123 Wincanton fuel tanker drivers, working on a Conoco Phillips contract, are on strike for 14 consecutive days. The Texas based oil giant wants to drive down their pensions, terms and conditions, and are demanding a 20% pay cut despite making profits of $3.4 billion. Visit their picket lines at Immingham, Tamworth and Stockton-on-Tees; for updates, go to http://www.unitetheunion.org/
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.
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