London
Pharmaceutical workers struggle in Wembley
Workers at the Chemilines pharmaceuticals firm in Wembley, north west London, are stepping up their campaign for decent pay and dignity at work.
They walked out on their second one-day strike last week and have now voted unanimously for a three-day strike at the end of this month. The Chemilines workers, who are mostly Asian women, are hoping to hold a public meeting this Saturday to build support for their cause, followed by a march the Saturday after that.
Somers Town, directed by Shane Meadows (2008)
Tom Jennings appreciates Shane Meadows’ sly cinematic commentary on our changing times in Somers Town’s low-key coming-of-age tale.
New Wave Goodbye. Film review – Tom Jennings
Up against the odds - The JJ Foods strike, 1995
An account of the JJ fast food worker's strike in Tottenham, 1995-6, and its lessons for workers today.
This pamphlet looks at the problems the JJ workers faced: of working within the current union structures, of police and State harassment, the bureaucracy of industrial tribunals and the participation of the organised left. It also attempts to draw some positive lessons as to how workers can improve things for the better through direct action and working class organisation.
Picket - bulletin of the Wapping printers' strike, 1986-1987
PDFs of all 43 issues of Picket, the unofficial newsletter of the News International printers strike of 1986.
digitised by libcom.org
The Sun - spoof newspaper from the Wapping strike, 1986
Short spoof issue of The Sun newspaper produced by anarchists to support the News International printers strike at Wapping in 1986.
digitised by libcom.org
Metronet climb down on activist victimisation
Metronet have backed down from attempts to fire RMT militant Andy Littlechild
As previously reported here, Metronet have been victimising militant RMT rep Andy Littlechild. Andy had been suspended for 3 weeks for following Metronet agreed health and safety policy against the wishes of a manager.
London Underground union rep suspended for union activities
A Tube worker and union activist has been suspended from his job for his organising activities. A demonstration is planned in London this Wednesday (15th).
Andy Littlechild, a track worker at Metronet has been a rep for over 12 years. He is known for his complete dedication to the health, safety and welfare of all workers; Metronet employees and agency staff alike.
London: thousands of bus drivers strike
5000 bus workers with Metroline and First Group walked out at 3 a.m. this morning in a row over equal pay causing massive disruption across the capital.
The drivers will be out on a 24 hour strike to protest at the huge pay disparity between the 18 London bus companies.
Several sources report solid support for the action, with very few drivers crossing picket lines, many routes completely cancelled and others running only minimal services.
The London Coalition Against Poverty
This article originally appeared in Direct Action No. 42, Spring 2008, the magazine of the Solidarity Federation, the British section of the International Workers Association. It looks at the formation and practice of the London Coalition Against Poverty.
One of the most exciting developments in London over the last year is the formation of the London Coalition Against Poverty. LCAP is inspired by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty in Canada, who have created a successful and empowering model of grassroots community organising over the last two decades.
Eleven London bus garages join strike action
Unite members at a further eleven bus garages in London are set to join the 3,500 bus workers who have been taking strike action on Friday 10 and Wednesday 22 October.
The 2,500 Unite members who work for Metroline voted 88.5 per cent in favour of strike action in a recent ballot by the union. Unite submitted a London wide claim to all bus operators in March of this year to challenge the current system whereby drivers (and other grades) performing identical jobs within the TfL regulated industry, receive hugely varying pay and conditions.
