Sparks protest make Ney Years return to Blackfriars

11 January Up to 100 electricians and their supporters protested outside Blackfriars in London this morning in their ongoing campaign to defend the JIB agreement and stop the big construction companies imposing the BESNA terms that will open the door to pay cuts of up to 35%.

This was a big step up from last week's protest outside the Grattes site in Victoria, when many workers had still not returned to work after the New Year. Many workers welcomed the meeting between Unite general secretary Len McCluskey and the Rank & File Committee last week. They felt that McCluskey had shown that the union were prepared to fully back the struggle and confirmed that the Balfour Betty re-ballot would be restarted straight away as well as two other companies.

NSSN chair Rob Williams said that the Network approved of this positive approach and raised the idea of Unite paying for a full page advert in the national press explaining why these workers are fighting back against these attacks. This could coincide with the new ballot. Rob also drew attention to the rank and file pressure in the public sector that had helped move Unite into a position of opposing signing up to the government's new offer.