North east sparks protests continue
Published:
November 23, 2011 22:36
by
a supporter
Neighbourhoods: newcastle teeside
Sparks in the north east are continuing actions against the downgrading of terms and conditions proposed by major construction companies.
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Over the last few weeks, a massive campaign by rank and file electricians up and down the UK has been targeting eight major construction companies which are trying to downgrade wages and working conditions.
In the north east, regular protests have been taking place in Tyneside, Northumberland, and Teesside, over bosses plans to pull out of the national agreement on terms and conditions, and replace it with a new 'agreement' which only benefits the employer.
Local electricians have held walkouts, protests and road blockages at construction sites including the Tyne Tunnel in North Tyneside, Newcastle University and Benfield Road in Newcastle, in Ashington, and at Corus/SSI Redcar, where scaffolders also joined a 200 strong walkout last week.
Today saw a protest at Conoco in Teesside, whilst in London electricians occupied the reception of Grattes Brothers construction company.
As a result of electricians' actions, one construction company has pulled out of the new agreement plans already, leaving 7 companies to go...
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Additions
Unite press release
Published: January 13, 2012 22:07
by
(A)ll Power of the Sparks!
For immediate release: Thursday, 12 January 2012
Unite announces strike re-ballot in Balfour Beatty
Unite, the UK’s largest union, has today (Thursday, 12 January) announced its plan to re-ballot members employed at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) for strike action over the employer-led attacks on the skills and pay of workers in the sector.
Potential strike action could hit some of the UK’s key infrastructure projects, including power stations and Crossrail as disgruntled electricians, plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers down tools.
The new strike ballot, which opens on Thursday, 19 January, follows Balfour Beatty’s move to impose contractual changes on around 1,600 workers in BBES which will see the majority of skilled workers’ pay cut by one third.
Unite national officer, Bernard McAulay said: “Skilled craftsmen are angry that BBES are leading the attack on their jobs.
“Over the past six months we have seen huge unrest in construction sites all over the country because of this move. Unless BBES and their cohorts re-consider the way they are forcing through change there will be harmful strikes across the country.
“Good industrial relations involves negotiating change in a constructive way, instead BBES are imposing an employer’s charter on an unwilling workforce.”
The company has told Unite that it if their staff refuse to sign up to the new inferior contracts they will sack them and replace them with agency labour. The ballot closes on Wednesday, 1 February.
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, along with six other leading construction companies, intend to withdraw from five long-standing agreements and impose new semi-skilled grades with massive cuts in pay.
The ballot announced today follows a previous BBES strike ballot in late November 2011, where over 80 per cent of Unite members voted ‘yes’ for strike action. But rather than listen to the voice of its workers, BBES preferred to use the draconian balloting laws to challenge the validity of the ballot forcing Unite to re-ballot.
“Unite members made it abundantly clear that they do not agree with their employer’s imposition when they voted for strike action by an overwhelming 80 per cent in our last ballot.
“If BBES prefer to use anti-union laws and imposition, they will continue to alienate the workforce rather than find a solution to the issues facing the industry,” added Bernard McAulay
The re-ballot in BBES also follows months of protests by thousands of rank and file construction workers outside sites up and down the country, including Sellafield, Grangemouth and Ratcliffe power stations, Blackfriars and Kings Cross station and Lindsey Oil Refinery.
The timing of the strike days and where the action will take place will be decided by the shop stewards at a later date.
ENDS
For further information please contact Unite communications officer Liane Groves on 07793 661657 or Unite national officer Bernard McAulay on 07958 514837.
Notes to news editors:
The seven major break-away contractors currently involved are: Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Limited; NG Bailey Building Services; Crown House Technologies; Gratte Brothers; Spie Matthew Hall; Shepherd Engineering Services (SES); and T. Clarke Plc.
Video
Published: February 23, 2012 18:22
by
we won
Picket Video:
https://northern.tachanka.org/videos/2418
Following Balfour Beatty pulling out of the new BESNA contract last Friday, another of the 'dirty 7' construction firms - NG Bailey - has now followed suit!
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Unite to re-ballot
The employers told ACAS:
The contractors have considered Unite's request to change the timetable for securing agreement from their employees. However, as the contractors have already given revised contracts to all of the 6,000 affected employees, they are not in a position to disrupt that process.
In case there is any confusion about this matter, the contractors would like to make it clear that generally the 9 January is simply the date by which employees have been asked to return signed contracts. Individual contractors have their own plans for talking with any employees who have not responded by that date.
The BESNA terms and conditions will come into effect during the last week in March and the first week of April 2012. The HVCA supported by the contractors hope to re-engage with Unite in early January in order for the union to play a key part in participating in the new agreement.