Workplace news in brief

Runcorn walkout

Hundreds of workers on the Runcorn thermal power station construction site walked out in support of laggers - workers doing insulation work - demanding that more local workers are hired by one of the contractors.

An unofficial walkout on Tuesday 12 June was followed by a demonstration and mass meeting of the whole workforce the next morning.

Steve, who works on the site, said: "There's 6-700 workers on the site here. The job's running behind already through problems with the design of the plant.

"It's written into the Supplementary Project Agreement that they will use local labour wherever practicable.

"The majority of the firms are employing the right ratio of local labour to travelling labour, but C&D Insulation are using more travelling labour than they are locals."

"The scaffolders decided to walk out first of all, and once they'd gone out the rest of the trades followed in solidarity."

The workforce went into work at 9am with optimism that C&D will step back into line.

Hugh Caffrey

Sheffield indefinite strike

Monday 18 June saw the 15th day of strike action in the last month taken by Sheffield recycling site workers.

While the council was clearly stung by the lambasting it got from the strikers at last week's council meeting and there are rumours of talks to be held, the GMB members have voted to increase the pressure by calling indefinite strike action from Saturday 23 June.

Their aim will be to close down all five sites. They need practical and financial support. Socialist Party members will help set up a support group that can raise money and also mobilise to help picket all sites 24 hours a day.

Please send messages and especially financial donations to: Peter Davies (Sova Strike Fund), GMB office, 188/190 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1SY. Please make cheques payable to GMB. Email peter.davies@gmb.org.uk

Alistair Tice

Kirklees solidarity action

From 12 to 14 June, around 400 admin workers took strike action in Kirklees protesting against appalling attacks on their pay and conditions by the newly elected Labour council.

Kirklees Unison is fighting under the slogan of 'no to cuts in pay, hours or jobs'.

Pickets descended on workplaces calling for solidarity support.

Bin workers refused to cross picket lines in a brilliant show of solidarity.

The following day, pickets swooped on the council's computer centre, and yet again, all union members refused to cross the line.

The Unison branch has now demanded an industrial action ballot for its entire membership to ensure the council is brought back to the negotiating table.

Messages of support to: Kirklees Unison, 4 New North Parade, Huddersfield