Laing Workers Sit-In Strike This Friday - Solidarity Protest!
Ewa J | 03.11.2004 00:46 | Workers' Movements
Where? The Channel Tunnel Rail Link Site, Phoenix Road, London NW1
What time? 7am
Workers at the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) site at Kings Cross,
London have declared they will hold a sit-in strike this Friday over the
barring of trade union reps at their worksite.
Around 200 workers, employed by construction giant Laing O'Rourke, will
down tools and refuse to work until Union reps from the GMB are allowed
on site.
Workers at Laing O'Rourke's sites at Canary Wharf, Terminal 5, Newham
Hospital, Ascot, Birmingham and Liverpool have been under pressure to
sign a new contract from the comapny which will see the basic rate of
pay halved, cuts of #20 per day for holiday pay, bonuses paid at the
discretion of management and a period of 40 days notice given for days
off.
Workers have been told that if they do not sign the new contract, they
will be sacked. Construction Union UCAAT has told workers to sign the
contract despite there having been no ballot or negotiation with Laing.
The GMB (General Municipal and Boilermakers Union) has been barred off
the site in violation of established construction industry agreements.
The contract has been rebranded 'the contrick' by workers and most at
the CTRL site are standing their ground in refusing it and
representation by UCAAT which has been accused of entering into a
'sweetheart deal' with Laing.
Over 200 workers attended a lunchtime meeting in the park opposite the
CTRL site last week and elected workshop stewards. Resistance to the
'contrick' is mounting and both workers and management are showing no
signs of giving in.
Contacts
Steve Hedley, Joint Sites Committee 07985 438 301
Photos by Molly Cooper - workers chose their representatives last week
Steve Hedley impersonates Roy O'Rourke, the boss behind the 'Contrick' being foisted on Laing O'Rourke workers up and down the country. A GMB rep signs his rights away. Its A Hell of a Contrick!!!
Ewa J