Hundreds of workers protest against Italians/Foreigners 'taking jobs'...
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Jeff Robinson
Marxist-Lentilist: Jackboots and Jackfruit
Slandering militant workers is part of a long tradition at the Bosses Broadcasting Corporation - going right back to the General Strike of 1926 when they broadcasted and supported Stanley Baldwin whilst giving no voice to the striking workers. Don't get me wrong, they have some great shows and are far better than any of the private broadcasters but when it comes to class struggle the veneer of neutrality and objectivity disappears faster than you could say Orgreave.
dennisr
the acceptable face
Yep absolutely, and to think how desperately 'neutral' they claimed they needed to be sen as - the excuse for refusing to air the Gaza humanitarian charity appeal
tangentlama
Nameless voices crying
They don't get the local regiment to shoot strikers anymore - the agencies just replace the workers (now I hear Hungarian workers are being brought in to replace Vange and Motherwell strikers who are being sacked for striking?).
dennisr
the acceptable face
yep, theres a wee report here on whats happening:
Motherwell Bridge bosses declare war on striking workers
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/6906
A wee flavour:
At this point the picketers marched to the Jobs Centre in Newark town. In a bizarre twist the 250 jobs on site are advertised in the office windows! A local journalist then asked workers to pose for a picture in front of the Job Centre window with the Union Jack. A Socialist Party supporter objected to this saying the Union Jack was not the flag of the picketers and instead that a UNITE banner should be used. This lead to some discussion between workers so in the end a picture was be taken with workers holding a copy of the Socialist!
....
It is now becoming clear that the Lindsey strike was only the opening clash in an ongoing and serious battle between workers and bosses in the construction industry. United action won the first round for the workers but in the absence of a general offensive across the industry against the use of non union migrant labour to undermine wages and conditions, this victory will only be temporary.
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
'I ties' is short for Italians. It is quite an old expression and not necessarily meant to be derogatory although often is.
dennisr
the acceptable face
Analysis - What now then?
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/6881
Lindsey oil refinery strike - Workers score important victory
Socialist Party industrial organiser Bill Mullins writes on the deal done between the Lindsey oil refinery strike committee and the Total oil company, the refinery owners.
extract:
"In a major breakthrough, part of the deal allows for the shop stewards to check that the jobs filled by the Italian and Portuguese workers are on the same conditions as the local workers covered by the NAECI agreement. The Lindsey oil refinery is what is known as a 'blue book' site and all workers on it should be covered by the NAECI agreement.
This means in practice that the union-organised workers will be working alongside the IREM-employed Italian workers and will be able to "audit" whether or not this is the case.
This was a fundamental demand of the strikers when they adopted a central list of demands at the mass meetings: "All workers in UK to be covered by NAECI Agreement and all immigrant labour to be unionised".
...
"What the Lindsey strikers were demanding quite correctly is a form of pre-entry closed shop. That means that if the contractors on site need more labour then they have to go to the union for this labour from its unemployed register. In other words you have to be in the union to be on the register.
The alternative to trade union control over 'hire and fire' is the bosses having that right to hire and fire instead - and who will they give jobs to? Not the trade union activists. As is too often the case, a bosses' black-list is widely used in the construction industry. The fight for this demand to be put into practice will be part of the ongoing struggle between the workers and the bosses. This is a struggle over who controls the workplace and, therefore, in whose interests the workplace is run.
To their shame, some on the left were completely taken in by the headlines in the capitalist press which highlighted the "British jobs for British workers" element of this struggle. What they did not realise, or refused to face up to, was that the whole previous period has led to this battle. If this had developed a year ago then it is likely that it would not have happened as it did. What was new in the equation was the rapid onset of mass unemployment, threatening every worker in Britain and across much of the globe.
And under this article one on the role played by the SP - contrary to the way some posters have tried to present it here
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/6881
Lindsey oil refinery strike - Workers score important victory
Socialist Party industrial organiser Bill Mullins writes on the deal done between the Lindsey oil refinery strike committee and the Total oil company, the refinery owners.
extract:
"In a major breakthrough, part of the deal allows for the shop stewards to check that the jobs filled by the Italian and Portuguese workers are on the same conditions as the local workers covered by the NAECI agreement. The Lindsey oil refinery is what is known as a 'blue book' site and all workers on it should be covered by the NAECI agreement.
This means in practice that the union-organised workers will be working alongside the IREM-employed Italian workers and will be able to "audit" whether or not this is the case.
This was a fundamental demand of the strikers when they adopted a central list of demands at the mass meetings: "All workers in UK to be covered by NAECI Agreement and all immigrant labour to be unionised".
...
"What the Lindsey strikers were demanding quite correctly is a form of pre-entry closed shop. That means that if the contractors on site need more labour then they have to go to the union for this labour from its unemployed register. In other words you have to be in the union to be on the register.
The alternative to trade union control over 'hire and fire' is the bosses having that right to hire and fire instead - and who will they give jobs to? Not the trade union activists. As is too often the case, a bosses' black-list is widely used in the construction industry. The fight for this demand to be put into practice will be part of the ongoing struggle between the workers and the bosses. This is a struggle over who controls the workplace and, therefore, in whose interests the workplace is run.
To their shame, some on the left were completely taken in by the headlines in the capitalist press which highlighted the "British jobs for British workers" element of this struggle. What they did not realise, or refused to face up to, was that the whole previous period has led to this battle. If this had developed a year ago then it is likely that it would not have happened as it did. What was new in the equation was the rapid onset of mass unemployment, threatening every worker in Britain and across much of the globe.
And under this article one on the role played by the SP - contrary to the way some posters have tried to present it here
free spirit
more tea vicar?
I just got forwarded that (seems the email list worked out), don't seem to have had one myself though
OFCOM?
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
Indeed. But more to the point its use is being seized upon as the excuse for deliberate distortion and misrepresentation.
This is what comes of middle class liberals doing 'anti-discriminatory behaviour' workshops, and thinking that 'racism' consists of using the wrong terms. Whereas stitching up workers is fine.
newbie
undisambiguated
isd there any real evidence that a pre-entry closed shop of that form is in the interests of the working class as a whole? It clearly shifts power and influence into the hands of the trades union officials and the cadres who jockey for position and influence within the unions, so it's good for them. It may even benefit those fortunate enough to have the skills or contacts necessary to become members. But for the rest- those, the majority, on the outside rather than the inside- what's the benefit?
dennisr
the acceptable face
its a concrete step forward for a group of concious unionised workers in what is a concrete situation - not some abstract demand for the entire working class mate.
For that majority - those on the outside - all they can gain is the lesson learnt (+plus they can join the union if they are workers in that trade of course) - something like: "if we are to defend OUR jobs in this climate against our bosses who are doing the exact same thing as those bosses - then that Lindsey lots approach is the way to do it - its puts a stop to the bosses plans to undercut wages and conditions using cheap labour - puts us back in some control over our working conditions - if we fight for it that is"
trade union officials are elected, so can be held accountable, bosses arn't
did you read the rest of the article linked to newbie? what do you think?
newbie
undisambiguated
bit long
the demand for closed shops is really the only part I struggle with. It might be a personal thing- I grew up on an estate where the homes were tied to the factory, and the factory was a closed shop. My parents hated that, which has inevitably coloured my view. Then I worked for a while in pre-entry closed shops as I watched the 70s develop into the 80s, and I didn't much like what I saw.
TU officials may be elected but it's idle to believe that's necessarily a process of pure democracy, and after election there can be an awful lot of concentrated power, as well as some rather murky power-behind-the-throne manoeuvrings.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not deadset against closed shops- fundamentally I'm for workers organising however they want- but as a general political direction I'm not convinced it does any more than favour the interests of the few over those of the many.
dennisr
the acceptable face
Yep, I can see where you are coming from. I've worked in the print trade for (well...) far too long and there is still older union members you meet who talk up stories about the 'good old days' in fleet street on the national papers - when the pecs meant quite a bit extra was squeezed out of the employers when was strictly necessary. I did wonder though, would I have ever have got into the trade if those folk still had the say-so? Having said that - I could have gone through a proper apprenticeship with proper job prospects at the end of it as a result of going through the union. More than that I would not be working the way I do now - self-employed - which means no pension, no holiday, no sick pay and no pay when you are not needed, wages cut because you are in competition with everybody else to an extent. So which is better for me as someone in the trade?
I think you have to compare the interests of those workers at Lindsey to the interests of the bosses who had tried to replace them though. They are now in a much better position to retain previously agreed deals on wages and conditions + ensure its not being undercut by cheap labour. They are therefore also improving the position the Italian workers on the site face as well.
Jeff Robinson
Marxist-Lentilist: Jackboots and Jackfruit
dennisr
the acceptable face
appropriate pic of Simpson the sleazy bureaucrat
newbie
undisambiguated
If only I knew... I'm also self employed and I'm currently watching some of the people I work for go bankrupt... I still have some work while their permies are going to sign on. Other people have reasonably secure jobs and pay/conditions. Who knows who is better placed?
Thing is we're not in the old days any more, where your father could get you an apprenticeship and a union ticket and a trade, possibly even a job, which would last for life. Where most people worked in big workplaces for large employers and had clear common interests. These days there are myriad ways of short-term contracting, a huge sector of tiny workplaces and little certainty that skills (or whole trades) won't be obsolete before the end of the week. It's not so clear what's in the common interest any more.
Personally I can't see demands for closed shops to maintain pay & conditions resonating outside of some particular workplaces.
dennisr
the acceptable face
As the Lindsey shop steward said:
"Trade union jobs, pay and conditions for all workers" should be the slogan. And how about "Stop the race to the Bottom"
Can't see the press taking that one up though
dennisr
the acceptable face
Yep, I've seen a bit of that. Weirdly I am in a position of doing really well at the moment! ( *touches wood* ) admitedly only by doing a 10-12 hour day - but I'm the exception rather than the rule.
Having said that my dad's a self-employed builder - he is looking at bankruptcy and loosing his house so I'm trying to bail him out at the mo. Most of my family are builders (or related trades that depend on the work) and, outside of london, the work's just evaporated.
I can fully understand folk doing their best to secure their jobs - the alternative's not good
Noticed the reactionaries who went on strike yesterday at Staythorpe power station, based on racist lies about foreigners taking "their" jobs or undercut "their" wages (both proven lies, and you know it) were still carrying their Union Jacks, all "ironically" of course
When exactly will fools keep on defending these people? You are making the left look a laughing stock, as well as putting the cause of Socialist Unity back ears. Do you really think people will have anything to do with those who support these strikes in the forseeable future
When exactly will fools keep on defending these people? You are making the left look a laughing stock, as well as putting the cause of Socialist Unity back ears. Do you really think people will have anything to do with those who support these strikes in the forseeable future
glenquagmire
Rightwing NuLab apologist
people?
which people?
which people?
tangentlama
Nameless voices crying
Aren't they unemployed, those striking at Staythorpe?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
They are now.
dennisr
the acceptable face
Statistics for dennisr - average posting1.81 posts a day - I think i can manage that and a day job, especially given the computer sitting in front of me all day
dennisr
the acceptable face
Yep, there still was a couple of union jacks - well they must all be card carrying fash then mustn't they?? - them and the Sri Lankan demonstrators carrying the same union jacks on their demo??? - nazi stormtrooper material the lot of them.
Wake up you idiot
What newspaper did you read about these events in? Read the links posted to if you want some facts as opposed to your pre-conceived fantasies. But you made you mind up right at the beginning, condemning the workers involved, and can't back down now can you? Dshonestly you feel the need to keep misrepresenting those workers. Its all online - you made your presumptions clear.
Misrepresenting workers, lining up with the likes of Mandelson against trade unionists - while talking the talk about "Socialist Unity" - you wouldn't have a clue - keep digging. I spent well over 20 years 'fighting fascism' there was always a layer of posturers - and thats what you smell badly of so go fuck yourself Jimmy.
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