More "Foreigh Worker" Wildcats
May 18 2009 08:57
From The Times:
"Hundreds of workers at Longannet power station and Grangemouth oil refinery will stage wildcat strikes next month, kick-starting fresh industrial action in the row over the use of foreign workers.
The strikes, part of a series at power plants across the UK, are being organised to coincide with next month’s European parliamentary elections.
About 500 workers from the Fife power station are expected to walk out. Activists expect them to be joined by about 700 Grangemouth oil refinery workers.
The two Scottish plants are striking in support of workers at the Lindsey oil refinery in north Lincolnshire, owned by Total, the French oil giant.
The action is a repeat of February’s unofficial strikes, which saw thousands of workers protest outside power stations over the use of foreign contractors at the Lindsey plant. February’s strikes ended after Total agreed to open up 102 new jobs at the plant to anybody wishing to apply.
Activists are angry that power companies are refusing to sign up to proposals put forward by the trade union Unite to offer UK workers security of employment.
Unite is scheduled to hold talks with power firms next month to discuss the issue and a new pay deal for UK workers."
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article6301297.ece
Is there something that doesn't make sense about this, or is it just me, expecting the term "wildcat strikes" to mean 'spontaneous, unofficial and unpredictable strikes'?
And does anyone have anything that would relate this to the wildcats that are reported as going on in West and South Wales and Lincolnshire? Are these all really GMB and Unite actions? Is there a connectiuon to the RMT and the No2EU campaigns?