[IMC-UK-Features] Feature proposal: Wildcat strikes

[Shiar]

I have some reservations about this feature, i'm afraid, especially the
abstract, which fails to show that these industrial actions were very
controversial, to say the least. As far as i understand it, no matter how
progressive the form was (wildcat strikes, working class etc.), the
content  was arguably nationalist and even racist, at least in the
beginning, before left-wing unionists sort of intervened and slogans like
'British jobs for British workers' disappeared to be replaced by better
demands.

Sorry i can't be more constructive right now and suggest some
alternatives, but it would be good to at least include a sentence to point
out to this 'controversy'.

-- 
Shiar

On Mon, February 9, 2009 3:04 pm, opprobrium at riseup.net wrote:
> Hey!
>
> It's a bit late now, but I've finally found enough time to knock together
> a complete feature about the wildcat strikes (text version below):
>
> https://we.riseup.net/nottsimc/wildcat-strikes-across-uk
>
> It's possibly a little superficial, but I think this is an important
> issue. It also currently needs an image. If people want to add to/improve
> it then they should feel free.
>
> Thanks,
> Opprobrium
>
> *****
>
> Title: Victory for wildcat strikers
> <p>Thousands of workers in the construction industry who walked out in
> solidarity with workers at the Lindsey oil refinery run by Total in
> Killingholme, Lincolnshire, have won a significant victory. Strikers at
> Lindsey voted to accept a deal drawn up by union officials and the
> companies involved in the dispute and end their unofficial industrial
> action on Thursday 5th February.
> </p>
> <p>The wave of wildcat strikes was one of the largest waves of working
> class militancy in decades with walkouts across the country. Among the
> sites affected were Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria, the Heysham
> nuclear power station in Lancashire, Staythorpe in Nottinghamshire, South
> Hook LNG gas terminal in Milford and Langage Power Station near Plymouth
> where Polish workers joined strikers.
> </p>
> <p><strong>Regional Feature:</strong> <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/02/421581.html">Workers
> walk out at Staythorpe</a>
> </p>
> <p><strong>Newswire:</strong> <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421258.htm">British jobs for
> British workers - Green jobs for Green workers?</a> | <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421170.html">Oil and Power
> strikes: News, Resouces and analysis</a> | <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421160.html">Wildcat strikes
> in Newark</a> | <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420994.html">Today's wildcat
> strikes in the UK oil and now nuke business</a> | <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420969.html">Wildcat strikes
> - an open letter to the anarchist/anti-authoritarian movement</a> | <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/420825.html">A 'Racist'
> Strike?</a> | <a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/420721.html">BNP activists
> agitating at wildcat strikes</a>
> </p>
> <p><strong>Links:</strong> <a
> href="http://www.bearfacts.co.uk">ConstructionWorkerUk</a> | <a
> href="http://www.amicustheunion.org/">Unite the Union</a> | <strong><a
> href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/topics/workersmovements/">Indymedia
> UK Workers Movements topic page</a></strong>
> </p>
>
> <p>The dispute flared up on January 28 after it emerged that an Italian
> company contracted to work on the project would ship in its own employees
> rather than using local labour. Walkouts by workers at the refinery
> spawned a wave of solidarity strikes across the country.
> </p>
> <p>The government and media have been keen to present this as a
> nationalist or even "racist" strike and the ever-opportunistic BNP made
> efforts to capitalise on the struggle. Nevertheless, the reality is more
> complex. Strikers argued that they were actively discriminated against by
> subcontractors who refused to allow them to apply for work and, crucially,
> the deal will not see any Italian workers losing their jobs. Strike
> committee member Tony Ryan said: "It's been a hard week for the lads, this
> week they've stood out in all weathers. It's been a hard-fought fight, and
> I'm glad the lads are back at work, earning money again, and the Italian
> lads are still here."
> </p>
> <p>All of these actions took place outside the trade union bureaucracy
> (although Unite has been an influential player in the dispute) and were
> completely illegal under the anti-trade union legislation. This does not
> appear to have deterred strikers and so far there has been little
> indication that anybody will face legal consequences for the walkouts.
> </p>
> <p>While workers have been victorious at Lindsey, similar arrangements are
> in place at other sites. In Staythorpe near Newark in Nottinghamshire,
> subcontractors at the site of a new power station have refused to employ
> UK labour. Unemployed workers have been protesting there since November
> and it was one of the facilities which saw solidarity walkouts. The
> dispute there continues and on Saturday 7th January, a protest was held
> outside the offices of Alstom who are running the project.</p>
>
> --
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