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Strikers and campers unite

A-M | 20.08.2007 14:11 | Climate Camp 2007 | Climate Chaos | Workers' Movements

Climate campers showed solidarity with strikers at Nippon Express air freight company on Friday and Saturdayof the Climate Camp.

During the climate camp, workers at Nippon Express faced another instance of Heathrow's multi-nationals placing profit over people and planet. Warehouse staff for the Japanese air freight company were on strike for three days during the climate camp, opposing a change of contract that would see workers lose over £1000 in pay as well as 60-75 hours of holiday time each year.

A group of climate campers headed down to show their solidarity at the picket line. They brought with them drums and a banner which proclaimed “Bosses = exploiters of the workers = destroyers of the planet”. They found a group of workers who are committed to getting a better deal and who are willing to take further strike action until they get results.

On the picket line, it was explained: “We would like the company to reengage in negotiations to get an amicable settlement which won't erode the terms and conditions of our members.”

See the T&G's press release -  http://www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/News.asp?NodeID=93624&int1stParentNodeID=89396&int2ndParentNodeID=89396&Action=Display)

A-M

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

Why?

20.08.2007 14:32

I understand that solidarity with exploited workers is important, but wasn't the whole point of the camp to put these people out of work?

Bill


Bill....

20.08.2007 15:36

How is oposing an airport expansion putting those who already work there out of work?

Fly posters


Climate Action

20.08.2007 17:29

It was the "Camp For Climate Action", not the "Camp for Protecting Property Prices in Sipson".
It was great to have the support of the locals at the camp, but as far as I'm concerned, there's much more to it than simply preventing airport expansion. And I know that I'm not the only person who feels this way.
It is clear that in order to prevent catastrophic climate change, we must massively reduce the amount of flying that goes on as soon as possible. Simply freezing levels of aviation at their current levels is not enough. And this means that people working in aviation related industries will lose their jobs. That is unfortunate, but the alternative is far worse.

It may be convenient at the moment to play a political game and pretend that all we want is to prevent airports from expanding, but if this is all we achieve, we will have failed.

Bill


Bill has a point, but...

20.08.2007 18:50

the strikers are not the enemy, the profit system is. If we are to achieve the carbon reductions necessary, we will need to fundamentally change the structure of this society. To do that, the environmental movement must be based on a revitalised working class movement. The greenies won't achieve anything if they just try to guilt-trip people into making their lives worse (by not going on holiday abroad), they must encourage them to improve their lives (by overthrowing the profit system and the state).

Camp spokespeople in the mainstream media have fallen into the trap of accepting capitalism's 'logic', for instance by quoting the Sterne report's conclusion that climate chaos will harm economic growth. I hope that's not a reflection of their own class background. If it is, they need to be sidelined, and more links with working people need to be built.

Neon Black


why weren't we told about the strike?

23.08.2007 10:21

as a T&G member / former shop steward / newbie eco worrier who was down at the camp i'm disappointed that i didn't hear anything about this strike in my london neighbourhood or the mass meetings (apart from some mumblings from the SWP lot, which understandably got ignored). It would surely have been great if there had been a big contingent from the camp going down to join the picket line, showing that the movement is not just about middle class eco worriers but also capable of joining with working class struggles. (admittedly, i left the camp on friday afternoon, but certainly didn't hear anything about the tuesday or friday strike).

I don't personally see any contradiction between supporting the airport workers, many of whom have been struggling with increased workloads as flying increases but profiteering bosses cut staff, and the aims of the climate camp, which are to cut flying in the short term, and in the longer term move to a low carbon economy, in a way that is fair and doesn't just throw the most vulnerable on the scrap heap without any thought to creating the alternative ie re-training, mutual aid, workers co-ops, etc. If we approach it like this, ie mindful of the need for a 'just transition', we can expect strong support from the organised working class and trade union movements, who are after all inhabitants of some of the most threatened communities, and of this beautiful planet too. Otherwise, we are doomed to failure IMO.

mung
mail e-mail: mung@riseup.net


Not convinced

24.08.2007 11:32

"It is clear that in order to prevent catastrophic climate change, we must massively reduce the amount of flying that goes on as soon as possible. Simply freezing levels of aviation at their current levels is not enough. "

You talk as though flying is the biggest problem it is by far not the worst problem. Commercial shipping is far worse, then you have industry, excess packaging etc. sort out those, and it may be possible to sustain flying at it's current level. massivey reducing flying will not as you state" prevent catastophic climate change" in fact you could stop flying altogether and it would still happen.

Fly Posters


er, you mean, why didn't you find out about....

27.08.2007 23:55

Don't expect to be just told stuff - you have to take things into your own hands. If no-one in your neighbourhood said anything about it, it's because: a) they didn't know about it b) no-one had gone to the info boards/leaflet racks in the Welcome tent to bring back info for your neighbourhood meetings - this includes you. The plenaries were about deciding and planning the mass actions and were later in the week; the morning ones were just for co-ordinating site practicalities.

Surely yes - some people did, I guess others were busy. Agree with all your points about impact on most vulnerable etc (though gotta include the vulnerable & 160,000/year dead in the global South from impacts of our choices/climate chaos.

!


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