Electricians step up their campaign against de-skilling

“John Moore has recruited more members to Unite in the last 3 weeks than we’ve recruited in the past year” So said Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary of Unite as she addressed 250 Unite Electricians at a Rank and File meeting in Glasgow on Sat 10th Dec.  Gail was talking about the same John Moore, who took home more than a million pounds last year, but wants to see sparks pay cut by up to 35% by withdrawing from the JIB and imposing the BESNA agreement.

The meeting was arranged as part of their ongoing campaign against an attempt by construction multi-national Balfour Beatty to cut wages by 35% by forcing them to sign new contracts as part of what is called the BESNA agreement. An agreement that seeks to introduce ‘bell to bell working’ where workers only get paid when on the job including where even toilet breaks are unpaid.

During her contribution she explained that Balfour Beatty had made £50.5million in pre-tax profits and were linked with US anti-trade union organisation ‘Blackrock’.

Her speech explained the reason behind Balfour Beatty running to the courts to secure an injunction to prevent the Unite electricians, who achieved an 81% vote in favour, from striking on December 7th. She warned to expect another reference to courts in the event of another ballot. “Legally compliant ballots are extremely problematic therefore people know what they must do” she stated.

In response to the court injunction electricians took illegal action and walked off sites around Britain. In Scotland sparks walked off the job at Grangemouth oil refinery and other sites across the country. Hundreds rallied to lobby the Balfour Beatty headquarters in Hillington, Glasgow and then later marched on Cambuslang Fire station and occupied the site offices there.

Many of the workers at the meeting had been at the protest outside the BBES HQ in Glasgow last Wednesday and they’re determined to step up the action to defend the JIB.

“We need to take them on – to organise and be united – because united-we can win!” was the message coming from the meeting.  Members spoke from the floor, angry at the bosses attempts to outlaw the strike, but determined to keep up the action, to continue to recruit, and to involve other trades in the industry  – starting with workers at the Longannnet and Markinch sites  – “the Blue Book  agreements will be next !”

The union are now focussing the campaign on industrial action on building sites and Cartmail announced that Unite have organised a £25million fighting fund devoted to this campaign. The union will begin to reballot their members with a view to taking action in January.

The members listened intently to the speeches from the top table, however there was some debate on the question of what was viewed as an emphasis on ‘civil disobedience’.  Points were made from the floor, particularly from Grangemouth refinery members, about the need to hit the employer in the pocket and go for stopping their profits. This position drew enthusiastic applause.

Ian Leech, Glasgow City Unison Social Work Convenor and a member of Socialist Party Scotland explained that there cannot be an artificial divide between public and private sector because in this battle against the bosses we are ‘all in it together’.

Ian pledged Glasgow City UNISON to provide whatever support and resources it could to the sparks –an offer that was enthusiastically received to cheers and applause.

The meeting finished with plans agreed for further protests over the coming days and weeks – starting on Wednesday 14th Dec with action to involve workers  at Longannet, Markinch and Grangemouth .