Wembley wildcat action
- Thread starter our-streets
- Start date
handy1
A certain Man U fan ; )
There are several issues behind this problem,most are being misrepresented in the press. No surprise there then.
I am one of the workers on the protest at Wembley,after being sacked last Friday.
The firm we worked for,Cleveland Bridge U.K. lost the contract to erect the remaining steelwork on the stadium,i don't know why.
The incoming firm,Hollandia and its sub-contractor Fasttrack site services took over the work force supposedley under the same terms and conditions,but then reneged on the site and national agreements.
We work under the last in first out (L.I.F.O.) policy to avoid victimisation.
Fasttrack insisted this was not their policy and refused to honour it,at the same time upping the working hours to include COMPULSARY weekends and hinting that any bad time keepers would be the first to go, thus forcing men into not seeing their family's for anything up to five weeks at a time.
So now 240 men are unemployed standing on a picket line,incuring London living expenses and not quite sure where it will end.
All of the above,has,in our opinions,been manipulated by Multiplex, the main contractor,to cover up the absolute bollocks they are making of the job.
I have been in the industry for 20 years,been on some of the biggest contracts in the country and have never seen such a badly run job,with men unable to do their jobs due to abysmal management,they will now try to blame us for the stadium coming in late.
Don't you dare believe it,and forget the cost of 750 million,this will rocket.
Thanks all for reading this.
H
I am one of the workers on the protest at Wembley,after being sacked last Friday.
The firm we worked for,Cleveland Bridge U.K. lost the contract to erect the remaining steelwork on the stadium,i don't know why.
The incoming firm,Hollandia and its sub-contractor Fasttrack site services took over the work force supposedley under the same terms and conditions,but then reneged on the site and national agreements.
We work under the last in first out (L.I.F.O.) policy to avoid victimisation.
Fasttrack insisted this was not their policy and refused to honour it,at the same time upping the working hours to include COMPULSARY weekends and hinting that any bad time keepers would be the first to go, thus forcing men into not seeing their family's for anything up to five weeks at a time.
So now 240 men are unemployed standing on a picket line,incuring London living expenses and not quite sure where it will end.
All of the above,has,in our opinions,been manipulated by Multiplex, the main contractor,to cover up the absolute bollocks they are making of the job.
I have been in the industry for 20 years,been on some of the biggest contracts in the country and have never seen such a badly run job,with men unable to do their jobs due to abysmal management,they will now try to blame us for the stadium coming in late.
Don't you dare believe it,and forget the cost of 750 million,this will rocket.
Thanks all for reading this.
H
handy1
A certain Man U fan ; )
belboid said:
I know you are right mate,the problem is being able to stay on the picket line long enough to get our jobs back.
We do earn decent wages but our out of pocket expenses are very high,so savings are not always possible,especially for guys like me with nippers.
One thing is for sure though,we'll get through,we always do eh?
H
our-streets
not talking about burgers
Good luck to you mate!
handy1
A certain Man U fan ; )
Cheer O.S. it means a lot
The latest news is the G.M.B.who have been brilliant have managed to have talks with Hollandia,and have requested the following:-
Immediate reinstatement of all workers with no loss of pay.
Reinstatement of the original terms and conditions.
A scheme which will benefit both sides whereby any man who does not feel comfortable with returning to work for the company could receive a step-aside payment.
If these requeste are agreed the unfair dismissal claim will be dropped as will the T.U.P.E. claim.
It could also transpire that under these extraordinary cicumstances a postal ballot to make the picket line official,may not be required,very rare given the Draconian anti-union legislation Thatcher plunged us under and Thatcher 11 refuses to undo.
The union who supposedly represent me,Amicus, have been about as valuable as a tripe supper.The G.M.B. have been fantastic and will find they have fresh recruits when this is over.
All the above,i have heard of second hand as i am back home in Manchester at the moment,but i believe them to be true.
Thanks again all for your time.
H
The latest news is the G.M.B.who have been brilliant have managed to have talks with Hollandia,and have requested the following:-
Immediate reinstatement of all workers with no loss of pay.
Reinstatement of the original terms and conditions.
A scheme which will benefit both sides whereby any man who does not feel comfortable with returning to work for the company could receive a step-aside payment.
If these requeste are agreed the unfair dismissal claim will be dropped as will the T.U.P.E. claim.
It could also transpire that under these extraordinary cicumstances a postal ballot to make the picket line official,may not be required,very rare given the Draconian anti-union legislation Thatcher plunged us under and Thatcher 11 refuses to undo.
The union who supposedly represent me,Amicus, have been about as valuable as a tripe supper.The G.M.B. have been fantastic and will find they have fresh recruits when this is over.
All the above,i have heard of second hand as i am back home in Manchester at the moment,but i believe them to be true.
Thanks again all for your time.
H
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Best of luck handy
Word being spread already...
Word being spread already...
our-streets
not talking about burgers
and don't forget to keep us updated if you can handy...
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
right Handy1 - or anyone - has a hardship fund or support group been set up?
so we can give real, practical support?
so we can give real, practical support?
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
Latest news! GMB has made the picket official and all work has now stopped on the Wembley construction site.
H - best of luck, pal. Have you written this up on the Red Issue board yet? As you know its a lot busier than U75.
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
divisive cotton - are you sure? gotta link?
I can also give a flavour of the sort of corporate values we're dealing with here.
Cleveland Bridge built most/nearly all of that awesome arch (love it already, btw). the other day, they held the 'topping out' ceremony. One would have thought Multiplex would have, as such, invited representatives of Cleveland Bridge to attend, but no, no chance.
petty, small-minded little shits.
I can also give a flavour of the sort of corporate values we're dealing with here.
Cleveland Bridge built most/nearly all of that awesome arch (love it already, btw). the other day, they held the 'topping out' ceremony. One would have thought Multiplex would have, as such, invited representatives of Cleveland Bridge to attend, but no, no chance.
petty, small-minded little shits.
Solidarnosc
"movement parasite" - BB
layabout - right, OK - so when you're sacked through a fucked TUPE, remind me to laugh. Hard. And loud.
The London GMB region is a good region - one of the best, and even though they are bureaucrats, they are very good - look at the baggage handlers strike, the region refused to back down. And I think Paul Kenny (London regional sec) is a geezah. I'm not suprised by their support - but the workers should make sure they don't sell out.
Otherwise - gwaaan!
The London GMB region is a good region - one of the best, and even though they are bureaucrats, they are very good - look at the baggage handlers strike, the region refused to back down. And I think Paul Kenny (London regional sec) is a geezah. I'm not suprised by their support - but the workers should make sure they don't sell out.
Otherwise - gwaaan!
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
No link to anywhere yet - hot off the phone to me from a union rep - maybe some written news tomorrow.
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
Heard that there was a near riot down there today as some scabs were escorted through the picket line.
handy1
A certain Man U fan ; )
Divisive Cotton said:
Although i know you are trying to help,rumours like this do not help,the fact is a Mltiplex boss phoned the police and said 30 of us were fighting with,spitting at and intimidating the workforce.The police told him they would arrest him if he claimed this again for wasting police time as it was clearly not true.
Anyway,hi all thanks for your interest,the action was today made unofficial again due to legal reasons.To be honest we feel it is going against us at the moment but,we are sticking with it,we are determined to fight for our jobs and will stay on the gate as long as it takes.
You may have read in the press that the job is continuing as normal,not true there is absolutely no steelwork being erected and this is in turn slowing all the other trades down.
It really is an up and down process as far as morale is concerned,but we are pulling together as you have to do.
The crunch day will be Monday as we have heard that labour agencies have been phoning guys from all over claiming the action is over and they are free to start work,anyone who falls for this wants to and is a scab waiting to happen.
Again,thanks all,sorry i havent kept you all updated but i'm away from home and i hate these internet cafes.
H
oh,yeah,layabout,cheers mate.
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
|From the Morning Star -
Simpson launches Wembley inquiry
(Wednesday 08 September 2004)
by Karl Stewart
INDUSTRY union amicus general secretary Derek Simpson launched an inquiry into the actions of a Wembley construction site official yesterday after meeting furious sacked steel erectors.
The workers, who were illegally sacked three weeks ago by building agency Fastrack, lodged a formal complaint against union official Harry Cowap over his role in the dispute.
They alleged that Mr Cowap had "misrepresented them" by advising them to sign new contracts of employment with worse terms and conditions than before.
They further alleged that he had escorted scab workers across picket lines and had spoken at meetings with Fastrack management encouraging replacement erectors to cross the sacked mens' picket line.
Over 100 workers demonstrated outside the amicus executive meeting in central London yesterday to tell union leaders that "we want Cowap out!"
Protest organiser and former site convener Tony Connor said: "We're here today to make our case to the national executive. We're giving our leaflets out to its members and we're asking them to go in and address the meeting to ask for their support."
Arriving at the meeting, Mr Simpson pledged that "there will be a provision for some discussion with these lads today."
Some 240 workers were sacked, both members of amicus and GMB - but many amicus members feel that a different approach was taken by the respective leaderships of the two unions involved.
While amicus wrote to the sacked men last week, repudiating their actions and asking them to disband their picket line, the GMB has not done the same.
Explaining this, amicus member Darren Dutton said that "following the sackings, GMB no longer has any members on site, but amicus still has electricians and crane drivers."
Legally, amicus fears that this could place the union open to charges of illegal secondary action. With no members on site, the GMB could not be accused of the same thing.
After his meeting with Mr Simpson, during an adjournment of the executive, Mr Connor reported that national construction secretary Paul Corby is now "in charge of negotiations."
He added: "Derek's trying to organise a meeting for Friday. Fastrack have asked us to take our picket off before the meeting takes place, but we've told Derek to tell them that we won't do that until they guarantee that there will be no agency workers doing our work."
Simpson launches Wembley inquiry
(Wednesday 08 September 2004)
by Karl Stewart
INDUSTRY union amicus general secretary Derek Simpson launched an inquiry into the actions of a Wembley construction site official yesterday after meeting furious sacked steel erectors.
The workers, who were illegally sacked three weeks ago by building agency Fastrack, lodged a formal complaint against union official Harry Cowap over his role in the dispute.
They alleged that Mr Cowap had "misrepresented them" by advising them to sign new contracts of employment with worse terms and conditions than before.
They further alleged that he had escorted scab workers across picket lines and had spoken at meetings with Fastrack management encouraging replacement erectors to cross the sacked mens' picket line.
Over 100 workers demonstrated outside the amicus executive meeting in central London yesterday to tell union leaders that "we want Cowap out!"
Protest organiser and former site convener Tony Connor said: "We're here today to make our case to the national executive. We're giving our leaflets out to its members and we're asking them to go in and address the meeting to ask for their support."
Arriving at the meeting, Mr Simpson pledged that "there will be a provision for some discussion with these lads today."
Some 240 workers were sacked, both members of amicus and GMB - but many amicus members feel that a different approach was taken by the respective leaderships of the two unions involved.
While amicus wrote to the sacked men last week, repudiating their actions and asking them to disband their picket line, the GMB has not done the same.
Explaining this, amicus member Darren Dutton said that "following the sackings, GMB no longer has any members on site, but amicus still has electricians and crane drivers."
Legally, amicus fears that this could place the union open to charges of illegal secondary action. With no members on site, the GMB could not be accused of the same thing.
After his meeting with Mr Simpson, during an adjournment of the executive, Mr Connor reported that national construction secretary Paul Corby is now "in charge of negotiations."
He added: "Derek's trying to organise a meeting for Friday. Fastrack have asked us to take our picket off before the meeting takes place, but we've told Derek to tell them that we won't do that until they guarantee that there will be no agency workers doing our work."
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
ignore layabout handy1, he's a complete idiot who believes that politics and workplaces don't mix, and that ALL unions are inherently evil.
fortunately, he's usually dim enough for anyone - swappies, even - to run rings round.
And my earlier offer still stands. anything I can do - anything - let me know.
good luck mate.
fortunately, he's usually dim enough for anyone - swappies, even - to run rings round.
And my earlier offer still stands. anything I can do - anything - let me know.
good luck mate.
handy1
A certain Man U fan ; )
Cheers Jezza,i'd read a lot of his posts so i know what he is,and thanks for the offer.
D.C. thanks for the Morning Star piece.
As you have read it is all still on going,i have had to come home as i can't afford to stay at Wembley without earning,so i have signed on.I have just knocked back a local job which i applied for before i got sacked
.
will let you all know when i've heard something concrete.
cheers all H
D.C. thanks for the Morning Star piece.
As you have read it is all still on going,i have had to come home as i can't afford to stay at Wembley without earning,so i have signed on.I have just knocked back a local job which i applied for before i got sacked
.will let you all know when i've heard something concrete.
cheers all H
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
From the Morning Star:
Wembley workers walk out
(Friday 10 September 2004)
by Karl Stewart
OVER 40 Dutch steel erectors walked out of the Wembley construction site yesterday complaining bitterly about being "lied to" by unscrupulous bosses Fast Track.
Patrick Van Oost and Cor Dekoning, who led the walkout to cheers from sacked British workers picketing outside the gate, said that bosses had assured them that the dispute was over.
The Dutch gang originally started work on the site last week, but they walked out after hearing about the sackings of 240 British workers.
"Then they phoned us up yesterday and told us that all the problems were solved. We were told to start at 6 o'clock today," said Mr Van Oost.
"But, when we saw these guys outside, we smelt something wrong and we decided to walk off the job."
Mr Dekoning added: "There's 40 of us and we're all coming off the job now, the others are just behind us."
As the rest of the gang walked out through the gates, British workers applauded and called out to them "We're in this together and we'll all go back together."
But some, having heard similar explanations from the same men last week, shouted: "Make sure you don't come back in again."
Earlier in the day, over 100 of the sacked men - members of GMB and amicus - stood in front of the main gate with a huge padlock and chain, representing their "lockout" by employer Fast Track and main contactor Multiplex.
Holding banners proclaiming: "Multiplex, Multimess" and "Dwyer straits" - a reference to Fast Track owner Alan Dwyer - they demanded justice in their fight for reinstatement.
GMB branch secretary Steve Kelly said that he was "very pleased" with the protest.
"The GMB have given very strong support to us," he noted.
"This has been going on over three weeks now and something must be done to resolve it," Mr Kelly added.
GMB site shop steward Graham Caster said that he did not know whether talks, which unions had been trying to set up for today, would go ahead or not.
"But we're going down to the TUC on Monday," added Mr Caster, a welder from Middlesborough.
While the protest at Wembley continued, deputations were also sent to take the men's message to the FA and to the TUC in central London.
Amicus site shop steward Tony Connor explained that he had been invited to FA headquarters to explain the workers' case.
Wembley workers walk out
(Friday 10 September 2004)
by Karl Stewart
OVER 40 Dutch steel erectors walked out of the Wembley construction site yesterday complaining bitterly about being "lied to" by unscrupulous bosses Fast Track.
Patrick Van Oost and Cor Dekoning, who led the walkout to cheers from sacked British workers picketing outside the gate, said that bosses had assured them that the dispute was over.
The Dutch gang originally started work on the site last week, but they walked out after hearing about the sackings of 240 British workers.
"Then they phoned us up yesterday and told us that all the problems were solved. We were told to start at 6 o'clock today," said Mr Van Oost.
"But, when we saw these guys outside, we smelt something wrong and we decided to walk off the job."
Mr Dekoning added: "There's 40 of us and we're all coming off the job now, the others are just behind us."
As the rest of the gang walked out through the gates, British workers applauded and called out to them "We're in this together and we'll all go back together."
But some, having heard similar explanations from the same men last week, shouted: "Make sure you don't come back in again."
Earlier in the day, over 100 of the sacked men - members of GMB and amicus - stood in front of the main gate with a huge padlock and chain, representing their "lockout" by employer Fast Track and main contactor Multiplex.
Holding banners proclaiming: "Multiplex, Multimess" and "Dwyer straits" - a reference to Fast Track owner Alan Dwyer - they demanded justice in their fight for reinstatement.
GMB branch secretary Steve Kelly said that he was "very pleased" with the protest.
"The GMB have given very strong support to us," he noted.
"This has been going on over three weeks now and something must be done to resolve it," Mr Kelly added.
GMB site shop steward Graham Caster said that he did not know whether talks, which unions had been trying to set up for today, would go ahead or not.
"But we're going down to the TUC on Monday," added Mr Caster, a welder from Middlesborough.
While the protest at Wembley continued, deputations were also sent to take the men's message to the FA and to the TUC in central London.
Amicus site shop steward Tony Connor explained that he had been invited to FA headquarters to explain the workers' case.
our-streets
not talking about burgers
Good on those Dutch workers for walking out....
handy1
A certain Man U fan ; )
Hi all,
The latest news,as you may of heard,is that we have,as far as i can tell,been offered our jobs back.I'm sketchy about this as i am still at home and have found out through a few snatched 'phone calls.
Apparently Hollandia/fasttrack have agreed to join NAECI the governing body of our industry(big of 'em eh? they should be fucking kicked of the project,not welcomed with open arms) and therefor will have to fall in line with the national agreement.
The only stumbling block is now reimbursement of monies lost through their fault,they say they wont entertain any talk of this but,why should we lose money through no fault of our own.
I am still bitter and well annoyed that firms can even think of doing this
that cunt Blair has got a lot to answer for.
anyway,thank all for all your interest,good wishes and offers of help,i passed them all on.
Cheers.....H
The latest news,as you may of heard,is that we have,as far as i can tell,been offered our jobs back.I'm sketchy about this as i am still at home and have found out through a few snatched 'phone calls.
Apparently Hollandia/fasttrack have agreed to join NAECI the governing body of our industry(big of 'em eh? they should be fucking kicked of the project,not welcomed with open arms) and therefor will have to fall in line with the national agreement.
The only stumbling block is now reimbursement of monies lost through their fault,they say they wont entertain any talk of this but,why should we lose money through no fault of our own.
I am still bitter and well annoyed that firms can even think of doing this
that cunt Blair has got a lot to answer for.
anyway,thank all for all your interest,good wishes and offers of help,i passed them all on.
Cheers.....H
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