‘PEOPLE need to realise what’s happening before it’s too late, we need a strike ballot now, straightaway!’
Bill Pulley, Unite member and professional electrician, was speaking with great seriousness to News Line at the latest Sparks rally in Oxford Street in London’s West End on Wednesday morning.
The rally, from 6.30-8am, was called by Unite against the massive attack on terms and conditions by a ‘cartel’ of contractors who have announced that they are tearing up the JIB (Joint Industry Board) national agreement from 7th December and slashing pay by 35%.
The JIB is the sparks’ guarantee against wage-cutting, de-skilling and casualisation and they warn that its defence is literally ‘a matter of life and death’, both for workers in the industry and for members of the public.
‘If these companies succeed in their plans the game is over, finished,’ Pulley added to News Line.
Before, during and at the end of the rally, several other electricians also explained the issues involved in their struggle.
Unite member James Carle said: ‘We’re disgusted at what’s going on in the industry.
‘They are taking liberties. I served my apprenticeship – four years – and they are taking all that away.
‘We want a strike ballot now. We’ve got to show these bastards we’re serious. Unite must call the strike ballot now.’
Paul Soper, Unite, told News Line: ‘Why hasn’t the ballot been called? It’s ridiculous. Unite are too late coming into the fray.
‘They’ve known about this for ages. It’s just been left down to the rank and file to do something about it.
‘This is getting bigger and bigger every week.
‘The contractors and their dirty tricks are still the same.
‘Next Tuesday we’re holding a meeting at Conway Hall in Holborn. We must have some movement by then.’
Leon Fraser, Unite member, said: ‘The police are getting a bit frisky, I don’t know what for, it’s only a demo!
‘There are a lot more of my mates here today, which is good, a much better show.
‘They want to bring down our rate of pay, just so they can make more profit.’
Liam Murphy, Unite, said: ‘I’m disgusted with the 35 per cent pay cut they’re trying to impose.
‘I started as an electrician in 1977 under the JIB.
‘I qualified in 1982 after a five-year apprenticeship. No way I’m going to accept that all being stolen from me.
‘My brother works for Gratte Bros; they are one of the eight.
‘They are taking people into the office 15 at a time and telling them to sign a new contract.
‘If they refuse they have to come back individually to speak to the labour manager.
‘People have asked what happens if they won’t sign and so far they’ve refused to answer.
‘They are putting people under undue pressure. It’s divide and rule.
‘They said they were going to break our agreement on 7th December, but they’ve brought it forward.
‘We need our strike ballot immediately.’
Colin McKillop, Unite, said: ‘How come the union hasn’t done anything about the agencies?
‘What’s been going on for years now is that rates are coming right down, to £12 for a tradesman! No sick pay, no holiday.
‘And you have to pay a payment fee of £20 to get your own wages!
‘The union needs to do something!’
Mark Peaty, Unite member, told News Line: ‘The ballot must be held now. What they are doing will not just ruin our trade, but every trade in the country. It will affect everyone, unless we take a stand now, everything will fall down.’
Mick Dooley, UCATT General Secretary candidate, told News Line: ‘From my experience, the quality of the fightback is phenomenal.
‘However, unless there is greater publicity and more coordinated strategic action, there is a danger the employers will simply ride it out.
‘This must not be allowed to happen.
‘There has got to be a stepping up and the taking of good, old fashioned industrial action.’
The demonstrators defied warnings from the Metropolitan Police that if they didn’t clear the road they would be arrested, and they continued with their rally.
‘Call a strike ballot now,’ angry sparks shouted at some of the Unite officers as they spoke on the megaphone on Wednesday morning, ‘stop dragging your heels!’
Speakers condemned the rogue employers who have declared they intend to pull out of the JIB – Bailey Building Services, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, Tommy Clarke, Crown House Technologies, Gratte Brothers, MJN Colston, SES and SPIE Matthew Hall.
Speaking on the microphone to the rally, Jim Kelly, Unite London Regional Committee, said: ‘We have to fight againstBalfour Beatty, Tommy Clarke and the other employers.
‘This is part of a much bigger fight, involving public sector workers and private sector workers.’
Steve Jones of Unite said: ‘We’re not taking this 35 per cent wage cut. The ballot seems to be coming but very slowly.’
London Region Unite officer Harry Cowap said: ‘We will not lie down and have our belly tickled. We want to bring thousands out. We’ll be at the Tate Modern next week.’
Richard Alday, of Unite said: ‘What you started here in London seven weeks ago is going viral. It’s not just in the building industry.
‘Now the Tories are telling everyone they are going to have to pay £200 to apply to an employment Tribunal and pay £1,000 to have their case heard.’
Phil Wallace, GMB, said: ‘This is the fight of your life. If you don’t win this, every boss in every industry will follow suit. You’ve got to get people out.’
Mick Dooley, speaking on the megaphone as the police began pushing the demonstrators off the road, said: ‘It seems we are being kettled, at our age!’
He continued: ‘We are being too slow, we have to stop production on the building sites.’