Category Archives: News

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.


48 hour strike by RMT cleaners remains solid.

Cleaners working for Initial, a subcontractor of Network Rail ,brought their protest to St Pancras Station early on Thursday morning. The 48 hour stoppage was over pay as they are paid as little as £6.30 and hour. London Mayor Boris Johnson has stated that Londoners should be on £8.50 to make ends meet in the capital. Members of the public were visibly supportive of the noisy early morning picket.

Photos by Guy Smallman


Sparks bring Park Lane to a standstill.

Electricians brought London’s exclusive Park lane to a standstill last night as they protested outside the annual ECA Dinner Ball at the exclusive Grosvenor House Hotel. For over an hour one of London’s busiest roads was blocked as the sparks and their supporters took the fight to the bosses. Ken Livingston spoke during the protest and pledged that companies who tear up agreements will not find work on London Underground if he is elected.

Photos by Guy Smallman

Update: Video of the action and Balfour Beatty giving in now up.


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.


Solid strike by Barnet Council workers following ballot by UNISON.

Council workers in Barnet held a 50 strong picket line at the entrances to the North London Business Park today where Barnet council is based. The dispute is over the privatisation of services and contracts in the Tory controlled borough. After the morning picket the strikers then travelled across the borough to spend the day doing voluntary work painting a local community centre that serves local adults with learning difficulties.

Photos by Guy Smallman


First LIMITED EDITION set of artist tiles from The Treatment Rooms

Select your location
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.

Select your location

Some Reel News news…

Following from the move to a whole new website, and setting up Twitter and Statusnet, to make it easier for you to get updates, we have now also started integrating social networks a lot more. At the bottom of each page you can share and tweet our updates, so please do and help us spread the news that the mainstream is ignoring.

At the bottom of some posts you will also get suggestions of other stuff you might be interested in, we hope this will help you find your way around our site and maybe come across some fascinating issues you hadn’t heard about before.

We’ve got a new contact page where you can use the barcode reader on your phone to get out contact details.

Oh, and we’ll be featuring Guy’s pictures regularly from now on, you should definitely check them out.

What else? Oh, yeah, the tiles will be coming soon. Like really soon. So check back for the limited edition, autographed, collectors items that’ll remind you of the important things in life while you’re having a cuppa.

We’re also planning on making a historical documentary about rank and file organising and action, in honour of the 40 year anniversary of a high time of union organising, the Pentonville dockers, Saltley, the building workers strike to name but a few key events – we might need your support to make that happen.