"Shame on Ewell" Amey protest rocks Kingston University
Sisepuede | 05.12.2008 21:34 | Migration | Workers' Movements
When Amey plc Chief Executive Mel Ewell went to receive an award at Kingston University, who could have imagined the scale of the response from students and staff appalled at Amey's sacking of five Latin American cleaners at the National Physical Laboratory in nearby Teddington for speaking out about health and safety, wage and staff cuts, and the trauma of an immigration raid.
Mel Ewell, Chief Executive of Amey plc arrived at Kingston University on 2 December to be awarded a place on the Wall of Fame, a university honour for twenty selected famous graduates.
A protest picket of 80 students and staff turned out in support of the 5 Colombian cleaners Ewell's company sacked at nearby National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Days before, Kingston's UCU lecturers branch wrote to Ewell urging him to reinstate the cleaners.
Despite the cleaners' willingness to enter informal dialogue, Ewell refused to meet them, but he did hold a one-on-one meeting with Kingston senior lecturer Andy Higginbottom, who urged reinstatement and that all NPL cleaners be paid at least the London Living Wage. Ewell stated that Amey has carried out an internal audit of the sackings, according to the company for 'gross misconduct', and he is satisfied that all procedures were properly complied with. Ewell insisted that Amey will sub-contract cleaners through agencies, who will determine their wages and conditions within the law. Ewell urged that Amey be judged on its record.
So what is Amey's record? If you ask the NPL cleaners, very different from the picture of social responsibility painted on Amey's website. After their picket the students held a teach in, which heard from two of the sacked cleaners how they have fought to maintain wages, staffing levels and health and safety standards.
The workers entered two grievance procedures complaining against being tricked into an immigration raid, and the increasing risks for the reduced workforce. Neither of these were responded to by Amey, which is why the cleaners felt it necessary to make the protest for which they were sacked.
The following day, 3 December, the cleaners' union Prospect filed a claim for unfair dismissal with the industrial tribunal. It looks like Mr Ewell, or at least his lawyers, will have to see them in court.
Other developments
The university action followed hot on the heels of a protest at Amey offices in central London, where the company refused to receive a letter addressed to Mr Ewell, despite protestors waiting patiently inside the building to ensure safe delivery. See
http://caic.org.uk/node/28
Meanwhile, Oxford Trades Council heard directly from one of the sacked cleaners at their monthly meeting, and have agreed to back the demonstration at Amey's national headquarters on the edge of the city at 11am on Monday 8 December. See http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/413855.html for directions and more details.
See also:
Interview with sacked cleaner: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/412669.html
A protest picket of 80 students and staff turned out in support of the 5 Colombian cleaners Ewell's company sacked at nearby National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Days before, Kingston's UCU lecturers branch wrote to Ewell urging him to reinstate the cleaners.
Despite the cleaners' willingness to enter informal dialogue, Ewell refused to meet them, but he did hold a one-on-one meeting with Kingston senior lecturer Andy Higginbottom, who urged reinstatement and that all NPL cleaners be paid at least the London Living Wage. Ewell stated that Amey has carried out an internal audit of the sackings, according to the company for 'gross misconduct', and he is satisfied that all procedures were properly complied with. Ewell insisted that Amey will sub-contract cleaners through agencies, who will determine their wages and conditions within the law. Ewell urged that Amey be judged on its record.
So what is Amey's record? If you ask the NPL cleaners, very different from the picture of social responsibility painted on Amey's website. After their picket the students held a teach in, which heard from two of the sacked cleaners how they have fought to maintain wages, staffing levels and health and safety standards.
The workers entered two grievance procedures complaining against being tricked into an immigration raid, and the increasing risks for the reduced workforce. Neither of these were responded to by Amey, which is why the cleaners felt it necessary to make the protest for which they were sacked.
The following day, 3 December, the cleaners' union Prospect filed a claim for unfair dismissal with the industrial tribunal. It looks like Mr Ewell, or at least his lawyers, will have to see them in court.
Other developments
The university action followed hot on the heels of a protest at Amey offices in central London, where the company refused to receive a letter addressed to Mr Ewell, despite protestors waiting patiently inside the building to ensure safe delivery. See
http://caic.org.uk/node/28 Meanwhile, Oxford Trades Council heard directly from one of the sacked cleaners at their monthly meeting, and have agreed to back the demonstration at Amey's national headquarters on the edge of the city at 11am on Monday 8 December. See
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/413855.html for directions and more details. See also:
Interview with sacked cleaner: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/412669.html
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