The Socialist 13 March 2019

Weak Tories must go. General election now!

Anger after violent youth deaths - Communities need public services not cuts

Weak Tories must go. General election now!

Them & Us

History: Alice Wheeldon - an anti-war socialist persecuted by the state

The Socialist Inbox

International Women's Day protests

For socialist change, not climate change!

Southampton: Socialist stand against cuts

No to racism - Fight for socialism

Memorial to working-class fighters who fought fascism

Only socialist planning can save the planet: Build a mass working-class struggle to achieve it!

Neither Tories or EU - only fighting trade unions and a Corbyn-led government can deliver workers' rights

PCS union elections: Huge support for Chris Baugh

Newark NSK strike: "Even Victorian workers got a day off each week. We're expected to have just one weekend off every three weeks"

Breaking news: Birmingham bin workers' strike suspended pending new deal

Workplace news in brief

Tories out. Scrap Universal Credit. Fight for living wages and welfare!

Brazil: The Threats, attacks and contradictions of Bolsonaro's regime

Obituary Joan Beale - Labour women's activist and Militant supporter

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Newark NSK strike: "Even Victorian workers got a day off each week. We're expected to have just one weekend off every three weeks"

NSK workers in Newark striking against attacks on terms and conditions, photo Jon Dale (Click to enlarge)

24 Unite members in the G2 Finish and Grind department of Japanese company NSK have been on strike since 4 March. Pickets at the Newark factory, making super-precision machine bearings, explained the background to Jon Dale from Mansfield Socialist Party:

In 2016, management imposed a new contract just on this department. A strike was defeated, workers having to accept the contract or be out the door. Banked hours at basic rate replaced voluntary overtime at time and a half.

Within a year, management abused the new system, making split weekend working compulsory without consultation. The afternoon shift week now finishes on Friday at 11.40pm instead of 7.40pm, followed by a week of day shifts starting at 6am on Sunday. Some workers have up to an hour-long commute. Taking a day off at weekends is marked as absence, resulting in disciplinary procedures.

Breaks were cut from 50 to 35 minutes. The average working week is now 48 hours. Whether workers have families or not, whether they are young or older, everyone needs proper time away from work. Senior managers are never seen in the factory at weekends, but might be spotted at the golf course!

Picket line morale is high, although the other 500 workers on site are not in dispute and are still working. All production has to go through the G2 department. Non-stop hooting from passing traffic shows support.

NSK is owned by a Japanese corporation that made £323 million net profit in the last nine months of 2018.