BESNA RIP [rest in pieces] Sparks bring last of the rougue 8 to their knees.
Tonight the remaining 5 companies from the original rogue 8 bosses have withdrawn from BESNA.
They have all been beaten by demo’s, protests and unofficial action. Ave some of that!
Sparks rank & file must now fight for a better JIB.
BESNA ‘RIP’ [rest in pieces]
No ‘U’ turn’s Unite.
Another one bites the dust: BESNA is dead. Now to stop Unite entering into any sell talks
Another one bites the dust! BESNA is dead.
NG Bailey has today pulled out of BESNA following Balfour Beatty’s withdraw last Friday. Victory to the Sparks & unofficial action.
Now the Rrank and File’ has to ensure Unite doesn’t enter into any sell talks!
Unite LGBT NEC result ‘Party in a brewery’ springs to mind!
Unite LGBT election results
Grass Roots Left candidate Lesley Mansell came a close second in the Unite election for the LGBT post on the union’s executive.
However a branch that had nominated Lesley Mansell found that their branch name was credited to Mcnulty [the United Left candidate] and informed Unite.
We have since discovered 3 more branches that had nominated Lesley Mansell were wrongly credited to Mcnulty and all 4 appeared alongside his election address which was sent with the ballot papers to every member, giving a completely false impression of nomination totals.
Consequently we are considering a challenge to the result and the election may well be re-run due to ‘discrepancies’.
[Len McCluskey was elected in 2010 as General Secretary on a United Left ticket and is the returning officer in this election].
votes cast and %
Mansell 16,083 [ 25.7%]
McNulty 17,275 [27.6%]
Wadwell 14,270 [22.8%]
Weissensteiner 11,592 [18.5%]
Spoilt papers: 3,445 [5.5%]
Turnout 62,665 [approx 5% of total membership]
72 hours that shook the bosses world: An amazing few day’s in the BESNA dispute.
An amazing few days in the BESNA dispute.
Who’s streets? Our Streets!
he fun began last Wednesday [15th] at the ECA dinner and dance, Grosvenor Hotel Park Lane. 150 construction workers gathered for 5.30pm and decided we would have our own ‘party in the Street’. MC Sean Prophet provided the great party music outside the hotel, and it wasn’t long before Park Lane was blocked off and rocking!
Click for video http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/video/2012/feb/16/electricians-protest-park-lane-video?CMP=twt_gu
Traffic soon backed up as the dancing got in to full swing to top tunes like ‘the Irish Rover’. It was an hour before PC plod finally arrived as ‘they were stuck in traffic’! and had to come on foot!
However, after a vote we decide to give them one lane back.
They were nicking the food from our tables and we were going to let them know we weren’t happy. As the ‘dinner suited brigade’ arrived they were treated to a right barracking, chasing them all round the hotel as they scurried in side doors, to enjoy their champers and fine grub. Red Ken Livingstone was also collard as he went in to gorge himself (shame on you).
The following day [16th] we were overjoyed to hear that the High Court had finally got round to making a decision and better still had ruled in our favour.
Balfour Beatty had lost the injunction and the strike could go ahead.
By Friday 17th we heard that Balfour Beatty had withdrawn from BESNA what a result! One of the biggest construction companies in the world had crumbled and we believe it won’t be long before the others pull out as well.
Superb, our struggle had paid off, the ‘Rank and File’ were truly on the march.
Our sister unions in USA and Australia have helped enormously with demos in solidarity. We are maintaining protests for now and hope to take out no good NG Baileys next, ‘a major Blacklister’.
A campaign is being mounted with the backing of Unite, where we protest at Morrison supermarkets countrywide. NGB Have a maintenance contract with Morrison’s as well as refurbishments and new stores being built. The word on the street is SPIE are ready to pull back soon all our hard work is paying off.
When all BENSA 7 have retreated we need to push on and go for the jugular by renegotiating a brand new deal for sparks, and mechanical trades.
We need a list of demands and here’s a few suggestions, also ‘Rank and File reps’ must be part of the negotiating committee.
1) Rule 17 must be adhered to: No agency labour until a job is nearly complete, and then only small numbers, and ‘no redundancies’ while agency labour are on any site.
2) An increase in the hourly rate.
3) No deskilling.
4) Proper apprenticeships.
5) No more ‘Blacklisting or Victimisation’ of those involved in dispute so far.
6) Increase in fares, travel time and lodging allowance.
7) A sick pay scheme.
8) A single hourly rate across the board.
9) Fares from home for all.
10) A 35 hour basic week. Overtime rates increased.
11) Full training for elected stewards and safety reps with paid time off for union duties.
12) Elected reps on all projects.
13) A decent redundancy pay.
14) A decent pension scheme.
15) Full employment rights from day one.
We need more reps and lay activists on JIB committees with democracy restored to our unions. Union officers should be elected by us the members with the right of recall, not appointed by the Union, and paid the same as us i.e. no more than a skilled worker. That way they would be more accountable to the members.
Any new deal must be put to membership for agreement and then a ballot to vote on acceptance or rejection. With patient organised work this can be achieved.
All in all a momentous week for the power of ‘Rank and File’ let’s not let this opportunity pass us by. We can transform the construction industry.
But while there is even a ‘Rogue 1’ let alone 6 still to push over the edge we are continuing to protest and NG Bailey are in our sites………… London Wednesday 22nd Feb 7am Kings Cross Platform9/10 cross rail site.
For more info please visit….. Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/
Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com
Together united the workers will never be defeated.
Not a light bulb shall shine nor a wheel can turn without our permission.
A massive round of applause to one and all our time has come. Not bad for a mindless bunch of individuals and a cancerous group, eh Bernard!
*And by the way Bernard we are still waiting for a public apology*.
Balfours lose court case against the sparks.
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services [BBES] have lost their court case against Unite. So that means the sparks ballot result for industrial action stands.
Unite have issued 7 days notice of the commencement of strike action. This follows hot on the heels of last nights demo at the construction bosses dinner and dance.
Choke on that!
Less than 11 days to vote: Lets get a Grass Roots voice on Unites NEC
From Jerry Hicks: Have you voted in the Unite NEC election yet? Even if you have the chances are 90% of our members haven’t got round to it or even thought about voting. Every vote is important: Let’s get a ‘Grass Roots’ voice on the NEC.
So please ask your mates, colleagues, friends and family [Unite members] to Vote for Lesley Mansell ‘LGBT’ seat x Unite NEC Election. Ballot papers have to be returned and received by no later than 22nd February.
Lesley is not only an outstanding candidate, importantly…………
- She will be the only one that calls for the election of all officials.
- She will be the only one who calls for a fundamental change in Unites relationship with the Labour Party, funding only those MPs or councils who support our policies.
Get phoning / emailing / texting / tweeting and all sorts of other stuff, like talking to all those Unite members that you know. Ask them to send off their ballot paper with a X in the box and ‘vote for Lesley Mansell’
Contact Lesley on mobile 07980 695 117 or Email lesleywinningunite@yahoo.co.uk
Visit www.unitegrassrootsleft.wordpress.com and www.grassrootsleft.org
Where are we with the ‘Sparks strike action’ and BBES?
Where are we with the Strike Ballot: All is revealed. And…………
Question “What happens when the Anti Union Laws aren’t repealed” Answer below.
Unite sparks on BBES voted for strike action [AGAIN] last week, with 66% in favour of strike [295 votes for / 145 votes against].
And 70% [313 votes for / 131 against] voted in favour of action short of a strike.
So are we on strike then or what…….? Not exactly……………!
BBES ignored the result [AGAIN] and went running to the High Court [AGAIN] to prevent the strike going ahead, saying “not everyone was balloted”. And Unite? Well they said they would not even announce a strike date until after that date…………..Umm, good move, Umm, not really.
Ok but then what……………………..?
A Barrister, ‘John Hendy’ QC represented Unite at the High Court on Thursday 2nd February but there was no result forthcoming and the case was adjourned until Monday 6th February, with the decision the next day, Tuesday 7th February. Are you still following this?
Still no strike or even a date for the strike…..So what happened next…..?
The High Court judge said he could not give his decision until the following week, Monday 13th or Tuesday 14th [Valentines day, ah, nice touch!].
So what then…………………?
If we get the decision on the 13th/14th, and the judge rules in our favour we still have to give BBES 7 days notice [by [anti union] law]. So earliest start of any strike action would be the 21st February.
However, If the decision doesn’t go our way, Unite say they will……..Ignore the decision? [We wish! No, Unite say they will ballot again.
We have to prepare for action and continue the campaign whatever happens.
A meeting was held in London this Monday and a ‘Strike Committee’ of 6 was elected from Balfour Beatty stewards, and it was agreed that as and when the official strike does begin, that there would be a programme of rolling/alternate strike action weeks.
Meaning out for a week, and then back in for a week [with an overtime ban]. Then out for a week and back in for a week, and so on.
Protests and Demo’s must and will continue………………..
Rank and File Committee members met with Unite on Wednesday evening and it was agreed to continue with the protests.
On Wednesday 15th February mass protests at the following sites…… Sellafield, Grangemouth, Ratcliffe and Concoco
The objective to be to shut these sites down for the day, or longer if we can.
Note, Unite have agreed to lay on coaches to get people to these sites, contact Regional Offices. Importantly, if you get no joy immediately contact Unite [appointed official] Sharon Graham [organising team] 07976 844228 email sharon.graham@unitetheunion.org.
And as if that were not enough. In London also on the 15th February there will be a lobby at ECA/BESNA dinner and dance at Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, nearest tube Marble Arch get there for 5.30pm Dress code ‘casual chic’ [and maybe hard hats].
And the moral of this story? Next time Labour are in power.
We don’t let them off the hook.
We make sure they repeal the Anti Union laws or we don’t give em £10’s millions!
Until then the fight goes on:
For more debate and discussion on the dispute……..visit
Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/
Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com
Spread the word ‘NO TO BESNA YES TO STRIKE ACTION’!
Lets get a Grass Roots voice on Unites NEC. Vote for Lesley Mansell
Unite NEC Election Vote for Lesley Mansell ‘LGBT’ seat x
Balloting begins 30th January.
All forms must to be returned by 22nd February.
Lesley Mansell is an outstanding candidate and importantly…………
- She will be the only one that calls for the members to decide who represents them by the election of all officials.
- She will be the only one who calls for a fundamental change in Unites relationship with the Labour Party, funding only those MPs or councils who support our policies.
Please get the message out there…………
Click here for Lesleys leaflet Vote for Lesley Mansell LGBT NEC seat
Email Lesley @ lesleywinningunite@yahoo.co.uk
‘VOTE FOR LESLEY MANSELL’ X
Read all about it ‘Balfour Beatty site taking strike action’ That’s the headline we want to see!!
“Extra – Extra” “Read all about it” ‘Balfour Beatty sites taking strike action’
That’s the headline we need!
Last week saw a number of very successful protests at NGB sites across England Scotland and Wales, with our Scottish brothers targeting a good few, nice one!
Take a look at this film of the ‘Rank and File’ protest picket at the entrance to Hadrian Yard in Wallsend 27th Jan. Where OGN are building an oil extraction platform for American firm Apache. It is a £150M, a 700 worker job. Click here – https://northern-indymedia.org/videos/2418
This week coming is a massive week for us all in the BESNA dispute.
On the 2nd February we should have BBES ballot result. A yes vote is vital and any legal challenge should be met with the ultimate force by Unite. And ignored by responding in the only way we know best, with a call for ‘all out’ no matter what.
Come on Unite ‘no more Mr nice guy’ we are being had over here! The ‘Rank and File’ have led the way since August last year and will continue to fight, but now Unite must show must show the BESNA 7 that we are all serious.
We mentioned last week about Unite having drafted in Kevin Coyne to head up the campaign assisted by Bernard McAuley. We now know that another official ‘Sharon Graham’ has been assigned to help with organising.
We appreciate this but will be watching closely [we remember that Coyne who is as an appointed official back in 2008 ran against Derek Simpson on the right wing ticket for General Secretary finishing behind both Simpson and our own Jerry Hicks]. Has he now moved over to the left due to the ‘Rank and File’ tremendous actions in recent months.
Last Thursday a meeting was held in London with Unite officers and 6 Rank and File Committee members, a report will be given at the Birmingham meeting on the 4th February. Hopefully, Kevin Coyne will there as well to give an update and answer any questions.
We would love a big YES vote and a swift victory however the dispute may rumble on through February and past march if the BESNA 7 dig their heels in.
So we may have to change our tactics slightly this needs to be discussed at the Recalled’ National Rank and File meeting in Birmingham 4th Feb 1-4pm Carrs Lane Cantre, Carrs Lane. We do need to get a plan together for the actions to be taken the following week throughout the UK.
If anyone needs assistance with travel costs to Birmingham please let us know as soon as possible. Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com
It’s already nasty and it’s going to get dirtier
We have been made aware that a Balfour Beatty boss was at a ‘Rank and File’ meeting in Scotland recently, we must be getting to them. Be wary of the bosses. It may be an idea to think of a pseudonym if you are asked for quotes or interviews at meetings or protests. Please be careful what you send out by email or text and facebook sites,
Actions planned so far this week that we know of…………….
Cardiff Wednesday 1st February 7am Llandough Hospital
Cardiff Wednesday 1st February 8am Balfours Office Rumney [Cardiff]
London Friday 3rd February 7am and 7pm day and night shift. Mass protest at Blackfriars BBES site
It may be worth targeting BBES sites in all areas on 3rd February? The day after ballot result we will leave that up to the various committees to decide.
If we are in a strike situation let’s start how we mean to carry on….Taking the fight wherever the Rogue BESNA may be skulking and dancing!!………
London 15th February marching from Victoria to ECA headquarters and then lobbying ECA ‘Dinner and Dance’ in the evening. Anyone fancy coming down to London contact your regional office for travel payments. Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com
For more details of demos protests and meetings near you please visit..
Electricians Against The World http ://www . jibelectrician . blogspot . com/
Get in touch with us by Email siteworkers@virginmedia.com
Spread the word ‘NO TO BESNA YES TO STRIKE ACTION’!
Be Part of the Grass Roots and Vote for Lesley Mansell Unite NEC
Grassroots Left Bulletin January 24th
- Independent of the Union machine – Free from the control of ‘appointed’ officials
- Reclaiming the union/s for the members.
Become a member / supporter. Get involved: Be part of it:
We have recently opened a ‘Grassroots Left’ bank account and are asking for donations/Standing orders [click here] GRL_Standing order form / Membership [click here] GRL_Membership_form
1] Unite NEC Election Vote for ‘Lesley Mansell’ ‘LGBT’ seat x [Print off election leaflet]
Balloting begins 30th January forms must to be returned by 22nd Feb.
Challenges by Unite to Lesley being able to stand for one of the newly established NEC seats ‘LGBT’, which were in my view completely frivolous, have been knocked back. That means there will be 3 candidates, the other 2 may well be OK but Lesley is outstanding.
- She will be the only one that calls for the members to decide who represents them by the election of all officials.
- She will be the only one who calls for a fundamental change in Unites relationship with the Labour Party, funding only those MPs or councils who support our policies.
One million members will be getting a ballot paper and the election address, so this is our opportunity to engage with members with our unique arguments.
Please get the message out there ‘VOTE FOR LESLEY MANSELL’ X
2] Grassroots/Rank and File branch organisation
Join the communication list of organised branches email Jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk -The objective: To co-ordinate branches with common issues, to can act collectively instead of individually– We can do this immediately by adopting this resolution at your branch meeting for Policy conference.
‘We call upon Unite to immediately offer re-instatement to any employee or officer of the union when an industrial tribunal finds Unite guilty of unfair dismissal’.
3] Grass Roots Left NEC: London 21st Jan
The meeting went really well, thanks to all those who travelled to be there and make the debate both interesting and wide ranging, plus some fantastic reports of local GRL activities and campaigns. Email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk for a copy of the minutes available [when they are written up].
4] Simpson’s £’sss severance. It’s our money and we want it back.
No surprise but nonetheless still disappointing, we have had no response from Unite or the Trustees. So we plan the next step. Watch this space!
5] Rank and File ‘sparks’.
For the very latest at Visit Electricians Against The world http://www.jibelectrician.blogspot.com/ or email siteworkers@virginmedia.com
6] UCATT General Secretary Election
Mick Dooley has lodged a complaint with the ‘Certification Officer’ re: being debarred from standing. We support in his challenge and will keep you updated.
Not in Unite? Come along or get in touch about meeting GRL supporters in your union or sector
Email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk Tel 07817827912 www.unitegrassrootsleft.wordpress.com Twitter @jerryhicksUnite www.grassrootsleft.org
