Category Archives: Videos

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.


Blacklisted 2012 ***NEW UPDATED VERSION***

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.


Sparks Unofficial action shuts down Balfour Beatty sites all over the UK

***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


Sparks national day of action: police run ragged all over London

***FULL RESOLUTION VERSION AVAILABLE ON REEL NEWS 30 ***

In the continued battle over a 35% pay cut and the tearing up of the national agreement, rank and file sparks battle through police lines to hold pickets at 5 building sites, visit the occupation at St. Pauls, occupy Cannon St. station themselves and almost join the student demo before being stopped by huge numbers of police…or were they?? Email jointsitescommittee@gmail.com to keep up with the most important industrial dispute for years.