Jerry Hicks

Where are we with the Strike Ballot: All is revealed. And...

2012-02-11T07:28:00.000-08:00

Question: “What happens when the Anti Union Laws aren’t repealed”. Answer below.

Unite sparks on BBES voted for strike action [AGAIN] last week, with 66% in favour of strike [295 votes for / 145 votes against]. And 70% [313 votes for / 131 against] voted in favour of action short of a strike. So are we on strike then or what....................? Not exactly............................!

BBES ignored the result [AGAIN] and went running to the High Court [AGAIN] to prevent the strike going ahead, saying “not everyone was balloted”. And Unite? Well they said they would not even announce a strike date until after that date..............Umm, good move, Umm, not really. Ok but then what..........................?

A Barrister, ‘John Hendy’ QC represented Unite at the High Court on Thursday 2nd February but there was no result forthcoming and the case was adjourned until Monday 6th February, with the decision the next day, Tuesday 7th February. Are you still following this? Still no strike or even a date for the strike.............So what happened next.................?

The High Court judge said he could not give his decision until the following week, Monday 13th or Tuesday 14th [Valentines day, ah, nice touch!]. So what then.....................? If we get the decision on the 13th/14th, and the judge rules in our favour we still have to give BBES 7 days notice [by [anti union] law]. So earliest start of any strike action would be the 21st February. However, If the decision doesn’t go our way, Unite say they will........Ignore the decision? [We wish!] No, Unite say they will ballot again.

We have to prepare for action and continue the campaign whatever happens. A meeting was held in London this Monday and a ‘Strike Committee’ of 6 was elected from Balfour Beatty stewards, and it was agreed that as and when the official strike does begin, that there would be a programme of rolling/alternate strike action weeks. Meaning out for a week, and then back in for a week [with an overtime ban]. Then out for a week and back in for a week, and so on. Protests and Demo’s must and will continue.

Rank and File Committee members met with Unite on Wednesday evening and it was agreed to continue with the protests.

On Wednesday 15th February mass protests at the following sites......

Sellafield, Grangemouth, Ratcliffe and Concoco. The objective to be to shut these sites down for the day, or longer if we can. Note, Unite have agreed to lay on coaches to get people to these sites, contact Regional Offices. Importantly, if you get no joy immediately contact Unite [appointed official] Sharon Graham [organising team] 07976 844228 email sharon.graham@unitetheunion.org.

And as if that were not enough. In London also on the 15th February there will be a lobby at ECA/BESNA dinner and dance at Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, nearest tube Marble Arch get there for 5.30pm Dress code ‘casual chic’ [and maybe hard hats]. And the moral of this story? Next time Labour are in power. We don’t let them off the hook.We make sure they repeal the Anti Union laws or we don’t give em £10’s millions! Until then the fight goes on.

For more debate and discussion on the dispute........visit Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/ Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Spread the word ‘NO TO BESNA YES TO STRIKE ACTION’!

The headline we need!

2012-01-29T09:44:00.000-08:00

“Extra - Extra” “Read all about it”

‘Balfour Beatty sites taking strike action’

Last week saw a number of very successful protests at NGB sites across England Scotland and Wales, with our Scottish brothers targeting a good few, nice one! Take a look at this film of the ‘Rank and File’ protest picket at the entrance to Hadrian Yard in Wallsend 27th Jan Where OGN are building an oil extraction platform for American firm Apache. It is a £150M, a 700 worker job. https://northern-indymedia.org/videos/2418

This week coming is a massive week for us all in the BESNA dispute. On the 2nd February we should have BBES ballot result. A yes vote is vital and any legal challenge should be met with the ultimate force by Unite. And ignored by responding in the only way we know best, with a call for ‘all out’ no matter what.

Come on Unite, ‘no more Mr nice guy’ we are being had over here! The ‘Rank and File’ have led the way since August last year and will continue to fight, but now Unite must show must show the BESNA 7 that we are all serious.

We mentioned last week about Unite having drafted in Kevin Coyne to head up the campaign assisted by Bernard McAuley. We now know that another official ‘Sharon Graham’ has been assigned to help with organising. We appreciate this but will be watching closely [we remember that Coyne who is as an appointed official back in 2008 ran against Derek Simpson on the right wing ticket for General Secretary finishing behind both Simpson and our own Jerry Hicks]. Has he now moved over to the left due to the ‘Rank and File’ tremendous actions in recent months?

Last Thursday a meeting was held in London with Unite officers and 6 Rank and File Committee members, a report will be given at the Birmingham meeting on the 4th February. Hopefully, Kevin Coyne will be there as well to give an update and answer any questions. We would love a big YES vote and a swift victory however the dispute may rumble on through February and past march if the BESNA 7 dig their heels in.

So we may have to change our tactics slightly this needs to be discussed at the Recalled’ National Rank and File meeting in Birmingham 4th Feb 1-4pm Carrs Lane Cantre, Carrs Lane. We do need to get a plan together for the actions to be taken the following week throughout the UK.

If anyone needs assistance with travel costs to Birmingham please let us know as soon as possible. Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com.

It’s already nasty and it’s going to get dirtier. We have been made aware that a Balfour Beatty boss was at a ‘Rank and File’ meeting in Scotland recently, we must be getting to them. Be wary of the bosses. It may be an idea to think of a pseudonym if you are asked for quotes or interviews at meetings or protests. Please be careful what you send out by email or text and facebook sites.

Actions planned so far this week that we know of:

Cardiff Wednesday 1st February 7am Llandough Hospital

Cardiff Wednesday 1st February 8am Balfours Office Rumney.

London Friday 3rd February 7am and 7pm day and night shift. Mass protest at Blackfriars BBES site

It may be worth targeting BBES sites in all areas on 3rd February? The day after ballot result we will leave that up to the various committees to decide. If we are in a strike situation let’s start how we mean to carry on....Taking the fight wherever the Rogue BESNA may be skulking and dancing!!......................

London 15th February marching from Victoria to ECA headquarters and then lobbying ECA ‘Dinner and Dance’ in the evening. Anyone fancy coming down to London contact your regional office for travel payments. Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

For more details of demos protests and meetings near you please visit.....

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

Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Spread the word ‘NO TO BESNA YES TO STRIKE ACTION’!

Grassroots Left Bulletin January 24th

2012-01-28T13:27:00.000-08:00

Become a member/supporter. Get involved: Be part of it:
We have recently opened a ‘Grashttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8871345729829674215#editor/target=post;postID=4949948695735676254sroots Left’ bank account and are asking for donations/Standing orders/Membership.

1] Unite NEC Election Vote for Lesley Mansell ‘LGBT’ seat x

Balloting begins 30th January forms must to be returned by 22nd February.

Challenges by Unite to Lesley being able to stand for one of the newly established NEC seats ‘LGBT’, which were in my view completely frivolous, have been knocked back. That means there will be 3 candidates, the other 2 may well be OK but Lesley is outstanding.

- She will be the only one that calls for the members to decide who represents them by the election of all officials. - She will be the only one who calls for a fundamental change in Unites relationship with the Labour Party, funding only those MPs or councils who support our policies.

One million members will be getting a ballot paper and the election address, so this is our opportunity to engage with members with our unique arguments.

You will know who to talk to: Please get the message out there ‘VOTE FOR LESLEY MANSELL’ X

2] Grassroots/Rank and File branch organisation

Join the communication list of organised branches email Jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk -The objective: To co-ordinate branches with common issues, to can act collectively instead of individually– We can do this immediately by adopting this resolution at your branch meeting for Policy conference. ‘We call upon Unite to immediately offer re-instatement to any employee or officer of the union when an industrial tribunal finds Unite guilty of unfair dismissal’.

3] Grass Roots Left NEC: Held in London on 21st January

The meeting went really well, thanks to all those who travelled to be there and make the debate both interesting and wide ranging, plus some fantastic reports of local GRL activities and campaigns. Email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk for a copy of the minutes available [when they are written up].

4] Simpson’s £’sss severance. It’s our money and we want it back.

No surprise but nonetheless still disappointing, we have had no response from Unite or the Trustees.So we plan the next step. Watch this space!

5] Rank and File ‘sparks’.

For the very latest, visit Electricians Against The world http://www.jibelectrician.blogspot.com/ or email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

6] UCATT General Secretary Election

Mick Dooley has lodged a complaint with the ‘Certification Officer’ re: being debarred from standing. We support in his challenge and will keep you updated.

Not in Unite? Come along or get in touch about meeting GRL supporters in your union or sector. Email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk Tel 07817827912 Twitter www.unitegrassrootsleft.wordpress.com @jerryhicksUnite www.grassrootsleft.org

Join the growing number of people who want to get the union/s back.
Be part of the Grassroots Left
Fighting for: Bottom up, member led, member controlled Unions.

Sparks week of protest at NGBailey sites

2012-01-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

Ballot papers gone out for BBES a yes vote is imperative for strike action to be able to begin on 9th February. This week coming is ‘NGB’ week where Rank and File sparks are hitting ‘NGB’ sites countrywide. It’s time to up our game. This is an important week of demonstrations and it is imperative that we make a huge impression on as many sites as we can.

That means this Wednesday 25th Jan in London we will target Kings Cross Station, platform 9/10 at 6.45am.

Manchester has chosen the Town Hall Wednesday 25th Jan.

Whilst in Scotland they have a number of protests planned for NG Bailey Week listed below.........

Monday 23rd Jan – Morrisons, Gallowgate, Glasgow at 7.30am then on to head office in Bellshill.

Tuesday 24th Jan – Gore Tex factory, Livingston at 7.15am.

Wednesday 25th Jan – Exhibition Centre, Edinburgh at 7.15am.

Friday 27th Jan – Aberdeen Royal Infirmary at 7.15am. Anyone want to travel to Aberdeen? Can you get in touch as soon as possible.

Saturday 28th Jan – Demo & Rally 10am Glasgow City Centre, John Smith House

Let’s have a huge turn out this week and show Baileys that we are not going away and show our support for the Bailey workers.

If you know of any ‘NGB’ site on your area please do your best to protest on the site, and hit it hard!

Unofficial action will also be needed to win this dispute and a total shutdown would be the answer.

We must prepare for this it’s a massive step because it will required if we are to give ourselves a greater a chance of winning. Also “If any stewards or workers are sacked during the coming weeks, a mass walkout must take place”.

25th January 6.30pm London Rank and File meeting in Conway Hall Holborn

The ‘recalled’ National Rank and File meeting in Birmingham 4th Feb 1-4pm Carrs Lane Cantre, Carrs Lane, is a very important meeting, we should have the ballot result plus first strike date by then, so we need to get a plan together the actions to be taken the following week throughout the UK. If anyone needs assistance with travel costs to Birmingham please let us know as soon as possible. Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

In a change at the top of Unite, Kevin Coyne a National Officer [appointed] has been drafted in to assist Bernard McAuley, which is badly needed. 4 National rank and File Committee members will be meeting with him [Kevin Coyne] and we will be able to discuss dispute and to make our feelings very clear, on Thursday 26th January at the Unite head office in London at 5.30pm. Let’s hope this is a change for the better.

Finally, on a different note ‘Blacklisted’ engineer and ex UCATT member, Dave Smith had his Industrial Tribunal last week against Carrillion for blacklisting him. Despite the revelations coming out in the tribunal about police involvement and Carrillion admitting that they did indeed ‘Blacklisted’ Dave, the case was lost! The Tribunal ruled that Dave was not an employee but that he had worked for various agencies, so much for justice!

We believe this case will now go to the Courts in Europe. Good luck Dave, keep up the fight brother and you can count on our support!

For more details of demos protests and meetings near you please visit.....

Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/
Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Spread the word ‘NO TO BESNA YES TO STRIKE ACTION’!

Our message to Unite ‘Get the ballot right this time’!

2012-01-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Unite has announced a new ballot timetable of BBES. Ballot papers should be going out in the coming days. The result should be known by 2nd February, then Unite by law [anti union] has to give 7 days notice before any strike action can begin, that would bring us up to 9th February.

We have no doubt that it will be a resounding YES vote again maybe with an even bigger majority than the last time. All being well [get it right eh!] we will be on strike this time with no challenges from Balfours. However, Unite will not be balloting NGB or SPIE Mathew. They say that we “have not enough members yet”. How can this be? What have the officials been doing for the last 6 months? Get your finger out and recruit!

Even so, on February 9th we should be seeing strike action at BBES. That being the case, we must hit every Balfour site in the country no matter how big or small, even if they have no workers directly employed, they love an agency do Balfours. Unite must give full backing to the ‘rank and file’ by providing us with buses to ferry pickets around, seeing as Unite has members who are bus drivers, we can’t go wrong!

A strike fund must be set up as well as supplying us with ‘flags’ ‘banners’ and ‘placards’. Every single construction officer should be on standby for picketing, get your donkey jackets out of the cupboard, even a few oil drums, and get the fires going, set up proper picket lines. United as one to defeat the BESNA 7!

If things kick off with BBES in February, no doubt other sites will support the BBES strike and walkout in solidarity with their brothers. We need to and can escalate the strike to a national stoppage.

Rank and File national meeting report

Last Saturday 14th there was a national ‘Rank and File’ meeting in Birmingham, with more than 80 in attendance, including sparks from Scotland, London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle. Gail Cartmail Unite AGS [appointed] gave an update on the dispute, the ballot, and plans for the future. A proposal was put to Cartmail by the meeting for: An ELECTED rank and File member to be taken on by Unite’ in every region as organisers for the dispute.

The aim would be for them to visit sites informing workers about the dispute, and recruiting as many new members as possible. There are some brilliant activists, ex shop stewards who are blacklisted and unemployed who we know would do a fantastic job for Unite. Cartmail agreed that she would put the proposal to the general secretary Len McCluskey.

The meeting of ‘rank and file’ also agreed to target NGB across the country week beginning 23rd January. They [NGB] have a sites in nearly every big City.

The biggest decision with the greatest potential effect was when the meeting agreed that “If any stewards or workers are sacked during the coming weeks, a mass walkout will take place".

The meeting concluded with a decision to meet again in Birmingham on 4th February, where we can plan around the strike action [pending the result].

Spread the word ‘NO TO BESNA YES TO STRIKE ACTION’!
Some planned demo’s/Protests to look out for:

18th January London 6.45am T Clarks, Park House, Oxford Street.

18th Wed January London 6.30pm Unite Construction Branch Meeting Conway Hall.

18th Wed January Cardiff 7.00am Spie Mathew Hall, Llandough Hospital.

21st Saturday January Cardiff 10.30 Rank & File meeting Unite HQ Cathedral Rd.

25th January London 6.45am NGB Cross Rail Kings Cross Station Platform 9/10.

* NATIONAL PROTESTS ON NGB SITES THAT WEEK DETAILS TO FOLLOW *

25th January London 6.30pm Rank and File Meeting Conway Hall Holborn.

2 Feb Wed January London 6.45am GRATTES Victoria.

We need to build up numbers on all the protests so spread the word, don’t sit in doors expecting others to fight the fight, we owe it to our class, our children and grandchildren.

The Rogue 7 are determined to get this BENSA through, we must be even more determined and resolute to force the contract where the sun don’t shine. And then sort out the whole JIB agreement by starting afresh. And perhaps getting a national rate across the country for all sparks no more ‘London weighting’ or ‘country rates’. How about £25 an hour as a starting point?
We should push for elected ‘Rank and File’ members to be part of a negotiating team and then a vote on a new deal.

No more sweetheart deals thank-you very much!
For more details of demos protests and meetings near you please visit:

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

Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Union leader slams Ed Miliband but who put him there in the first place?

2012-01-17T10:56:00.000-08:00

Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey has launched a stinging attack on the Labour leader Ed Miliband claiming that he {Miliband] is “leading Labour to destruction”. McCluskey lambasts the Labour leader for “failing to support millions of low paid trade unionists” and thereby “disenfranchising the party’s [Labour] core support”.

All this ire from a union leader so influential, and rightfully so, but McCluskey not once mentions that he supported Ed Miliband's leadership bid, he urged 1.3million members to vote for him and gave Ed Miliband £100,000 of members' money so he could campaign to become Labour leader.

Worse still, in my view, Unite and Len McCluskey ensured that John McDonnell would not get on the ballot paper, thus preventing members from having a real choice. Strange seeing as it is McDonnell not Miliband who has always mirrored Unite’s policies on repeal of anti union laws and has a record of unwavering support for workers in struggle.

At first glance of McCluskey‘s outpourings, one might think that Ed Milliband has suddenly and out of the blue made a dramatic rightwards shift in his position.

Does McCluskey not remember a year ago in April 2011 Milliband’s ‘Blue Labour’ hit the headlines. Then weeks later in June he failed to support ¼ million striking public sector workers, some of the poorest paid workers, for what he called ‘irresponsible strikes’, insulting all those prepared to fight.

A month later in July, he refused to speak at the Durham Miners Gala which is always attended by over 100,000 trade unionists and natural Labour voters.

By November last year the Labour leader surpassed himself even by his standards when not backing over one million trade unionists [Unite included] who were taking part in the biggest strike in recent history over cuts to their pensions.

McCluskey criticises aplenty and I agree with his comments, but he should have seen it coming, he has been slow to speak out, and he offers no alternative and no solution.

There is an alternative, and my position is clear and consistent. Unite should only fund the Labour Party when it supports our union's policies. I say to McCluskey “Stop wringing your hands, stop moaning and stop funding them!”

This should be the day we say “Defy the cuts, confront the anti union laws and follow the lead given by construction workers, by supporting demonstrations, walkouts and occupations.”

The bosses of the banks and financial institutions caused this crisis. That is why we should not pay the price in cuts to jobs, pay, pensions and services. The very rich and big business owe us the debt and they should be paying the price. They have failed to pay £120 billion in non-collected tax. Tax the banking bosses’ bonuses along with the profits of big business. End the foreign adventures; bring the troops and warplanes home.

In times of crisis good judgement is crucial. Oh Len [McCluskey], I can’t seem to stop myself humming the ‘Con’[nie] Francis song ‘Who's sorry now’?

Grassroots Left Bulletin January 2012 A Happy new year?!

2012-01-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

1] Grassroots Left National Conference
...was held in Birmingham on November 5th and was a great success. Debate, discussion and decisions including the election of a Chair [Jerry Hicks]: Secretary [Gerry Downing]: and a Treasurer [Ian Scott] and an NEC, all to serve for 12 months.

2] Unite NEC Election
...for the 2 additional NEC Equality seats. Grassroots Left supporter Lesley Mansell far exceeded the required number of nominations required to stand for the equality seat in the forthcoming NEC election. Outrageously, however, she has been informed that Unite are challenging her eligibility to stand. We are on to it and will contest the challenge. Lesley’s letter to branches, when seeking nomination struck a real chord with members. In my view, it is the principles and politics including the call for the election of all officials and for confronting anti union laws that has led to Unite seeking to debar Lesley from standing, to stop getting to our million plus members with that message.

3] Grassroots/Rank and File branch organisation
........I have sent a letter to all those branches that nominated [me] in the last General Secretary election, floating the idea of a Grassroots/rank and file branch organisation. All too often when a branch contacts the union they are completely ignored. So our objective is to co-ordinate branches with common issues, to act collectively instead of individually. I can say that I have already had an excellent response. Please let me know if you want to be involved. Jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

4] Reinstate Unite organiser ‘Kevin Robins’
.......We believe he has been unfairly dismissed, in fact victimised by Unite simply for doing what Unite officials should be doing – Standing up for workers. Kevin is a Grassroots Left supporter, a member of Unite and the GMB union, as many of Unite's employees are. However, throughout Kevin’s 12 month suspension and 7 months imposed “gardening leave" followed by his sacking, his requests for help and support as a Unite member were denied.

Our demand is that Unite should reinstate him immediately. Notwithstanding that, if Kevin is successful in what almost certainly will be a tribunal case against Unite, then the union should honour the tribunals’ decision and reinstate Kevin. Please raise this at your branch/workplace and write to Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey. We need to investigate why Unite is letting down members and attacking employees who want to improve the union.

Kevin can be contacted on (mob) 07952321675 or by his email ks.robins@virgin.net

5] Grass Roots Left NEC: Saturday January 21st 12pm to 4pm
Upstairs in the Cock Tavern, 23 Phoenix Road, London NW1 1HB - Everyone welcome [though only elected members can vote, should that arise].

6] Simpson’s £’sss severance. It’s our money and we want it back.
.........To give Unite one last chance to ‘do the right thing’ I have written to the Union’s Trustees setting out the case and method by which to pursue and retrieve £1/3 million of our money. If you would like a copy of the letter [6 pages] let me know jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

7] GRL leaflets ‘DIY’
........Many 'Grassroots Left supporters’ are raising their own leaflets on issues affecting them, e.g. in Birmingham, Northampton and most recently London GRL have raised leaflets around two separate bus disputes and also for the recent PCS Left Unity conference. Let me know if you would like me to email copies of the leaflets jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

8] Rank and File ‘sparks’ National meeting
..........14th January, Birmingham, 1pm-4pm, Carr's Lane Centre, Carr's Lane. Only 10mins walk from New Street Station. All welcome. For details of the dispute and dates for demos/protests take a look at Electricians Against The world http://www.jibelectrician.blogspot.com/ or email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

9] UCATT election for General Secretary
...took place without Mick Dooley as a candidate, who was disgracefully debarred from standing. He is challenging that decision; we offer him our support in his challenge and will keep you updated.

Finally, we have recently opened a ‘Grassroots Left’ bank account [Just waiting for the paperwork / account details] and will be asking for donations very soon.

See you on the next demo or at the GRL NEC January 21st
Be part of the Grassroots Left
Fighting for a bottom up, member led, member controlled opposition

We won’t sign away our livelihoods.

2012-01-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

No matter what pressure we are put under by the Rogue 7 we must not sign the BESNA contracts. BBES workers in Scotland have been returning the new contracts unopened to BB head office as have sparks at Spie Matthew Hall along with many others around the country.

On the 4th January ‘Rank and File’ committee members from London, Scotland, Wales, Newcastle, and Manchester met with Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey to discuss the dispute and to get the backing we deserve from Unite. At the meeting he promised full backing for our dispute including financial support, he also said that all construction officers would be committed to the dispute.

We told him that we have been badly let down by Full Time Officers (FTOs) in most cases and that new members were generally not impressed with Unite's part in this dispute. McCluskey said this would be addressed, but can we trust him? After all, the last General Secretary, Derek Simpson, promised lots of things and then ran off with over £500,000 of our money! Hopefully, McCluskey will be true to his word, time will tell and there ain’t much of that left!

A campaign strategy was put forward and a follow up meeting between the Rank & file and McCluskey was agreed for 3 weeks time. A rank & file ‘sub committee’ was elected by those present to ensure we hold McCluskey to account at the follow up meeting.

The coming weeks will be make or break for us, let’s get ready for mass walkouts countrywide. The dispute is on a knife edge and could go either way. It is winnable as long as sparks are prepared to take unofficial action if anyone is sacked for not signing new contracts. Then we will we see if McCluskey and Unite will give their full backing.

The Rogue 7 have been bullying workers into signing since Xmas whilst also offering promises of overtime and longer hours, but actually we need to shorten the working week to 35 hours just like the RMT have done and they are paid a far superior wage to construction workers. They had to fight for it and construction workers must do the same. One out, all out!

It’s ‘do or die’ for us and time to stand up and be counted.

Some planned demo’s/Protests to look out for:

January 11th London BBES Blackfriars at 6.45am.

January 11th Hartlepool power station at 6am.

January 11th Manchester NG Bailey Town hall at 6.30am.

January 11th Wales Landough Hospital at 7am.

January 13th Grangemouth BBES at 630am.

January 16th Aberdeen NG Bailey Royal infirmary at 6.30am.

January 14th 1pm to 4pm, National Rank and File meeting, Birmingham Carrs Lane Center, Carrs Lane. Only 10 minutes walk from New Street station.

Finally, if you need help with expenses to cover producing leaflets or hiring rooms for meetings etc then please contact us.For more details of demos protests and meetings near you please visit:

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

Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Some videos of the struggles we have faced. Enjoy and get angry, then let’s get even!

Halfway To Hell, The Workers And Unions That Built The Golden Gate Bridge

http://blip.tv/file/4807516

"Putting Down The Tools" BA Carpenters Wildcat 1999

http://blip.tv/file/3988334

LIUNA Local 166 Hodcarriers & Bricklayers Local 3 Members Picket DOL "Stop The Corruption Cover-up"

http://blip.tv/file/3293231

Rat Monday-SF Building Trades Protest Scab ABC Convention 1988

http://blip.tv/file/2733728

SF UBC Local 22 Carpenters Speak Out on Their Union "We Need Work In Our City"

http://blip.tv/file/1951902/

Fighting Wal-Martization

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8847190364285412428

UBC Local22 Members Fight Against Discrimination &The Firing Of Jim Salinas

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2990443557079354311

Hanging Iron, After The Quake of '89

http://blip.tv/file/2713121

Yes it’s a ‘New Year’ but we still have the ‘Same Fight’. And the ‘Rank and File’ hasn’t gone away!

2012-01-04T06:19:00.000-08:00

The methods of the BESNA 7 are outrageous and a disgrace. It is absolute utter blackmail, they [the BESNA 7] say “sign up to BESNA and face a drop in wages by £240 a week or you will be sacked". Unite officials wouldn’t allow it to happen to themselves so why are they so lacklustre in fighting for us?

Surely this has to be fought with every weapon that Unite has, it cannot go unchallenged?

Unite should be giving 110% backing their members at the coalface, not hiding behind pointless and frivolous tribunals, which, as we and Unite know, have no powers of re-instatement in the event of wrongful dismissal. This smoke screen in fact only means offering some form of false hope, whilst wasting member’s money again.

To give ourselves a chance of defeating BESNA, ‘Rank and File’ sparks and others have to respond by withdrawing our labour and downing tools. If we don’t, we are finished and the JIB agreement will be gone forever as other firms are sure to follow the rogue 7 [who have got all the big work]. Anyway you probably won’t get a job on the cards anywhere else. Agencies will drop the rates as well. Then other trades will have their wages slashed and NAECI will be next for the chop. Then it may spread into other industries like, engineering, railway maintenance, road works and factories. Would Unite respond any differently to those attacks to our member’s conditions in such circumstances?

We hope they would respond with strike action, instead of p*** balling about like they have done with us in the JIB. We stand at a cross roads, and there are only 2 directions to go. ‘The road to hell’ or ‘the road to victory’!

We face the biggest challenge to construction workers in our living history and the need to stand firm, solid and determined has never been greater. Unite must wake up soon and support their members in a meaningful way [strike action!]. Until they do, the ‘Rank and File’ must take on the BESNA 7. Our class and livelihoods need us more than ever!

Some dates to focus on are [If you have actions planned please let us know]:

January 4th, when the Rank and File committee [from across the regions] are meeting Unite GS Len McCluskey. Also on the 4th January 06.45am, there will be a protest in London at a Grattes site in Victoria Howick Place, behind House of Fraser Store. NGB site also close by.

January 4th Welsh sparks demonstrating at Spie Mathew Hall job in Cardiff.

January 9th looks the most likely date for the next ‘big day of action’ details to follow soon.

*January 14th* [to be confirmed] Birmingham, Rank and File meeting.

Reminder: Australian Electrical Trade Union [AETU] have invited 2 rank and File members to go to Australia in New Year to speak at site meetings. [They will pay for flights and accommodation] Any takers? Please let us know. French construction workers have made contact with us and are looking to participate with solidarity action where some of the BESNA 7 have contracts in France.

Finally, if you need help with expenses to cover producing leaflets or hiring rooms for meetings etc then please contact us. For more details of demos, protests and meetings near you please visit:

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

Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com

‘They came for us and we fought back’. Rank and File end of year round up

2011-12-18T10:46:00.000-08:00

What an incredible 4 months of rank and file activity we have had; it must be the best action of any group of workers in last 10 years, and its gone worldwide.

The fun and fightback began on 13th August in London at Conway Hall one hot summer's day when 500 sparks filled the hall to the rafters and the atmosphere was electric. The meeting discussed the issues that faced us and made its own decisions. A national committee was ELECTED by those present, no appointments or stitch ups that day.

From there, 2 of the newly ELECTED committee went to Leeds on 17th august for a Unite shop stewards meeting which was full of appointed UNELECTED unite officers, apart from 4 or 5 elected stewards and activists. We urged that a campaign be started immediately. Bernard ‘moving forward’ McAulay told us it would best to wait until January or February 2012 before we should start a campaign and get our army together. He was backed up by the appointed FTO’s.

Later that same evening, at the London construction branch, 250 sparks held the meeting in the street in the rain (the hall was too small). An army was easily formed and the 1st protest was voted on to take place the following Wednesday at Blackfriars.

Since then, every Wednesday we have protested in London at various sites for some 18 weeks at the last count. The action soon spread to other parts of the UK and Rank and File committees have been formed in Wales, Scotland, Manchester/Liverpool, Newcastle, London, and hopefully soon to be in Sheffield and Birmingham early in New year.

We have had loads of meetings and some brilliant protests with some great stuff on youtube. JIB electrician has a fantastic facebook/blog site all keeping each other in touch and organised against BESNA.

Unfortunately, Unite often failed to match up to the Rank and File, the worst being losing their bottle over the ballot challenge by BBES and despite getting a massive ‘YES vote’ for action. They are re-balloting. Disappointing as that is, it’s not a problem as Rank and File will take action anyway, as we’ve been doing since August and we aren’t going to stop now.

Protests continued this week in England, Scotland and Wales, and on Thursday night 50 protestors occupied network rail offices in London for an hour eventually moved out by pc plod.

On Saturday [Yesterday] in Scotland a number of sparks occupied the BBC asking ‘why the media blackout was going on’ Here's the link to the BBC occupation report.
http://union-news.co.uk/2011/12/update-sparks-occupy-bbc-building-protest-over-media-coverage/

In January, Scottish sparks are planning to return all new BBES contracts unopened to BB head office en masse. So what of the ACAS meeting last Thursday [15th December], where one of our top rank and file members was present with Unite officials? At the meeting, there was no backsliding by Unite, but to our horror Brian Boyd who up until recently was a Unite official and who left the union with £100,000, was representing the employers HVCA.

Unusual you might think? If only! Amicus and now Unite seems to be a great training ground for this sort of thing with some top turncoats in recent years: Frank Westerman, Jim Simms, Jim Thomas, Paul Corby, Les Bayliss [who left with £250,000 of members money]. They all swapped sides so no wonder so many of us are f**********g blacklisted! So, ex union officials get the top jobs and we are stopped from getting jobs!!!!

Meanwhile, back at the struggle. With nothing coming from ACAS it means that in the New Year its business as usual. Demo’s, protest picket lines and occupations must continue ‘one out all out’!

Some dates to focus on are:

21st December 6.30pm London construction branch meeting. Conway Hall, Holborn. With a well deserved pint or 2 after in the Dolphin pub after.

January 4th 2012, when the Rank and File committee [from across the regions] are meeting Unite GS Len Mcluskey.

January 4th 2012 at 06.45am, there will be a protest in London at a Grattes site in Victoria Howick Place, behind House of Fraser Store. NGB site also close by.

January 6th 2012, when we should have the re- ballot result for BBES [NGB Spie Matthew Hall being balloted next].

January 9th 2012 looks the most likely date for the next ‘big day of action’. Details to follow soon.

Going Global!
We said our dispute has gone worldwide but even so we were amazed to be contacted by Australian Electrical Trade Union [AETU]. A few weeks ago, one of their officials happened to be in England and spoke at the London Rank and File meeting [3rd Dec].

They have now agreed to donate a large sum to our fighting fund and they have also invited 2 Rank and File members to go to Australia in New Year to speak at site meetings. [They will pay for flights and accommodation]/ Any takers? Please let us know. A massive thanks to them for their generosity and offer to support us where possible.

We also have had donations in recent weeks from groups and individuals across the UK. Thank you all very much. We have a bank account and a treasurer ensuring that donations go towards the cost of hiring Halls, producing siteworker magazine, for the travel expenses helping to get Rank and File members to meetings far and wide, postage costs and leaflets are paid out from the fund. So if you need help with expenses please contact us.

There are some ‘thank you’s’ to be dished out, you have all made a difference: the workers in construction, sparks ,plumbers pipe fitters welders, brickys, carpenters, painters, SWP, SP, Socialist Appeal, Counterfire, Morning star, Newsline, Reel News, Occupy movement, Trades Councils. Many other trade unions, countless trade union members, Justice for Pickets, JIB facebook, MP’s John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn. And not forgetting Unite the union. Hope we’ve not missed anyone, if we have, sorry.

An important Statement by the Rank and File

At the ACAS meeting on 15th December, the employers’ team included 2 individuals representing HVCA that we believe are completely unacceptable [and a deliberate pi** take].

One was Brian Boyd now employed by HVCA and pushing through BESNA. He is a former Unite/Amicus senior full time officer with responsibilities in the construction sector and for British Airways, his pockets are full of our money and he has a knowledge of thousands of Unite members. We should definitely not be sitting down with him.

The other is Stephen Quant. He used to work for Skanska, who were the biggest subscriber to Ian Kerr’s Blacklisting organisation. He may have been Ian Kerr’s right hand man at some point.

Never mind talking about BESNA, why are Unite sitting in the same building as Boyd and Quant, its a disgrace? We demand that Unite has no further talks with HVCA if these 2 wretches are present.

For details of demos protests and meetings near you please visit...............

Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/
Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com let us know of any planned protests in you have in the coming weeks

Lastly, we wish you all the best for xmas and New Year see you all soon.

Keep on keeping on and long live the rank and file.

The workers united will never be defeated!!

The biggest unofficial strike action in decades

2011-12-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

7th December was supposed to be the 1st day of action in the electricians dispute following the magnificent ballot result of 81% in favour of industrial action at Balfour Beatty [BBES].

Shamefully, Unite the union capitulated and have decided to re-ballot after the threat of an injunction by BBES. It was claimed by BBES that 25 office workers (Unite members) were not balloted. This small number wouldn't have made any difference to the result. The result of the new ballot will not now be known until 6th January.

But it's not only the Arab Spring that knows how to use facebook, twitter and text messaging. The rank n file rose to the occasion on 7th December. It was the biggest nationally coordinated unofficial strike seen in any industry for many years. Thousands of workers were involved. There were protests and picketlines at a number of BB sites in Scotland, Grangemouth, Glasgow, Wales, Cardiff, Humberside, Manchester, Liverpool and London, where there were running battles with the police.

A 500 strong picket was put on at Blackfriars, where Bob Crow spoke as well as many others from trade union reps to John McDonnel MP and members of Unite EC. A protest was also held at BBES HQ and a protest at Grattes site, both in Victoria, at which some bright spark set off fire alarms stopping production for 2 hours as the workers refused to go back in through our spontaneous picket-line. A meeting held outside with site workers gave them the arguments to join us in the dispute so maybe they will next time.

Meanwhile in Scotland, at Camblasang fire station site offices were occupied and a protest took place at BBES HQ Grangemouth. Also steeping up to the plate, sparks and supporters were out in force support in Liverpool, Teeside, Hull, Cardiff who all had protests and pickets on large sites.

Manchester protested outside the town hall and protestors got into the Labour council meeting, demanding that Laing O'Rourke and NG Bailey are removed from the projects as they are blacklisters. Labour MPs have agreed to meet ‘Rank and File committee’ members to discuss this soon.

The whole day was a brilliant success and was rounded off with a picket on Blackfriars nightshift where no sparks worked there at all that day and there was support from scaffolders and cable pullers who refused to cross the picket lines. This all shows the enormous power and potential of the ‘Rank and File’ when they pull together. This dispute may go on for many months yet as the rogue 7 dig their heels in.

We must continue the weekly protests, maintain the numbers and push Unite to make it an official strike in construction in the New Year, though whatever happens the ‘Rank and File’ have transformed the construction sector of Unite in the last 4 months.

We should use our rank n file power and get involved in the official union machinery, putting motions through our branches to make it union policy. Get elected onto sector committees and JIB bodies and so on. Not to do this would be a mistake.

We must continue to fight the blacklist and expose any union collusion that Unite would like to brush this under the carpet. There are 100s of blacklisted sparks, experienced stewards who cannot get work in construction. Unite should challenge employers who are still blacklisting, with site workers demanding these workers to get onto sites.

We mustn't give a penny of our wages to the bosses. We have lost enough over the last 10 years and enough is enough. No cuts, no changes to JIB agreement and no sell outs!

The NAIECI agreement is also under attack, This is another area to be organised by the ‘Rank and File’ as JIB workers can assist each other. Make no mistake if the sparks and pipefitters agreements are smashed other trades will be targeted next.

‘Rank and file’ committees are springing up all over the country, which is great. Meetings are being held weekly, Cardiff last Saturday, Liverpool met last Thursday and Scotland had theirs yesterday, and many more besides; keeping the pressure on the officials.

Members are making it clear they are disgusted at Unite's decision to re-ballot and the ACAS saga. Bernard McAulay has announced that Unite are to hold talks with ACAS over BESNA on 15th December. What’s that all about? It’s not like we’ve been on strike for months [or at all!]. Hope there’s no deals done behind the members backs. “Bernard, there’s nothing to talk about”! Typical of Unite, it makes you wonder if they are planning a compromise and come up with “we got you £14 across the board”!

Come on [Bernard] McAuley, listen to your members, liven up and call a construction wide strike for the New Year. Close every site. You’ve said it at various meetings, “walkouts are the only way to win this dispute”. Well put your money where your mouth is, ‘moving forward’ as you like to keep saying. So ‘One out, all out’! And NO SELL OUT!!

In a further development, Len Mcluskey has agreed to meet the ‘cancerous’ [Quote, Bernard McAuley] Rank and File national committee in Holborn on 4th January. This is an opportunity to put our views to the General secretary. We will be looking to take people from across the regions to this meeting.

Any protests demos planned for next week please let us know. A Merry Xmas to all from Siteworker. United we stand, divided we fall !

Stand firm: Educate: Agitate: Organise: Victory to construction workers!

Thanks to all the different political groups involved and Unite members, and other trade unionists and MPs for your support.

PLEASE DONATE TO OUR FIGHTING FUND CHEQUES PAYABLE TO:

JOINT SITES COMMITTEE
70 DARNAY RISE
CHELMSFORD
ESSEX
CM1 4XA

Many thanks and gratitude for kind donations received so far.

Follow us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/264935423529258/To contact the Rank n File Committee: siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Ballot what ballot? Walk-outs: Protests: & Demos: Can’t wait – won’t wait.

2011-12-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

Sparks are doing it for themselves!

Anti trade union laws brought in by the Tories under Thatcher and left unchanged by Labour under Blair and Brown, were never fought by the TUC and Union leaders. It meant that workers were criminalized for doing what was right, that is fighting for pay, pensions and jobs.

So what can be done, eh? Rank and file action, that’s what.

Today [7th Dec], the biggest most widespread unofficial action in decades has seen 1000s of Balfour Beatty electricians [and others from the rogue 7 companies] taking part in walk-outs, protests, demos, and occupations across England, Scotland and Wales. From Cardiff to London, from Glasgow to Liverpool to Hartlepool and many more besides.

No to BESNA: No to ACAS: No to cuts in pay and conditions.

Defend the JIB and then improve it.

And I say: Let’s have elections for all union officials where the members decide who represents them and we can hold them to account! Let’s end the appointed jobs for life! Let’s have a Unite General Secretary on an average wage not a six figure salary!

Let’s get the Union back where it belongs, with the grass roots, rank and file members!!!

Victory to the sparks!!!!

In solidarity, and with kind regards,

Jerry Hicks.

Unite the union add one of their Organisers to the Governments 2.62 million unemployment figures.

2011-12-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

Kevin Robins, a ‘Unite’ Union Organiser in the Southwest of England has been sacked, after a long period of victimization, after he raised an internal complaint about the level of service offered to Unite members in his region.

He was initially suspended [January 2010] for one year on "made up" allegations, and then kept on "garden leave" for a further 7 months before his dismissal.

My knowledge of Kevin Robbins.
During the election period for General Secretary (2010) in which I was a candidate, Unite members from a Cornish based factory contacted three of the four GS candidates, Les Baylis, Len McCluskey and myself. They wanted to discuss the level of service and the attitude of some regional officials. Regrettably, it was only myself who replied.

These factory workers arranged a meeting which I attended as did a large number of the workers. They gave a damning account of the region's attitude toward them.

However, they heaped praise on one of the Union organizers who had continually stood up for them and who had repeatedly raised concerns on their behalf, that organizer was Kevin Robins.

In my view, if Kevin chooses to go to Industrial Tribunal he will win a claim for unfair dismissal. I call upon Unite to avert that by reinstating Kevin Robins.

Please consider lending your support by sending an email to Len McCluskey len.mccluskey@unitetheunion.org demanding reinstatement and calling for an URGENT Independent investigation into the events that lead to Kevin Robins dismissal.

Yours in solidarity,

Jerry Hicks.

Well there’s a surprise, they threaten and we back off! ‘What a load of old Ballots’

2011-12-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

We got the ballot result 81.6% in favour of strike action on BBES magnificent! Then, shamefully, Unite bottled it and decided to re-ballot when they were ‘threatened’ with an injunction. The new result won’t be announced until 6th January 2012.

It was said not all BBES workers were balloted. The figure was believed to be 100 or so. Even if these people vote, it wouldn’t have changed the result. There was also talk of going to ACAS - we ain’t even had a strike yet for f*******k sake!

The Rank and File have told Unite what they think of that by carrying on regardless and called for a day of action on all BBES sites Wednesday 7th December. In Glasgow yesterday, Rank and File sparks invaded an NG Bailey site, nice one!!

Also in Scotland at a Rank and File meeting, it was agreed following a vote to walk out on 5 BBES sites. At the London Rank and File meeting on Saturday £311.17 was collected for siteworker and it was agreed to have mass protest at Blackfriars, Wednesday 7th December, so spread the word and do your stuff lads.

Some stuff that we know of ‘action and meetings’:

Hartlepool: Monday the 5th December 7 pm planning meeting in the Bell Vue Club to discuss national walkout of BBES sites.

Hartlepool: Wed 7th Dec 6:30 am Heerema, Vic Dock, Northgate. Followed by a march to Greenland Road entrance.

Liverpool: Wed 7th Dec 6.30am Demo at St Cath’s Hospital Laurel Road CH42 0JA

Liverpool: Thurs 8th Dec 7.30pm Rank and File meeting, Friends Meeting House.

It’s time for action and time we did what the TUC advocated, ‘Civil disobedience’, before our agreement gets torn up in front of our very eyes.

We cannot let this happen. It’s not on! We are calling on other unions to help in our struggle as well as occupy movement and students - anyone fancy getting up a tower crane or chaining themselves to site gates?

The fight goes on. It seems the only way to win this dispute is mass walkouts with solidarity action across the UK. I guess we all knew that anyway!

For details of demos protests and meeting 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

Con-Grattes brothers. There’s someone in the foyer to see you!

2011-11-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

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!

Everyone deserves a decent pension. Support the fight for one.

2011-11-28T10:31:00.000-08:00

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.

The gloves are well and truly off and the chips are down. It’s up to us now!

2011-11-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

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.

Some pensioners are better off than others. And some of us want to do something about it!

2011-11-21T04:26:00.000-08:00

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

Unite NEC election for LGBT seat: Nominate Lesley Mansell

2011-11-19T15:37:00.000-08:00

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 :

SUPPORT LESLEY MANSELL : SEE HER LETTER SEEKING NOMINATION BELOW :

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

Cops versus demos: A game of two halves with Cabbies scoring the winner in extra time!

2011-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

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.

London Calling on 9 November

2011-11-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

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

What to expect and what to do on Wednesday 9th November

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

What for? What’s that about eh?

We say this dispute will be won by stopping production on the big jobs - not by appealing to the good nature of politicians. If we have got thousands of angry sparks in the middle of The City on 9th November, we should do more than just listen to speeches - we should physically close down the sites - The Pinnacle - The Shard - Blackfriars Station - Crossrail. This dispute has been led by the rank and file from the beginning - and we willl run it on the 9th November as well.

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/

Well they say 'everything comes to those who wait'...

2011-10-30T03:56:00.000-07:00

BBES Unite members' 'Strike Ballot' timetable details...

November 7th: Letter from Unite to BBES informing them of the ballot.

November 14th: All BBES ‘Unite members’ should receive ballot papers.

November 28th & 29th: Ballot papers should have been returned and counted

November 30th: Notice to BBES of proposed action.

December 7th: First day of action [New contract day... But don't sign].

Look out for the ballot paper VOTE YES FOR STRIKE ACTION and send it back.

If you know anyone not in the union, sign them up.

This is good news but irrespective of the ballot: The rank and file must pile on the pressure. Organise: Occupy: Shut sites: Take the fight to infamous 7.

“Come rain, come shine, never cross a protest picket line”.

Round up of what went on, and what went off, and where it happened...

Last week saw protests in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Govan and London

In Manchester at the Balfour Beatty Carrington Paper Mill site at least 5 van loads of workers and many deliveries refused to cross the ‘protest picket lines’

In Newcastle around 60 sparks started their demonstration well before dawn at the Ashington School. The site is Kier and Balfours is the electrical contractor. The shite [sorry about the spelling mistake] manager was very unhappy at us demonstrating, complaining that we were causing a traffic jam on the main road outside the site. One nil to the sparks.

We stayed our ground putting our case to workers, with 20 electricians walking from the site to join our protest picket. Two nil to the sparks.

Then to our surprise some senior national mangers of Kier and Balfours arrived, who were stopped by the ‘protest picket’ then forced to drive through a very noisy [un]friendly demonstration. Three nil to the sparks.
This was a great result, but we all know there is a long way to go.

In London sparks protested outside Balfour Beatty Blackfriars Station before blocking roads through the centre of the City. Then it was on to Cannon Street and invading the Gratte Brothers site, where they unfurled a banner proclaiming "ALL POWER TO THE SPARKS".

When it was pointed out to the Site Agent that pay rates were being cut from £16 to £10 an hour, he replied "I'd put the scumbags on £1 an hour if it was up to me." So guess where the demo's going to be next Wednesday at 7am?

Police have informed the union that if the London action continues, they will issue Section 14 Notices under the Public Order Act - which would effectively make any gathering illegal and allow for pickets to be arrested if they continued to protest after the Notice has been served. Coming soon 'Match of the day live' Section 14 Versus 'Civil disobedience'.

Protests and events coming up next week that we know about:

Wednesday, November 2nd

Manchester 06.30am Carrington Paper Mill.

London: 06.45am Cannon Street Grattes.

Newcastle: ring 07711080607 for details.

London, Monday October 31st from 7pm -
Solidarity meeting called to help organise fliering of sites for the 9th. Upstairs in the Cock Tavern, 23 Phoenix Road, Euston NW1 1HB.

London, Tuesday November 8th at 7pm -
Unite organised meeting for Agency sparks Friends Meeting House, Euston. Speakers inc Rank & File Committee Member.

Unite's day of action November 9th call local offices for transport details. If you have any trouble then email bernard.mcaulay@unitetheunion.org

ALL OUT IN LONDON NOVEMBER 9th : Construction Industry National Day of Action. See R&F leaflet HERE

11.30 Protest at ‘The Shard’. Then march to Blackfriars and on to Westminster. We may well pull off something a bit special before the demo? Will keep you posted.

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

Siteworker blog (under construction) www.siteworker.wordpress.com
Electricians Against The World www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/

Sparks and Occupy LSX shut down Balfour Beatty site

2011-10-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

'The only action the employers understand'

2011-10-17T10:19:00.001-07:00

Sparks bring work to a halt in Newcastle

2011-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:00