Delegations of sparks from all over Britain discuss the next steps in the dispute, agreeing that ONLY unofficial action is going to win, that there will be an immediate national walkout if even ONE spark is sacked for not signing the new agreement, and to target NG Bailey sites across Britain in the coming week. More info: siteworkers@virginmedia.com, jibelectrician.blogspot.com
Inspired by the brilliant struggle of the rank and file sparks, and disgusted by the sellout of the pensions dispute by the UNISON leadership, Reel News are planning a film on rank and file organising.
It feels like a good time to look at great examples of rank and file organising from the past, especially where ordinary workers have had the confidence to go against their own leadership to win significant victories, and how those lessons might be applied to the task of building a rank and file movement now.
So we want to have a look at examples right up to the present day, but obviously the early 70s is a key period to consider…Pentonville dockers, Saltley, the building workers strike to name but a few key events.
Do you have any suggestions for people you think we should be interviewing, areas we should be looking at or disputes we should be looking into?
Let us know what you think – any ideas gratefully received. Either leave a comment below or email us at info@reelnews.co.uk.
Reel News will be appearing at the Bristol Radical Film Festival, running from 27th February to 4th March.
On Thursday 1st March at 7pm we’ll be showing “Rebellion in Tottenham 2011″ alongside Ken Faro’s film “Injustice” at the Malcolm X Centre, 141 City Road, St. Pauls, Bristol BS2 8YH.
Then on Saturday March 3rd at 2pm we’ll be taking part in a debate on videoactivism in Britain with Schmovies, the Camcorder Guerillas and Permanent Culture now.
For more information and the full programme, click here.
Regular bimonthly night at the Star & Shadow cinema in Newcastle, this month featuring rank and file action by electricians fighting a 35% pay cut and the tearing up of national agreements. This is the most important unofficial action for decades, and Newcastle sparks will be in attendance to relay the latest developments.
For updates on the sparks’ dispute, click here.
Also, films of the November 30 public sector strikes over pensions.
1. Sparks 1: Kings X (Reel News) 11:45
In the battle to stop a 35% pay cut and the tearing up of national agreements, sparks block roads and occupy Kings Cross station. ***PLAY***
2. Liverpool: Fighting gentrification (Reel News) 10:04
The residents of Granby, Toxteth have come up with a novel way to stop their homes being sold off.
3. Sparks 2: London protests increase, power station walk out (Reel News) 12:50
Sparks walk out on unofficial strike at Ratcliffe-on-Soar
power station, while the London protests get more militant. ***PLAY***
4. Sparks 3: Rank and File Sparks & Occupy LSX unite (Reel News) 9:44
The two most significant movements in the country unite to shut down a Balfour Beatty site. ***PLAY***
5. FOSBR: Unite the City! (Reel News) 6:20
Having won extra funding for Bristol railways, FOSBR are
now campaigning to improve the service even more. ***PLAY***
6. Sparks 4: National Day of Action (Reel News) 12:29
Mass pickets, direct action and occupations as the sparks run the police ragged all over London. ***PLAY***
7. November 30 (Reel News) 8:00
Millions of workers take action over pensions in the largest
UK strike for 85 years.
8. Sparks 5: UK wide unofficial strike (Reel News) 10:00
Who needs a ballot? Sparks defy the law to pull off the most
important unofficial strike in decades. ***PLAY***
9. Argentinazo: Comienza la Revolucion (Ojo Obrero) 16:36
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Argentinian uprising
when the economy and the banks collapsed, this brilliant
film of the events of 19/20 December 2001 – rarely seen in
this country.
Reel News and Blacklist Support Group present: Blacklisted 2012 Multinational construction companies have been illegally blacklisting trade unionists in the UK building industry for years using the Consulting Association blacklist – the successor to the notorious Economic League with allegations about involvement by M.I.5, Special Branch and the UK security services
The good guys: Ricky Tomlinson, Des Warren, John Hendy QC, Professor Keith Ewing, Gail Cartmail, Glenis Willmott MEP, Stephen Hughes MEP, Jim Lafferty, Steve Hedley, Steve Acheson, Steve Kelly, Brian Higgins, Mick Dooley, Terry Renshaw, Jill Warren, Kath Warren, Colin Trousdale, Tony Jones, Darren O’Grady, George Fuller, Tony O’Brien, Mick Abbott, Frank Morris, Graham Bowker, Ray Morris, Jim Grey, Mick Holder, Roy Bentham, Kev Homes, Dave Smith, Unite the Union, UCATT, RMT
The bad guys: Consulting Association, Economic League, Ian Kerr, Carillion, Tarmac Construction, John Mowlem Ltd, Amec, Amey, Balfour Beatty, Balfour Kilpatrick, Haden Young, Kier Ltd, Laing O’Rourke, Bam Construction (HBC Construction), Bam Nuttall (Edmund Nutall Ltd), Costain UK Ltd, Crown House Technologies, Emcor (Drake & Scull), GLovell Construction (UK) Ltd, Miller Construction Limited, Morgan Est, Morrison Construction Group, N G Bailey, Shepherd Engineering Services, Sias Building Services, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, Skanska (Kaverna / Trafalgar House Plc), SPIE (Matthew Hall), Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd, Willmott Dixon, Vinci PLC (Norwest Holst Group), C B & I, Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd
The video covers the Shrewsbury Pickets, Rank & File Sparks, Jubilee Line, Pfizers, Olympics, Fiddlers Ferry, Construction Safety Campaign, Joint Sites Committee. This brand new version updated for 2012 shows those recent struggles, Employment Tribunals, Human Rights, demonstrations and direct action, to the most powerful challenge of all – the rank and file electricians’ action.
Soundtrack by Alabama 3 and The Redskins
s those recent struggles, from legal challenges and victories to demonstrations and direct action, to the most powerful challenge of all – the rank and file electricians’ action.
Coming soon – a whole range of T-shirts! Another collaboration between Reel News and political artists collective The Treatment Rooms…more details as they get designed, watch this space!
From the next issue of Reel News in February 2012, we’re very pleased to announce that political artists collective The Treatment Rooms will be producing a set of 4 artist ceramic tiles with original designs. This will be a limited edition of just 100 and will only be available on this website or on our stalls – once they’re gone, they’re gone! Then with every subsequent issue of Reel News another set of tiles will be issued.
***FULL RESOLUTION VERSION AVAILABLE ON REEL NEWS 30 ***
After 81% of Balfour Beatty electricians vote to strike against a 35% pay cut and national agreements being torn up, the company threaten a court injunction and UNITE call off the strike – but it makes no difference. Rank and file sparks break every anti-trade union law in the book and pull off a brilliant unofficial strike across the UK. Here’s all the action from London. For more info, email siteworkers@virginmedia.com