Unite
Latin american workers in Unite: from heroes to pariahs
In September 2009, Unite evicted the Latin American Workers Association from the office space which they had been providing. LAWAS had not only been backing migrant workers agains the bosses: they had also been backing them against the union.
In September 2009 Unite the union ordered the Latin American Workers Association (LAWAS) without notice to vacate the office which it had provided the Association with in its southeast region HQ in Manor House, thus ending a five year partnership.
Bus strikes in East London
Bus drivers and engineers in East London walked out today in a 24-hour action which stopped around 750 buses and either froze or disrupted 58 routes.
The East London Bus Company employs 2,600 workers, of which all but 200 are members of the Unite Union. The union balloted its members after the company imposed a pay freeze on its staff, claiming the recession had forced their hand. The vote was in favour of strike action by 84%.
Fujitsu UK workers set to strike
Union members at Fujitsu Services have voted for strike action over pensions, pay and job cuts.
The action is not yet decided. Senior Unite union reps are meeting today to decide the next move after 74 per cent of members who voted called for a walk out. Some 92 per cent agreed to industrial action short of a strike.
Wildcat strike in Hartlepool
Hundreds of workers walked out in the morning of 12 October at an offshore construction yard in a dispute over union recognition.
The Peterlee mail reported that workers want Unite to be given official recognition at the Heerema site in Greenland Road, in Hartlepool, but talks are believed to have stalled in the last few weeks.
That led to tradesmen calling a wildcat strike this morning with an estimated 200 workers standing outside the gates of the site.
Racist comments spark walkout, sit-in at chicken proccessing plant
Racist comments by security guards have led to wildcat action at Two Sisters Foods in Smethwick, UK.
Workers at a Black Country food processing firm are hailed the success of an unofficial walkout, after management sacked a security guard accused of making racist comments and agreed to come to the negotiating table.
More than 100 staff at Smethwick-based Two Sisters Foods staged a wildcat strike and police were called as their protest threatened to get out of hand.
Energy workers to ballot for strike action across Britain
Construction and maintenance staff at the giant petrochemical complex in Grangemouth are to be balloted for strike action. Members of the GMB and Unite unions will vote on the issue along with those at seven sites across the UK.
The unions said the action followed a loss of confidence in employer's body the Engineering Construction Industry Association (ECIA). Both sides are currently involved in negotiating changes to the so-called NAECI agreement.
The National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry or NAECI dictates issues including pay and conditions and the use of local labour within the industry.
The struggle at Visteon, the union and the development of class consciousness, 2009
Joe Thorne from The Commune analyses the Ford Visteon workers occupation and dispute, the role of the union, and draws lessons for workers in the future. The article was published on 5th May 2009.
Report and reflections on the UK Ford-Visteon dispute 2009 - a post-Fordist struggle
A detailed account and analysis of the struggle of Ford-Visteon car manufacturing workers who occupied and picketed their plants after being sacked when their employers declared themselves bankrupt.
In June 2000 Ford Motor Company outsourced the production of certain component parts to a new company called Visteon - in reality a spin off company of Ford and in which Ford retained a 60% holding. Visteon runs factories all over the globe: in America, Europe and Asia, for example.
Visteon workers reject "insulting" offer
Sacked workers of car parts firm Visteon taking part in pickets and occupations against job cuts have rejected an "insulting" cash offer from bosses.
The workers have vowed to fight on until they get their contractual entitlements. Supporters are urged to donate to help the ex-employees continue their struggle, visit the occupied Belfast plant and assist with picketing the Enfield plant, which had its blockades strengthened following the announcement.
Enfield Ford Visteon occupation ends with no conclusion...
Some critical comments from a supporter on the ending of the Enfield Visteon occupation, which was recommended by the Unite union, despite there being no clear offer to the workers on the table.
The occupation was an inspiration for many - the spirit of the workers who refused to submit to being blatantly robbed by their bosses seemed to be what many had been waiting for, for far too long - the early possible signs of a resurgence of class struggle.
