SITE ELECTRICIANS STRIKE TO DEFEND T.U, RIGIPS by S. Nagendra
‘Te have been on strike sinco last Tuesday (April 7th) on accouut of the dismissal by Rashieigh Fhipps of 60 men on the BEA site, Tho strike has received tromendous support from tho mombers in the firme No one is working in London as far as we know. All major sites are closed down, The issue is the right to continuo the practice of holding shop mectings in the normal working hours, This has been the custom for ycars and now the firm has had some agreement with the 1.C. of the eTeU. ta stop this, Tho §,.7,U. mombers in our firm wore informed by the managenent that they have agreed on a joint statement with the eC. of the H,T.U.
As far as the rank and file is concerned the H.T.U. has neither consulted us or informed us of this secret agrcoment, So you see our strike remains unofficial and the %.C. is supporting tho management saying that its dismissal of 60 employoos is justified. A statement by the Rashleigh Phipps Joint Strike Conmmitittcoe reads in parts
", Today (7/4/64) a crowded meeting of Rashleigh Phipps workers from practically every building site where Rashleigh Phipps have a contract decided to stop work at once in support of their brothers (60) who have been discharged from the firm's omployment at B.E.A. air term inal for tho (heinous) crime of holding thoir monthly shop mecting on the sito during working hours. This practicc...-has been an accepted part of the routine of omploymont by this and other cloctrical contrac— tors for many yoars, In December of last year Mr. G.T. King represent ing the N.F.U.A. (the employors association) and brother J.T. Byrne (General—Socretary B.T.U.) issued a statement as followss
"tit the mocting of the National Joint Industrial Council held on 14th December, 1963, it was jointly agreed that union meetings should not bo held during normal working hours!
"Tt should bo noted that the wording is not “must not" or "shall not" be held, but mercly “should not" be held. Tho clear intention of this agreed statement, which incidently has never received the sanction of the membership of the E.T.U., was to leave open room for the continued practice of, what our national agreement refers to as "co-oporation" between the two sides of the industry. This has meant that where labour relations have been good, there has been no dissension on the subject of site mcotings during working hours. It is further to be noted that the &.7.U. executive have not thomscelvos circulated any similar instructions to their shop stowards.
"hy then have Rashlcigh Phipps chosen this moment to provoke a dispute with their workers on the B.E.A. site? The answer would appear to be, that in the light of the support given by bro, J.T. Byrne to this documentseeethey beolioved that they could soparate our brothers on this site..efrom the bulk of their omployces,..this stoprgo of work will not receive the support of the H.C. of the union. It is thorefore imperative that members of tho union...should recognise that if Rashlcigh Phipps succced in this attempt..each and every other section of the industry will in due course be the target of attackcee.."
The statomont cnds with an appeal to all trade unionists for support. The address of the Strike Committce iss R. Collins, 1, Redburn Ste, Cholsca, London S.%7. 3.