Electricians to protest on 1 February in Manchester

Hugh Caffrey

Manchester electricians protesting on 31.8.11 as part of protests around the country against the employers' assault on pay and conditions, pho   (Click to enlarge)

Manchester electricians fighting the new Besna contracts because of pay cuts and deskilling, are appealing for a huge turnout on Wednesday 1 February from 7am at the town hall/central library site.

Main contractors NG Bailey and Laing O'Rourke are now manning-up the site, and the city council, which is the client, will meet on the same day.

Bailey's sites across Britain will see protests on the same day, as the Rank and File hold a week of action against this company.

Baileys is very pro-Besna and, in many workers eyes, played an instrumental role in blacklisting construction workers for their trade union membership and activities.

Laing O'Rourke is seen as another blacklister. Why are the Labour council still paying these anti-worker companies to carry out public work? Why should council tax payers in the city be paying for Mancunians in the construction trades to be victimised?

Manchester sparks asked the councillors these questions before Christmas. An "investigation" was promised but unsurprisingly nothing appears to have been done.

The city council is holding a full meeting from 10am on 1 February and sparks will be demanding answers at this meeting.

All electricians, construction workers, trade unionists and supporters should be there. The site protest starts 7am at the Peter Street site entrance opposite the Midland Hotel, and will move to the town hall later to see the councillors, and then go into the meeting around 10am.

Whether you can attend for all or just part of the protest, ensure you're there to show your support and make your voice heard!

1932 - mass trespass won the right to roam

Manchester Socialist Party: TUSC and the local elections

Manchester NSSN: Pensions dispute update; & Regional pay - how do we fight it?

Manchester Socialist Party: Working class unity and Left unity

Manchester Socialist Party: The miners' strike and its legacy

Manchester Socialist Party: Stalinism

Protest:

More attacks on right to campaign

A short walk down Whitehall...

Brighton: Mass protest counters racist EDL

US embassy protest remembers Trayvon Martin

Electricians:

Salford Socialist Party: Lessons of the electricians' dispute

Construction workers fight on

Sparks resolve to continue protests

Council:

Council workers in Cheshire strike against attacks on pay

Victory for Greenwich Unite library campaign

Greenwich libraries - fighting back can win

Construction:

National Shop Stewards Network 6th annual conference

Interview: 'get organised to support workers in struggle'

Construction workers demand better pay and conditions

Construction workers:

Rank & File construction workers meeting

Exposed: involvement of security services in construction blacklist

Construction workers continue protests on 1st February

Blacklisting:

London election candidate named in employers' blacklist

Blacklisted electrician stands his ground on right to protest

Strike threat wins job back