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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1062/29786
From The Socialist newspaper, 30 October 2019
photo Rob Williams (Click to enlarge)
Rob Williams, National Shop Stewards Network, chair
Independent union United Voices of the World (UVW) has launched an ‘autumn of discontent’ with strikes by outsourced, low-paid, mainly migrant workers.
There are strikes at five London employers – playground attendants at the Royal Parks, cafe workers in Greenwich University, hundreds of cleaners, caterers and porters from St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, and workers at the Ministry of Justice and the headquarters of ITV and Channel 4.
They are coordinating their strikes on 31 October. Two others are balloting for action too – St. George’s University and the University of East London. UVW has previously won important victories, including at the London School of Economics.
A central demand is for all outsourced workers to be brought in-house. This is the policy of Jeremy Corbyn and should be shouted from the rooftops as we inch towards a general election. This would draw a real class division between him and Boris Johnson, who wants to open the NHS and other public services to even more parasites, such as US private health companies.
Civil servants’ union PCS won an important victory for outsourced workers in the government’s business department BEIS, by securing the London Living Wage. (See ‘BEIS: Outsourced caterers’ indefinite strike victory’).
Members of public sector union Unison in the North West have been on strike at NHS private contractor Compass. And food workers’ union BFAWU are striking for £15 an hour at McDonalds.
This shows that established unions can also take action among precarious and contracted-out workers, providing they give a lead.
The planned national strike by 110,000 Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) members in Royal Mail could highlight to a new generation of workers the role of fighting trade unions. It can be an attractive force to all those facing the bosses’ offensive.
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In The Socialist 30 October 2019:
What we think
Anti-austerity, socialist policies can be a winning formula
Mass protests rock the globe
News
Tories out now. Bin Boris. Corbyn can win with socialist policies!
39 migrants found dead in Essex lorry container
Argos Christmas bonus cut
Wall Street Crash
The 1929 Wall Street Crash: When the capitalist system was on its knees
Workplace news
PCS union election: For a fighting democratic general secretary
PCS: Support Marion Lloyd – a history of workers’ struggle and a programme for the future
McDonald’s – Striking to end low pay
London – ‘autumn of discontent’
RMT election: Fight the cuts, vote for Jared Wood
Uni workers’ pay and pension strike ballot
Butterfields
How working-class tenants beat Gentrification
Black history
Black Liberation… Only possible through socialist struggle
Obituary – Bob Lee: 1954 – 2019
International socialist news and analysis
Chile in revolt
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Enfield North socialists lobby candidate stitch-up
Selling the Socialist
Donate to fund the fightback at Socialism 2019
Chile protests – London solidarity rally
Reader’s opinion
Life in the gig economy
Film reviews: Sorry We Missed You by Ken Loach
TV: The Accident – Will capitalism be exposed in upsetting, true-to-life drama?
Opinion: Labour Party is structured to block left councillors
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