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Rolls Royce workers vote for strike

A clear majority of workers have voted to defend their Amicus convenor Jerry Hicks who was sacked by Rolls-Royce, Bristol, for defending two of his members.

Graeme Jones, Amicus member north Bristol

The vote - 55 to 33 - is in favour of industrial action due to start on 23 August. This is continuous action and will be followed by a ballot of the entire site and perhaps at all Rolls-Royce UK sites.

Since his sacking last month, when there were spontaneous walkouts from the engine test areas where Jerry Hicks works, an industrial tribunal has recommended that he get his job back. It found that he was dismissed "probably on trade union grounds". The management have, so far, offered him a £50,000 pay-off which has been flatly refused by Mr Hicks. "I'm not for sale, and this union is not for sale. I will accept reinstatement and I'm happy to return to work with no ill feeling," he said.

Hundreds of Rolls-Royce workers and trade unionists attended a rally in Bristol last week in support of Mr Hicks. The speakers, who included Tony Benn and Bob Crow (general secretary of the RMT union), repeatedly illustrated the point that this issue is about defending trade union rights.

• A collection was taken for the campaign and also for the sacked Gate Gourmet workers in Heathrow.
• A national march and rally has been organised on Friday 2 September, 1pm, College Green, Bristol.
• Messages of support: [email protected]

Socialist Party national trade union meeting

Saturday 3 September,

11am-4pm, Central London

Agenda:

• The trade unions and Labour's third term

Speaker: Peter Taaffe

• Building in the unions and the workplace - the Marxist approach.

Speaker: Bill Mullins

• Short trade union caucus meetings

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There will be a pooled fare. Anybody who needs more information should contact Ken Smith on 020 8988 8778 or Bill Mullins on 020 8988 8764

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Burston Strike School Rally

Sunday 4 September 2005

11am to 4.30pm, Church Green, Burston, Nr Diss, Norfolk

Speakers include Paul Kenny, GMB acting Gen Sec and Tony Benn. Live music, children's fun area

In this issue

Defend workers rights

Gate Gourmet - solidarity action is vital

No more police cover-ups

Iraq: Bogged down in an unwinnable war

Gaza withdrawal: Will Sharon's pull-out lead to 'peace'?

Lewisham Socialist Party councillors support suspended MSPs

Campaign stops health closure plan

Build Socialist Students and fight education cuts

Rolls Royce workers vote for strike

First bus company raises fares and cuts services

Home   |   The Socialist 25 August 2005   |   Join the Socialist Party

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Related links:

Strike:

Norwich City Council workers vote for strike action over broken promises on pay and conditions

Ealing parking wardens strike against Serco over absence policy

Thurrock refuse workers strike escalates

Establishing factory sales of the Socialist in Leicester

St Mungo's strikers fight on

Rolls Royce:

Lancashire workers' strike shows the way to fight aerospace cuts and job losses

Derby Socialist Party: Fight to save jobs

Strong union response needed against job cuts

Rolls Royce threatens 8,000 job losses

Bristol:

Bristol Water workers walk out

Bristol North Socialist Party: Education under capitalism

Bristol North Socialist Party: The national question and Northern Ireland