UK WORKERS' MOVEMENT FEB 15

Today's Fightback
Tuesday 15 February 2011

Activism from around Britain

Disabled people to picket Clegg visit

PERTH: Hundreds of disabled people in Scotland are planning a protest when Nick Clegg visits next month to attend the Liberal Democrat conference in Perth.
Campaigners in wheelchairs will target him over the government's cuts to lifeline allowances, expected to hurt almost 80,000 people.
Locals set to turn out in force

SWINDON: More than 100 campaigners are set to swamp Swindon Civic Offices when the council meets to set its budget this week.
The protesters have pledged to turn out in force Thursday night to vent anger over cuts in council spending.
GMB Swindon and Wiltshire secretary Andy Newman warned that the council risks "breaking Swindon."

Council grabs axe despite protests

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Angry protests outside the Shire Hall today greeted the start of a key Cambridgeshire County Council meeting to approve £161 million of cuts and ditching up to 450 jobs.
Activists from the Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts campaign group staged a demonstration as council members gathered for the budget summit.

Anti-cuts activists take on bankers
ISLINGTON: UK Uncut staged a protest outside the Islington branch of Barclays bank in London today, highlighting cuts to public services such as libraries while the banks are still announcing huge profits.
The protest was held on the day the banking giant revealed that staff costs rose by 20 per cent last year, which served to line the pockets of its investment bankers and cancel out a 12 per cent cut in the bonus pool.
The average bonus at Barclays Capital, not including salary, was £104,839.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/101108
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Disabled workers to ballot for industrial action
Tuesday 15 February 2011

GMB announced today that it will ballot disabled members at state-owned manufacturer Remploy for industrial action over plans to make workers redundant at workshops across Britain.
The union's central executive council gave its authority for a national ballot after GMB members in Remploy voted in a consultative ballot by a majority of five to one to take strike action.
Remploy told the union last month that proposals for voluntary redundancy were being rolled out across the company from Monday January 31.
The ballot will take place among GMB members at 54 Remploy factories across Britain.
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "With this deliberate run down of employment in Remploy GMB member are fed up of being lectured on the big society by those in high society.
"It's come to a sorry pass when disabled workers have to go on strike to stay in work and stay off the dole. Eighty-five per cent of those who lost their jobs in Remploy in 2008 are still on the dole."

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/101139


Steelworks cleaners stay strong
Tuesday 15 February 2011
by Paddy McGuffin, Home Affairs Reporter
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Cleaning staff at a south Wales steelworks concluded their two-day industrial action over pay today still determined to win a rise.
Steelworkers union Community hailed the picket at the Tata plant in Port Talbot as a major success despite management's bid to undermine the strike by bussing in scab labour.
Cleaning staff employed by contractor Office Cleaning Services (OCS) at the Tata plant work in arduous conditions for the minimum wage.
In the face of rising inflation Community said that they were left with no option but to take a stand and demand a living wage.
The union's regional campaigns manager Susan Lewis told the Morning Star: "For many of our members this was the first time they had been involved in industrial action and they have responded magnificently."
Strike-breaking attempts by management had added to members' resolve, she said.
"Management brought a convoy of workers in before 5am this morning.
"We do know that we had support from our sister unions within Tata.
"Some of the areas were not prepared to have scab labour come in and take our jobs."
The union said that negotiations had been tortuous, with management withdrawing and reducing an offer once it had been rejected by members.
"Our members do hard, dirty work getting up at 4am to start their shift at 5am.
"They work eight-hour shifts for just £5.93 an hour," she said.
"Many of our members have kids and families to support, they have been very patient but with the inflation increases you cannot live on the minimum wage."
Community said it still hoped to reach a negotiated settlement but that if necessary it would engage in further actions to force management to the table.
paddym@peoples-press.com
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/101145