that we will in the future. All this is understandable and to be expected.