The Socialist 4 August 2010

Con-Dem cuts mean: we need ‘biggest movement since poll tax’

We need 'biggest movement since poll tax'

'Radical' cuts require serious action

Waltham Forest's Labour council faces opposition

Coventry campaigners fight cuts of £140 million

Swansea trades council leads battle for services

Campaigners answer Bristol's 'Big Conversation'

Cuts news: Mental health services facing the axe

NSSN pledged to fight cuts

Troops out now!

Afghanistan: US strategy in disarray

Oppose divisive academies policy

Talks resume at British Airways

Angry workers strike over pay freeze and bosses' bonuses

Fighting fire service cuts

Witch-hunted Unison activist wins tribunal

Unite general secretary election

We won't be a lost generation, fight for jobs and education!

No to privatisation of our universities

For real jobs, not slave labour

Profiting from wrecking the environment

Stop the Cardiff incinerator

Save Wanstead Flats

Daily Mail admits guilt over smearing Tamil hunger striker

Campaigning at Leeds Pride

Book now for the summer camp!

Socialism 2010 - a weekend of discussion and debate

Love Parade catastrophe was entirely preventable

Garment workers demand a living wage

Asda profiting from low pay

Tories put profits before patients

Rich just carry on getting richer

Fast news

The howlers' world and ours

How the banks rip us off

Previous issues, etc

Print this issue




Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/634/10064

Google search the site	Printable version	email to friend

Home | The Socialist 4 August 2010 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate | Bookshop

Angry workers strike over pay freeze and bosses' bonuses

On 27 July, for the second time in less than a week, workers at Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems based in Coventry went out on a 24-hour strike as well as imposing a continuous ban on overtime.

Lenny Shail, Coventry Socialist Party

A shop steward at the factory commented: "I've worked here 30 years and this is the first time I've been on strike, I wasn't really sure what to do! But when you're pushed, you react.

They have already started regrading our jobs, which is basically a pay cut through the back door."

Despite the company making £494.2 million in gross profits in 2009, bosses have attempted to impose a pay freeze on the workforce in Coventry.

The workforce made Meggitt's profit, yet bosses are awarding themselves huge bonuses on top of their massive salaries.

Meggitt chief executive was awarded a bonus of £770,000 plus shares, on top of his salary of £600,000.

Two other senior managers with salaries of £360,000 and £272,000 got bonuses of £463,000 and £353,000 plus shares.

Unite's regional officer, Alan Lewis said: "Our members are justifiably furious. The scale of greed is nothing short of scandalous. Workers' pay is being frozen while three senior managers are awarded £1.5 million in bonuses. A fair pay increase of 4% for the staff in Coventry would cost the company less than a quarter of the cost of the bonuses given to just three men.

"Some workers have even had their pay cut by £17,000. Unite will not tolerate this behaviour and will back its members until the company takes hold of its senses and rewards its staff fairly."

Such was the anger and determination to force management back, workers picketed the factory for nearly the whole of the two 24-hour strikes with 20-25 workers always at the gates.

One worker had missed shifts at his second job so he could take his turn on the picket and was pleased to see the level of support from outside with fellow Unite members and a postman joining the picket.

In this issue

We need 'biggest movement since poll tax'