Jerry Hicks

Some of the stuff that’s been going on:

Last week, sparks and supporters were protesting in/at Corus on Teeside, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, London, Glasgow and more. Around the country there were more Towns and Cities holding rank and file meetings for the first time.

The action is spreading far and wide. Scottish sparks protested in Glasgow last Saturday. There was a 30 strong sparks rank and file meeting in Cardiff where they elected a committee and have targeted a site for a protest. Sheffield is having a meeting this week.

While in London following the Kings Cross demo, about 60 sparks headed off to Gratte Brothers Head Office, a 10 minute walk from the Crossrail site. Around 30 managed to get into the main foyer, then and locked themselves in. Loud, proud and right in their faces! The sparks demanded to see the managing director and asked where the blacklist files were hidden and if Grattes were taking on!

This was a new and very effective tactic, and should be considered in the future. Please google the Rogue 7 firms to find out the addresses of their HQ’s and turn up on the doorsteps - maybe best not to announce it which will make for a nice surprise!

Tomorrow [Tuesday 29th] we should know the result of the BBES ballot, all being well it will be a big ‘Yes’ vote for industrial action. If it is, every BBES site in the country needs be picketed on 7th December as that’s when we expect the first strike day to be and the day for signing new contracts, by all means hit BBES before if you wish, of course.

On Wednesday 30th November in London, the next protest will be at Blackfriars, we need to have a mass picket like we did the other week, so bring friends and family with you, it doesn’t matter if they aren’t a construction worker. If we bring the tea, the police will probably provide a kettle!!!! Let’s ‘shut the site’ then join the big ‘Public sector pension [strike]’ march starting at Lincoln in Fields which is near Holborn 12.30pm.

National Rank and File meeting Saturday 3rd December in London 61-65 Great Queen Street, off Kingsway, Holborn, at the Russell Hotel, Connaught Room from 11-2pm. With various speakers from Unite and rank and file committee. This is an important meeting to plan and co-ordinate for the BBES strike, we may need pickets every day from 7th December on BBES sites, all that can be decided on the day. For details of demo’s protests and meetings near you please visit
Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/

We need more meetings everywhere. Get in touch and we will help Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

We’ve got them on the run. Together, united we will win, BESNA MY ARSE ! ! !

Wednesday 30th is the 2 million Public Sector Strike Day. There is no doubt that if they win it makes us all stronger and more likely to fight back. So victory to the pensions strikers, all 2 million of 'em!

Advances in medical science, and better lifestyles, means that on average people are living longer, great news. After a lifetime of work, a long and happy retirement is what we hope for family, friends and ourselves. During this long and happy retirement, we will need to have an income. This is why we pay into pension funds.

There are those that say that because we are living longer we can’t afford to pay the same pensions any more. That’s utter nonsense. We will be told of gold plated public sector pensions. Utter rubbish. The Local Government scheme (LGPS) average pension is £80.00 per week. There is an alternative to cuts in pensions, pay, services and jobs. It is about making choices. Who pay’s and where does the money come from.

Here’s what I think:

• Let’s have a financial transaction tax, raising billions.
• Tax the ‘banking bosses bonuses’ raising another 2 billion.
• Let’s scrap Trident saving £75 billion.
• Let’s bring all the troops home where it’s safe.
• Spend the money on building council houses, hospitals and schools creating 100,000 jobs for construction workers, teachers and nurses.
• By rejecting nuclear power and instead building a ‘Severn Barrage’ we would create 3/4/5 times the number of jobs than a nuclear power station build and produce clean safe energy.
• As in Germany we could create 100,000 apprenticeships and up to one million green jobs by harnessing wind, sea and solar power. All those workers paying income tax back in to the nations coffers!

Of course the Con-Dem government will attack those taking action on 30th November. They will present it as Public sector (on strike) versus Private sector (at work). But this debate is much broader than private or public sector; everyone deserves a decent pension in retirement. We live in the sixth wealthiest nation on the planet. There is enough money available to fund all our pension needs. It’s a case of choice and successive governments chose to put too much money into too few pockets.

People fighting back, like those in the public sector are to be supported and if the rest of us take up the fight all things are possible.

Jerry Hicks
Unite trade union member.

Unite members at Balfour Beatty BBES should have been getting their ballot papers and they must be returned by next Monday November 28th, With a ‘YES’ for strike action.

What’s at stake:

1] Hourly rate will be cut from £16.07p to £10.50 for trunking conduit work.

2] Paid £14 an hour for terminating.

3] Paid £12 an hour for wiring.

BBES are saying that if you do not sign the new contract you will be fired with very little chance of redress at an employment tribunal

BBES are holding a gun to our heads this cannot be accepted, its immoral. No other industry would allow this to go on why is it happening in construction?

BBES and the other rogue employers see construction workers as two a penny and easily replaceable.

4] We could be made to work 38 hours of seven days, possibly Saturday and Sunday, without being paid any overtime.

5] Our right to union representation would go.

6] We would lose the right of unfair dismissal on a jib panel from day one of employment.

7] Travel time and fares will go.

8] We could be paid fortnightly.

9] The employer will decide what work we would do, so the rate could change at regular intervals.

10] We may find you have to work for just £10.50 as that’s the only work going on a large site.

Agency sparks will be affected as well and you can bet that if this goes through other firms will adopt BESNA. It’s a horror story all round, and other trades will be targeted next.

If you haven’t got a ballot paper yet contact your local Unite office immediately.

So there are 3 big dates coming up.......... November 28th when the BBES strike ballot closes and then get the result.

Then there is November 30th when 2 million public sector workers will be on strike to defend their pensions. We should join them, in a sparks ‘day of protest’ with protests and stoppages at as many sites as we can.

And the big one, December 7th when it should be the first strike day for all sparks at BBES. Rank and file sparks across the country at BBES or not should be having meetings to decide on solidarity action.

Here’s the thing............When we get the YES VOTE for strike action, if BBES question the ballot with a legal challenge, we have to be ready to ignore that and hit the gates anyway.

Some snippets:

Last week saw excellent protests in the North East, during which, at the Corus site Redcar we had one of our own lifted by the police, but the message got to Radcliffe which immediately stopped work demanding his release..............And he was, without charge!

Scotland had a demonstration with over 300 sparks making the press and STV. London again stepped up to the plate and in Hull they had a great success when targeting Kelvin Hall Academy, a BBES site, causing rush hour traffic jams. Local TV radio and press were there..........but the cops were caught on the hop! Manchester and Liverpool kept the pressure on the rogue 7.

Last week’s rank and file meetings was a mixed bag, Leeds and Bristol went well but Sheffield and Birmingham didn’t. No point beating ourselves up about it ‘some you win, some you don’t'.

This week:

Cardiff: has its first rank and file meeting Wednesday 23rd 7pm – 9pm Owain Glyndwr pub (in the room upstairs) St Johns Square, Cardiff town centre.

With protests at:

Newcastle: Tuesday 22nd November 07:30am. Unite offices, John Dobson Street, Newcastle.

London: Wednesday 23rd November 06.45, Kings X Station, Platforms 9/10

Middlesbrough: Wednesday 23rd November 06.30 Conoco, Seal sands T52 1UH

Manchester: Wednesday 23rd November 06.30 Manchester Town Hall, City centre.

*At the Unite Sector Conference in Brighton November 27th we have 3 rank and file delegates*

We need more meetings everywhere. So get in touch and we will help you set up a Rank and File meeting in your City, Town or area. Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

For regular updates: Photos: You tube clips and videos please visit

Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/

History will be determined by what we do today.

A letter of request to Unite for inspection of records has been submitted as preparation to recover members money –

That being the obscene and, in the opinion of a huge number of Unite members, an absolutely unwarranted severance payment of £361,000 made to the outgoing General Secretary, Derek Simpson when he ‘retired’!

Despite the fact that Jerry Hicks had written to Unite in August and again in September, laying out the method by which to achieve a successful conclusion they [Unite and the General Secretary Len McCluskey] chose to ignore the correspondence and failed to reply at all.

Worse still than this contemptuous attitude, is the decision by Unite and the NEC not to make any attempt to recover Mr Simpson’s severance payment [members money - £361,000]. This information acquired from a third party.

Unite have 28 days by which to comply with the request for inspection of records, which was sent to them on the 1st of November.

Jerry Hicks said “Unite may not see this as an important enough issue but I and many others do.” Let no one be in any doubt that there is a determination to put right this wrong doing.

For more information: email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

Following Unite’s first rules conference, two additional seats have been agreed for our Disabled and LGBT membership for election onto your Executive Council. Nomination papers will be sent directly to all branches and Chapels workplace reps need to contact their regional secretary to request a form.

All Unite Branches, workplaces and Chapels can nominate. All Unite members can vote in this election. The timetable for these elections is as follows…

Nominations period is: 14th November to 6 January : Ballot period is: 30th January to 22nd February :

Hi my name is Lesley Mansell and I am asking you to support my nomination to the first Unite NEC Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) seat.

I am standing with the support of the Grass Roots Left as I firmly believe that

Unite must be a member led, member controlled organisation, free from the control of appointed officials. Our union can never be truly democratic until all full time officials are elected by us, the members and accountable to us the members.

We must become a fighting union, not just a campaigning union, actively supporting all our members in struggle, revitalising branches and increasing our lay democracy. Above all we need to make our Equality structure a model for genuine involvement of LGBT members and other equality groups as well.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) cannot be discriminated against at work and must have the same access to goods and services as everyone else. We have these legal rights because many of us stood up and fought for them.

I was a founder member in 1989 of Lesbians and Gays in MSF and led the campaign to repeal the obnoxious Section 28, for equal rights at work and to include bisexual and trans people in the work of the TUC. In 2005 the TUC awarded me the prestigious Gold badge for this work. I am currently Co-Chair of the Bristol NHS LGBT Group.

In today’s dire economic climate there is still a need for Unite to be supporting LGBT members as we can be the first to go during any cut backs.

I work in the NHS as an Equality Manager and have held similar roles in Councils, Education and the Voluntary Sector. I started my trade union activity as a convenor in engineering. I am a Labour party member and Chair the Town Council.

My details required for the nomination form are:
Constituency: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Seat
Name: Lesley Mansell :
Membership number: 30052814
Region: South West: Sector: NHS Branch: Avon Staffs:

Vote for Lesley Mansell the experienced candidate and vote for:

• A member led member controlled democratic union.
• All Officials elected by the members, not appointed by the General Secretary or a panel.
• Confronting anti-union and other unjust laws in the UK and EU.
• A fighting union, not just a campaigning one.
• Public ownership not privatisation.

For more information do contact me at:
Mobile 07980695117 Email: lesleywinningunite@yahoo.co.uk

Last Wednesday saw big sparks protest in London and Edinburgh. London’s early ‘kick off’ organized by rank and file electricians began at the Pinnacle at 7am. The police, out in force, tried to try stop us from taking the fight to the rogue 7 but they were run ragged.

Later, when the official Unite demonstration had ended, the rank and file chose not to lobby an MP or two at parliament but instead aimed to link up with the students demo in solidarity. But the police, now doubled in numbers, managed to kettled us [which they now call ‘bubbled’] for over an hour, stopping us getting to the students. Then, as the sun went down, came the late winner for the day of the demo’s. Cabbies snarled up the traffic by driving round Trafalgar Sq without picking anybody up. Result!



It seems like the ‘cancerous group’ [the Rank and File as described in an email by National Officer Bernard McAulay] has a new friend? Len McCluskey said that he “welcomes the Rank and File” at the Shard protest in London on Wednesday 9th. Great news, Lenny [took your time mate!] we hope you are true to your word.

‘D’ day is fast approaching: As well as a YES VOTE, we need more ‘Protest picket lines’ ‘Walk outs’ and ‘Stoppages’.

BBES unite sparks will be receiving ballot papers from tomorrow, but it’s up to all of us to change up another gear. Rank and file are calling meetings in ‘new places’ to increase the range and scope of the attacks against the rogue 7.

Leeds and Yorkshire: Rank and File sparks meeting, Monday 14th Nov 7.30pm Cosmopolitan Hotel, 2 Lower Briggate, Leeds.

Birmingham and West Midlands: Rank and File Sparks meeting, Tuesday 15th Nov 7pm Carrs Lane Church centre Moor Street, Birmingham, B47 SX opposite Moor street station: 5 minutes from New street station.

Bristol and south West: Rank and File meeting, Thursday 17th Nov 7pm til 8.30 CWU union offices 20 Church Road, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 9JA.

Get to a meeting nearest to you, decide on a target site and a date and set up a protest picket. We need more meetings everywhere. So get in touch and we will help you set up a Rank and File meeting in your City, Town or area. Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Some protests this week:

Teeside: Corus: Monday 13th Nov 6.30am.
Manchester: Carrington paper mill: Wednesday 16th Nov 6.30am
London: Farringdon Station Snow Hill entrance BBES site. Wednesday 16th Nov 630am.
Liverpool: LIMU site: Wednesday 16th Nov 6.30am Clarence Street.

Further news:
Last week, Crown House said it is not recognising the 2 newly elected stewards. Well, the rank and file does so does Unite, so get used to it! Incidentally, the Human resources manager of Crown House is an ex union official, the worm that turned a traitor to the working class. Unite officers are meeting Crown House, Wednesday 16th.

Ballot timetable reminder:

Unite ballot of 1,690 workers at Balfour Beatty BBES Monday November 14th.

Counting of ballot papers Monday November 28th.

A yes vote means strike action [and walkouts] begins Wednesday December 7th

Make sure you get a ballot paper and make sure you send it back with a ‘YES’ for strike action.

Regular updates: Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/

History will be determined by what we do today.

Great news as we build for our own fight, Mick Dooley sparks supporter and campaigner has won his Unfair Dismissal claim against UCATT though disgracefully he remains debarred from running for the General secretary election which he is challenging.

Sparks against the cuts! All out for November 9th Lets make it the Pinnacle of our protests so far.

For the last 3 months there have been tons of demos and protests going on around the country with barely a mention in the media. That was until last week when Sparks and supporters in London took our protest against 35 per cent wage cuts in a solidarity gesture joining the Occupy camp to the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. The 300-strong demonstration, which has been present on the streets of London every Wednesday at dawn for the last three months, marched from Cannon Street building site. Sparks, supporters including students gave police the run around, taking an unexpected detour to show solidarity with Occupy London protesters.

Gathering on the steps of St Paul's, activists addressed the camp with loud hailers as startled ITV and BBC reporters rushed to film us. Drawing attention to the forthcoming day of student action on November 9 and the national ballot of construction workers at Balfour Beatty, electricians' spark ‘Eddie Current’ told cheering protesters: "If they are going to cut our pay by 35 per cent we will shut down London."

Mick Dooley received the cheer of the day when he said "There is a movement called socialists and I am proud to be part of it." Mick, who has been on the protests from the start day has been outrageously barred by UCATT from being a candidate for its General Secretary election. We owe him our support to get him back on the ballot paper.

And so to this week, Wednesday November 9th. Those that are unable to get to London are planning their own demo and protest against the rogue 7. But we expect thousands of construction workers to descend on London to demonstrate over an unprecedented attack on our skills and pay as we up the ante on the bosses in the run up to the ballot and ‘D day’.

Unite is providing coaches from all over the country to bring electricians, plumbers and heating and ventilation engineers to the capital for this national day of protest. If you want to come but still don’t know about transport then email NOW Unites National Construction Officer Bernard McAulay bernard.mcaulay@unitetheunion.org


7am The Pinnacle (near Liverpool Street Station) called by London Rank & File:

11:30am @ The Shard (London Bridge) - UNITE Official event

1pm Rally at Blackfriars Station building site. Now the choice: UNITE are then planning to march 1000s of building workers away from the major projects and off to lobby MPs in Westminster


But with D day [December 7th] looming there is still loads to be done if we are to give ourselves a fighting chance of victory. So we are asking the question of our union and its appointed officials.

“Have Unite made sure that every area aware of what’s going on with BESNA?”

“Have they been calling meetings and protests across the whole UK?” Up to now we have not heard of any activity in Wales, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Preston, or the South West including Bristol. No news of meetings let alone protest in the South East, Portsmouth, or Southampton.

"Will NAEICI agreement eventually affected? Has an appeal gone out from Unite asking them to support the day of action on the 9th? This is another section of workers we shouldn’t forget."

Surely Unite officials should be getting round to all sites informing members of this outrageous attack on JIB agreement. But we doubt that they are so again we must take the lead.

Leeds Rank and File sparks have organised a meeting in 14th November 7pm/7.30pm [to be finalised] Cosmopolitan Hotel, 2 Lower Briggate, Leeds.

We need meetings everywhere. So get in touch and we will help you set up a Rank and File meeting in your City, Town or area. Have the meeting target a site and take the fight to the rogue 7. Our future, your future and the next generations future depends on what we do right now.

Ballot timetable reminder:

Unite will open the ballot of 1,000 workers at Balfour Beatty BBES on November 14th.

Counting to be finished by November 28th.

A yes vote yes will mean strike action [and walkouts!!!!] will begin on December 7th

Make sure you get a ballot paper and make sure you send it back. With a ‘YES’ for strike action.

Email your ideas and any actions planned siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Regular updates: Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/