Sparks disrupt bosses’ dinner, then sensationally defeat Balfour Beatty

2 down, 6 to go – What a week! Wednesday, the electricians block Park Lane and bring West and Central London to a standstill as they disrupt The Electrical Contractors Association annual dinner and dance (see photo slideshow). Thursday, Balfour Beatty, the biggest of the 7 companies attempting to cut wages by 35%  (all of whom illegally BLACKLIST workers for trade union activities), fails to get an injunction to stop official strike action. Friday, Balfour Beatty sensationally give in and withdraw the new contracts. The BESNA agreement is crumbling; come and join the mass pickets at NG Baileys sites  around the country this week to knock out another company! More info, visit the Sparks’ Facebook page, the Electricians against the world blog, or email siteworkers@virginmedia.com.


Arthur Scargill speaking at The Battle of Saltley Gate 40th Anniversary Commemoration

On 10th February 1972, 30,000 Birmingham engineers walked out on strike in solidarity with striking miners. Up to 15,000 of them marched to join 2,000 miners in a mass picket of Saltley Gate coke plant, where 100,000 tonnes of coal were stored. The blockade forced the police to surrender and close the gates, and a Tory government to concede the miners’ demand for a 27% pay rise. Arthur Scargill speaks on the 40th anniversary of one of the great moments of working class history.


First LIMITED EDITION set of artist tiles from The Treatment Rooms

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Here they are…the first set of limited edition artist tiles made for Reel News by The Treatment Rooms. Only 25 sets will ever be made, so snap ‘em up quick!The tiles can be used as coasters, or grouted on to a wall on or in your house. Anywhere that you can find to tile really. So its just your imagination limiting you now.
They are printed on 4cm square, lovely oatmeal tile. Made in Italy and found as discontinued stock about to be skipped. These tiles are re-fired to over 900 degrees, so the image is permanently sunk into the glaze and are not to be confused with non-fired transfers that just lay of the surface. Now upcycled and made into a little bit of affordable art. Each tile is stamped on the back and signed.

A new set of tiles will be out to coincide with the next Reel News DVD…if you have any designs you’d love to see, let us know. The Treatment Rooms’ new show is on in Chiswick until February 26th every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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Slag – New show opening at The Treatment Rooms Collective HQ

SLAG!!!

Following its uber successful Xmas show (Taking Liberties), The Treatment Rooms Collective HQ, is proud to announce its new valentines special exhibiton ‘SLAG.’

The event will be held at Carrie Reichardt’s studios ……. 199 Acton Lane, Chiswick W4 5DA, every Fri/Sat/Sun 12-6pm until Feb 26th.

The usual suspects from Mutoid Waste, Mutate Britain and The Treatment Rooms Collective will be exhibiting their work, alongside some surprise guests.

A female heavy show, the window display is an amazing piece of outsider art. Made by a ‘Recycling Fairy’, it is a composition of hundreds of found objects, toys and dolls made to create the Goddess Kali with babies gushing from her blood red vulva. Not your typical shop window for Chiswick! But then The Treatment Rooms HQ is getting used to visits from the local law enforcement officers for causing a visual disturbance.

This show (as ever) gives art enthusiasts the rare opportunity to view eclectic and original artwork made by some of the top underground/outsider/lowbrow artists. Chances like this rarely come along, so make the effort to come down.

All artwork can be bought direct from the artists. 80% of the profits go direct to them; the other 20% is donated to REEL NEWS. Big thank you again to all the artists for helping us generate some much needed cash.


“Rank and file organising” film – Can you help?

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 at the Bristol Radical Film Festival

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.


Reel News screening Jan 25: NEWCASTLE

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.