11 Weeks and Going Strong

Workers in the StreetScene Department of Leeds City Council will have been on strike for 77 days on Monday in defence of their pay, pay that could be cut by up to a third if Leeds City Council gets away with its plans.
I've blogged previously about the excuses put forward by Leeds City Council all of which boil down to , slashing pay to make it attractive to privatise. The tactics used by the Council and particularly Cllr R Brett, Leader of Leeds City Council, have been disgraceful over the last weeks. This has included branding the workers as sickness cheats and unproductive, non of which are related to the pay cut, and the use of scab labour to try and break the strike. I was down on the picket lines on Thursday and the strikers told me that the agencies supplying the scab labour have been instructed to stop by Government Inspectors.
If the Council thought it could break these workers they are wrong, non of the strikers I have spoken to are prepared to go back unless a fair deal is reached. A meeting this week between the Council and Unions has been adjourned until next week and both sides are now talking about 'positive progress'.
These workers are an example to us all in their resolve to fight against such a massive attack on their wages.
Please send messages of support and prevent them being starved back to work by making donations to,
branch@leedsunisonlg.org.uk
UNISON
160a Woodhouse Lane
Leeds
LS2 9EN

Not So SuperDrug

Over 250 workers at the SuperDrug depot in South Elmsall are currently engaged in indefinite strike action against their employer who is taking advantage of the recession to drive down workers terms and conditions. SuperDrug is still a profitable company with over 900 stores across the UK and is the second biggest Health and Beauty retailer in the UK. Figures for last year showed that their turnover is up as people turn to discount shops when money is tight.
The workers informed me that the last figures show Superdrug still making £millions in profit.
So what is the excuse to attacking shift pay, overtime rates, sick pay, changing pensions, trying to introduce 'flexibility' which could mean having no contractual control over your working week and insisting the workers 'Opt Out' of the Working Time Directive?
It's....wait for it.......yu will never have heard these before..........profitability and competitiveness!!
The oldest excuse in the capitalist book, when the economy is doing well the excuse is competitiveness and profitability, when we are in recession the excuse is profitability and competitiveness, its like a broken record, flawed and repetitive.
These workers who are members of UNITE are not putting up with it and have reacted the way many workers are now doing, fighting back because they have had enough of being the victims of flawed system and greedy bosses, where the obsessive drive for profits is all that matters.
I visited the picket line in Thursday and was impressed with how well organised and determined the workers are. fires were burning, shelters were built, rota's of pickets were organised and the plans to spread the message were in motion.
One steward said they had met with management who had not offered them any concessions but served them all 90 Days notice to change their contracts,attempting to impose the unacceptable changes.
These determined workers need our support.
Please e-mail messages of support to:
superdrugstrikers@yahoo.co.uk
Please send Donations to
Transport and General Workers Union 9/246
C/o Mr Roberts (Branch Secretary)
19 Blundell Road
Moorthorpe
WF9 2BW

Support The Strikers

In an inspiring strike the StreetScene workers in Leeds City Council have voted to reject a 'deal' offered by management and to continue the indefinite strike which is now in its 7th week. I have visited the picket lines as often as I can and at least once a week and today was able to hear first hand what the strikers though of the 'deal'. The workers pointed out that the 'deal' was a productivity bonus which was unachievable and management were trying to split the workers into groups rewarding some and not others. As one striker said 'we came out together, we will go back together' 'it is impossible for any worker to cover the number of homes that they want to achieve the bonus' one worker said 'basically we cannot trust them, they have lied to us too many times'. It must be remembered that even if achieved the bonus would still result in a pay cut.
Postal workers have started 2 days of national action in revolt against 'skinhead managers' tactics, threats to jobs, pay and services. Lord Mandelson, another unelected, well paid know it all who thinks the world should stop and listen to his right wing New Labour rubbish claims he is 'beyond anger' and the decision to strike. Not a word of criticism of Royal Mail management who are well paid and fat with publicly funded bonuses at the expense of the service and the workers. I have not spoken to one postal worker who does not care about the service and they were all sorry for the effect on all customers including businesses but they are not prepared to be treated in this unacceptable way. The decision to strike wasn't a close vote it was a massive yes vote, indicative of the anger in the workforce.
South Yorkshire FireFighters were out on strike over imposed changes to shift patterns, another committed group of workers driven to strike.
This is an interesting article in the Guardian about the strikes.
Perhaps if Mandelson, Mynott and all the other 'clingons' were experiencing, bullying, threats to jobs, cuts in pay because 'we are all in together' they would be willing to strike and defend themselves. But as part of the political classes, linked closely the the bankers, big business and parts of the ruling classes they have never experienced the minimum wage, minimum holidays, cold because its too expensive to heat the homes, cheap food because its all you can afford and threats to your livelihood because you dare to have an opinion.
Hold workplace collections and take the money to the picket lines to support these workers in struggle.

Bad Week For Racists

This week has been a bad week for the racist and fascist BNP.
Dragged into the Courts by the Equality and Human Rights Commission they have had to admit that they will change their constitution which currently excludes any person not of norse, celt or anglo saxon descent. In short that means 'whites only needs apply". The Fuhrer Griffin didn't attend the final hearing but will put the new constitution to a special nazi meeting in the near future. Even if it is passed this doesn't mean the BNP has changed its racist and fascist policies. Reading its website makes it clear that it wants minorities to remain a minority, it makes you wonder how the BNP intend to achieve this? Deportation? Registration? Birth control? Ghetto's? Concentration camps? Extermination?...wait a minute doesn't that sound like Nazi Germany in the 30's and 40's? That's on top of sinking ships in the Mediterranean which are carrying migrants
According to some websites the BNP is now in financial dire straits because of legal costs in attempting to defend its whites only policy.What a shame, less money to spread racist and fascist poison.
A double blow for the Nazis is the Barnsley St Helens Ward By Election saw them in a very distant second. Well done to UAF, Hope Not Hate and all the trade unions, community and faith groups that campaigned to expose the BNP for what they are in that area.
Both of these events are set backs for the Nazis and are examples of how the courts and ballot box play their part in defeating them but are not enough on their own. Its important that mass protests against the BNP and the new threat to community cohesion the Islamophobic EDL to show that we are the majority and they are a poisonous minority.
There are plenty of activities in the near future to do just this. In London on the 21st and 22nd there are protests and pickets against Griffin appearing on Question Time, shame on the BBC for allowing this. It didn't show 'impartiality' when it refused to broadcast the Disaster Appeal for the Palestinian people in Gaza murdered, bombed, starved by the Israeli Army, Air Force and Navy.
It was a pleasure to speak at the well attended first meeting of Chapeltown UAF last night one of the topics of the meeting was
celebration of Leeds Multiculturalism organised by Leeds UAF on Saturday 31st October in front of the Leeds Art Gallery, in direct opposition to the Islamophobic EDL's protest.
If you are an opponent of racism and fascism try to make it to these UAF events.

Vote For Jim Board

UNISON members who come under the umbrella of the Local Government Service Group Executive have the opportunity to vote in a by-election in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. Workers in Local Government, private companies delivering services for Local Government, Stock Transfer Landlords, Schools and Community and Voluntary Sector get the chance to vote for a candidate to speak up on their behalf at a national level.
Jim Board, Doncaster UNISON Branch Secretary, is an activist who is not afraid to speak out against cuts in services, cuts in jobs and attacks on members terms and conditions. Jim is being victimised as a trade unionist because he is outspoken and says it as it is, he has a history of helping running campaigns to preserve education and services and would make an excellent member of UNISONs LGSGE.
Jim is also a critic of UNISON when required and has called for an end to the witch hunt against UNISON activists and has called for a ballot of all UNISON members decide whether or not we continue to give money to the New Labour Party.
I have known Jim for many years and have every confidence in his ability.
I would urge UNISON members to vote for Jim.
UNISON members in the Greater London Area have also got an excellent candidate to vote for in John McLouglin
This posting is not an official UNISON post and is not created using UNISON resources. Under UNISON rules UNISON cannot officially support one candidate the choice is down to the members.

Another Good Demo In Doncaster

Doncaster must be becoming the protest centre of Yorkshire!
I along with 400 others enjoyed another good day in Doncaster attending the Defend Public Services Demonstration. There was some very good speeches front trade unionists who are committed to defending services. Faced with threats from all the 'Big 3' political parties to cut public spending it is clear that workers across the public sector are going to be expected to deliver more with less with an unhealthy mix of job losses, pay 'freezes and privatisation thrown in for good measure. I'm glad that Paul Holmes NEC members for Yorkshire and Humberside made the point that we are not 'in this together' as the Tory's would have you believe, working people have been dropped in it while its business as usual for the rich bankers, heads of industry and the rest of the privileged classes.
Vicky Perrin Yorkshire and Humberside NEC member made a good speech and it was great to see that there was a couple of workers from the Leeds StreetScene dispute. Leon and Barry receive a very warm welcome with pledges of support from many union branches. I saw at least 1 cheque being handed over and heard pledges amounting to £1500 for the strike fund. Leon spoke well to the rally explaining that the dispute is about preventing wage cuts which have now been exposed as preparation for privatisation, the dispute is being prosecuted very well with rally within the last 3 days voting unanimously to continue the strike. There is a picture of Leon, Barry and Jim above.
I felt the best speech was made by Jim Board, Doncaster UNISON Branch Secretary, who is still being disciplined by his employer, he spoke in a very passionate way about defending our services, defending our members and defending the union.
There was a significant presence from UCU who are facing massive job losses across the FE and HE Sector both locally in Doncaster in Leeds and across the country. Workers in Towers Hamlets won a significant victory against course and job cuts after 4 weeks solid strike action.
We ended the rally with a colourful and noisy march across the centre of Doncaster. Many chants such as 'they say cut back we say fight back' and 'public services not for sale' and loads of banners.
The key to defending services is to organise now and not wait until the attacks happen, support current campaigns and spread the message.
Send messages of support and donations to the Leeds StreetScene strikers at
Leeds UNISON
Geof Hodgson House
Woodhouse Lane
Leeds
LS2 9EN
branch@leedsunisonlg.org.uk

Defend Public Services

Its hardly possible to watch the news or open a newspaper to hear or read about industrial strife both official and wildcat.
Leeds Street Scene workers are into their 5th Week of indefinite strike action in opposition of a pay cut of up to £6k, Postal workers have been involved in local strike action in defence or jobs and services and have now voted for national strike action. Bus drivers across the country are taking action against a pay freeze by an employer that continues to make profits and South Yorkshire firefighters have voted for strike action.
There is a militant mood amongst workers both in the private and public sector and it looks like it will increase as anger grows at pay cuts, job cuts and service cuts. Contrary to David Cameron and Gordon Browns claim that 'we are in this together' or 'we need to share the pain' its clear that working people are feeling the pain whilst the rich bankers and others in the ruling classes who created the crisis are still sipping champagne at £120 per bottle!
All political parties are fighting each other to say how much they will slash from public services to cut a public sector 'debt' created to prop up the banks etc. This could mean even more widespread action across the sector.
Doncaster is hold a demonstration in defence of public services and there will be a large number speakers from across the region including a Leeds StreetScene striker and victimised UNISON Branch Secretary Jim Board.
Please make every effort to come along and show your support.
Date Saturday 10th October
Time 10.30am
Place Mansion House,Doncaster City Centre