Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/641/10369
From The Socialist newspaper, 6 October 2010
Support TSG strike
Unscrupulous bosses at Tyneside Safety Glass (TSG) want to drive down the pay and conditions of the workforce - but the first week of solid strike action shows that TSG workers are determined to fight this. Now entering the second week of strike action, workers are standing firm!
Elaine Brunskill, Tyneside Socialist Party
Even before the strike, the overtime ban alone had slashed the deliveries from the factory by half. In the first week of strike action production of good quality safety glass plummeted.
The mood on the picket lines has been upbeat and this was re-enforced by support from other Unite branches and members of other unions visiting the picket lines.
One of the strikers, Peter White, told how pay and working conditions are being pushed back: "I started work in the shipyards aged 15 in the 1960s. When I was young we often went on strike for better pay and conditions. Back then there was no anti-trade union laws - just a show of hands. Now working conditions have been set right back - conditions here are terrible."
The management have a 'dignity at work' policy but this is seen as a joke by workers. Complaints were also expressed by strikers on health and safety issues, such as machines blocking fire exits, lack of fire-drills, and the stench from toilets as the company got rid of cleaners six months ago.
TSG management used agency workers during the first week of the strike in a desperate, and not very successful, attempt to keep production going.
Agency workers should be given full contracts on the same rates, terms and conditions as all other TSG workers.
- Messages of support to: tsg_strike@yahoo.co.uk
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In The Socialist 6 October 2010:
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Socialist Students
Campaigning Socialist Students win support
YFJ and PCS unite against cuts in Leeds
Socialist Party editorial
National Shop Stewards Network and the struggle against Con-Dem attacks
National conference called against cuts in jobs and services
Anti-cuts campaign
No excuses for not fighting cuts
Thousands tell Tories: 'No cuts'
Bristol MPs fail to answer young workers' anger at PCS debate
Meetings and protests against the cuts
Labour councillor's contempt for care centre users
Protests on October 23 to fight the government's spending review axe
Socialist Party workplace news
Time to strengthen RMT's fighting leadership
Health and Safety
Warning: this government could seriously damage your safety
Europe: fighting the cuts
Spain: workers demonstrate their strength
Ireland: a socialist alternative to the crisis
Portuguese workers win the promise of a general strike
Internationalism against austerity: 100,000 demonstrate in Belgium
Socialism 2010
Why you should come to Socialism 2010
Socialism 2010 - a weekend of discussion and debate
International socialist analysis
Chávez wins majority but right-wing gains ground
Socialist Party review
Anti-racism
Nuneaton: community must organise against racism
Leicester: action needed against EDL
Campaign defeats BNP in Stroud
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