Workplace news in brief


Fighting blacklisting

Workers in GMB and Unite at Runcorn Thermal Power Station walked out unofficially on 13 May to support laggers.

They believe that management are reneging on agreements on hiring local labour. This amounts to blacklisting.

Other workers on the site respected the laggers’ picket line and there is a feeling among many that until the issues are resolved, there should be no return to work.

This action shows how blacklisting can be fought on the sites. Unite are currently fighting victimisation and blacklisting of their sacked shop steward Frank Morris.

  • STOP PRESS: The dispute has been resolved. More details next week.

BT pay

The Communication Workers Union is recommending BT’s ‘final’ offer of a 2.8% pay rise with a £200 pensionable lump sum.

The right wing executive claims that this will mean that members will receive a pay offer above the rate of inflation.

CWU members know that the rate of inflation on essentials such as rent, food, fuel and petrol is well above the figure the government claims.

The offer to CWU members compares very poorly with the chief executive’s 6.2% and chairman’s (one of his three jobs that is) 5.3%.

More disturbingly the union has agreed to talk to BT about their desire to allow members to ‘share more in the company’s success’ as determined by various performance indicators.

In other words the performance related pay that the CWU has always been opposed to. This represents a new depth of the CWU telecoms leadership.

Telecoms CWU supremo Andy Kerr said that the union had explored all possible avenues open to it… except industrial action that is! The union never even considered consulting the members over industrial action.

CWU members in BT will continually be taken for a ride as long as we have a leadership who thinks that they share the same interests as BT.

A new leadership is required which can be changed by voting for Broad Left candidates in the executive elections due next month.

Clive Walder, CWU Birmingham, Black Country and Worcester Branch, personal capacity

Kiln workers

Kiln workers in Cambridgeshire are still fighting against cuts in holidays.

Their employer, Heidelberg Cement (profit: £500 million last year), part of the Hanson conglomerate, have reneged over a deal whereby a cut in pay would be compensated by holidays.

The workers have already seen cuts in pensions, share scheme, and bonuses over the years. But they have had had good support for their strikes from trade unionists all over the country.

Negotiations were proceeding on 14 May.

  • Messages of support can be sent to the Unite rep: [email protected] and financial assistance is welcome: cheques to ‘GMB’ (write ‘Hanson strike’ on reverse of cheque) to 542 Woodborough Road, Nottingham NG3 5FJ.
Steve Cawley