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From The Socialist newspaper, 23 August 2017
BA poverty pay dispute enters new phase of action
photo Rob Williams (Click to enlarge)
Rob Williams, Socialist Party industrial organiser
On their 74th day of strike action, a bus-full of British Airways (BA) mixed-fleet cabin crew organised by general union Unite, and their supporters, circled first Heathrow Airport and then the streets of Richmond.
Noisily filling the top deck of an open-top bus with banners and flags in hand, they set about making everyone aware of their incredible struggle against poverty pay.
Many of them are on a miserly basic salary of £12,000. They have maintained their fight despite BA attacking their bonus payments and travel concessions which are necessities because of their low-paid contracts. The firm has even hired Qatari Airways to scab. Yet the workers have shown tremendous courage in fighting on.
Their present action, which has continued through August, ends at the end of the month. BA has contacted the union promising talks but the workers are determined to continue to fight if negotiations come to nothing.
One worker told the Socialist: "The 'topless' (open-top) bus ride was brilliant and made loads of people aware of the strike and what we're on strike for, including hundreds of passengers at the airport at one of the busiest times of year.
"We're being paid well below what we should be paid. British Airways say we're being paid between £21,000 and £27,000. But most of us have never been paid £21,000, some of us are only on £12,000 a year."
- Donate to the hardship fund at account name 'Mixed Fleet Branch', sort code 60-83-01, account number 20376387, reference 'MFU'
- Or make cheques out to 'Mixed Fleet Branch' and post with messages of support to Unite the Union, 99 New Road, Harlington UB3 5BQ
- Send messages of protest to BA CEO Alex Cruz: [email protected]
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 23 August 2017:
What we think
Coordinate the strikes to defeat the Tories
Socialist Party news and analysis
Glasgow jannies win famous victory against council cutters
Bin workers - fighting back wins!
Hundreds evacuated after Labour council dismisses cracks in tower blocks
Amazon tax halves as revenues soar - nationalise now!
Workplace news and analysis
RMT and the Labour Party affiliation debate
Defiant Barts NHS workers fight to stop Serco sabotage
Three-week Argos distribution strike
BA poverty pay dispute enters new phase of action
McDonald's workers vote to walk out in historic strike
Bin workers say: Sack Suez, stop rubbish cuts!
PCS: strikes to defend jobcentres
Fighting the far right
US: neo-Nazi violence reawakens resistance
Lewisham 1977: When socialists and workers defeated the far-right National Front
Opposing the National Front in Grantham
Socialist Party feature
The Single Market: a neoliberal tool of the bosses
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Chatsworth ward campaigners demand answers
Vital women's services under threat
West Midlands Young Socialists fight for free education on results day
NHS campaign receives Labour Party backing
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Mutinies and strikes: when Bolshevism threatened British bosses
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