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Construction workers reject national offer...
action needed to
get a decent deal
C
onstruction workers have
rightly rejected the national
offer on pay and conditions,
despite the GMB and Unite unions
recommending acceptance.
There were plenty of warm words in
the deal, but little substance on how the
poisonous subcontracting system can be
held to account.
The offer was well short of what
workers can win if they follow up the
magnificent wave of strikes earlier this
year.
Instead of swallowing the deal, the
trade unions should have implemented
the big vote for strikes in the official
ballot held at seven major sites.
There needs to be a national meeting
for construction workers to discuss
where next for the battles in the
industry.
There has been a clear attempt to roll
back the militancy of the widespread
unofficial action earlier in the year.
But the truth is that it was unofficial
action that forced the bosses to offer
any concessions at all.
The way to win
It cannot be left to local groups of
workers to fight for jobs alone, such as
the ongoing campaign at Uskmouth in
South Wales.
There needs to be a nationwide fight
to keep the bosses on the back foot
and get decent jobs and conditions for
all. And that will take strike action—
official or unofficial.
Unite’s assistant general secretary,
Les Bayliss, said: “Recent events
at engineering construction sites at
Lindsey, Staythorpe and Uskmouth  ■ I want to join the Socialist Workers Party
have  infuriated construction workers
and as a result our members in the
industry have  rejected the employers’
latest offer.
“It’s now time to return to the
negotiating table to thrash out an
improved offer.”
Les has got it wrong. Now is the time
to build for action in response to the
vote, that’s what will put pressure on
the employers. If the unions won’t call claiming a measly state pension, and
the action that’s needed then the kind who can slash the most from public
of unofficial action that construction spending.
workers have shown they can deliver They lecture workers to accept
needs to be back on the agenda. redundancies, pay freezes, and an
assault on benefits. Royal Mail bosses
Back postal workers are out to cut thousands of jobs, and to
Postal workers have been voting on a bring in an army of casualised and part-
national strike. Their fight is crucial for time workers.
every worker, student, pensioner and
unemployed person in Britain. Solidarity needed
It is a crucial early battle in a much Tens of thousands of postal workers
bigger war—the war over public have already struck against such attacks.
services, jobs, cuts, union rights, pay Now national action is on the cards.
and conditions at work. It’s about who Postal workers must not be left to
pays for the continuing economic crisis. face the bosses and the politicians
A victory for the postal workers that stand behind them on their own.
would show everyone else that Postal workers enemies in management,
resistance is possible and can win. It government and the media will unite in
would help develop the muscles needed an effort to crush them. Our side must
to beat back the attacks to come. A unite so they win.
defeat would encourage further attacks. We need to create networks of
Pampered politicians, both Labour solidarity in every area. Pickets lines
and Tory, are bidding to see who can should be bolstered by delegations
force us to work the longest before from local workplaces, universities and
colleges. Strikers must be flooded with
donations and messages of support.
When mass pickets are needed to stop
troops out of management’s scabbing operation, then
afghanistan! the whole movement must swing behind
the CWU.
Demonstrate Saturday 24 October The resistance at workplaces such as
Assemble 12 noon Hyde Park Visteon, Linamar, Lindsey Oil Refinery,
March to Trafalgar Square Vestas, Leeds refuse workers and Tower
The march will be lead by anti-war Hamlets College has given new hope.
military families, army veterans Now everyone needs to help deliver a
and soldiers. national victory for the postal workers.
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