Drivers’ victory
DHL Supply Chain lorry drivers working from the giant Howden’s Kitchens depot in Runcorn, Cheshire have won their dispute against 10 redundancies.
The company had drawn up the redundancy selection criteria unilaterally, without consulting with the Unite trade union. The criteria coincidentally seemed to select some of the leading union stewards at the depot!
Following a ballot with over 80% of members voting for action against the redundancy criteria, the depot was on strike last week, with expressions of solidarity from DHL depots round the country. The company have now withdrawn the redundancies.
The Howden’s contract has a very well organised union and is a model for union organisation across the road transport industry. Originally the union was not even recognised but through the efforts of a group of committed stewards the TGWU, now Unite, won recognition a number of years ago. These redundancies were a threat to all that had been achieved.
It is an important dispute to have won with implications across the industry.
Andy Ford, Warrington Trades Council
Southampton libraries
Striking librarians and staff, mainly Unison members, held a demo and rally outside Southampton civic centre on 21 June. The two New Labour MPs made a very rare venture into the daylight to give their support. I for one am not convinced that these MPs would have been any different to the Tories if they had won the election. You could say they were enjoying the role of opposition – pointing their finger at the Tory council for the cuts. This is one of the first actions in Southampton against the cuts in public services. I am sure it will not be the last.
Kev Hayes, Chair, Southampton Socialist Party
Southampton 2
Alongside library strikers, university workers were out in protest, as well as 100 Medirest cleaners at Southampton general hospital fighting for pay parity with NHS workers. Campaigners, including Socialist Party members, were celebrating an important victory that NHS care home Crowlin House would remain open. This shows that campaigning can work.
