2nd Remploy Strike - supported by UCU, Gateshead MP Ian Mearns and many more!

Gateshead MP Ian Mearns (centre) at the Remploy Picket Line, along with Joyce McAndrew (UCU Regional Support Official) and other supporters - including Gateshead Councillors Martin Gannon and Angela Douglas


Workers at Remploy who are members of the GMB and UNITE unions were on strike again today, and one of the picket lines at their factory on Dukesway, Team Valley, Gateshead, was visited by Joyce McAndrew from UCU, Ian Mearns, MP and many others.

The strike is over the threat to closure and the consequent loss of livelihood and more details of the dispute (and the action from last week) can be found here:
http://ucunorthern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/ucu-shows-it-support-for-workers-on.html

Val Scott, Regional Organiser for GMB, is asked what we can do to help:

by sending messages of support through the links of the remploy workers website at www.remployworkers.info follow the links to Facebook and twitter or sign the petition to save remploy factories at www.saveremployfactories.co.uk

Val also tells us about the background to this dispute:

Remploy workers have participated in a ballot for industrial action which was overwhelmingly accepted. There is currently a continuous ban on overtime and 2 days of strike action on Thursday 19th and Thursday 26th July 2012.

There are currently 52 Remploy factories in the UK, 7 of which are based in the Northern Region. We are outraged at the decision taken by the Government to close 27 of the 36 Remploy factories in the phase 1 closure programme which include the factories at Spennymoor, Gateshead, Newcastle, Ashington and Cleator Moor (Sunderland is part of phase 2 and Barrow has a potential buyer).

On Thursday 5th July 2012 the Company announced to the workforce they were considering the alternative business plan submitted by the Consortium of Trade Unions (GMB, Unite, Community and Aspect), and then on Tuesday 10th July 2012  they announced to the workforce the closure of their sites without informing the Trade Unions that formal consultation had been brought to an end. They did not give us the opportunity of making representations on behalf of Remploy workers and had total disregard for the whole consultation process.

The strike action taken by Remploy workers is done on a two fold basis, which includes the disgraceful way they have conducted the consultations in having total disregard of any proposals put forward by the trade Unions, and secondly the package on offer to disabled workers has been significantly reduced from the Voluntary package on offer in 2011 which will mean those workers compulsory redundant who are highly unlikely to secure alternative employment in the current climate are at least £5,000 worse off.

UCU sent doughnuts to the picket line at Team Valley, which seemed to go down well, according to Ian Mearns' Twitter feed @IanMearnsMP:

At the factory gate where we have just received a solidarity visit from UCU members bearing doughnuts https://twitter.com/IanMearnsMP/status/228411217109213184/photo/1

UCU shows its support for workers on strike at Remploy, Gateshead

GMB and UNITE Picket Line, Remploy, 331 Dukesway Court Team Valley Trading Estate NE11 0BH

Just two cars in the car park behind - belonging to the HR person and the manager!

Joyce McAndrew, UCU Regional Support Official, shows support at the picket line at Remploy

Staff from the UCU Regional Office in Gateshead were out on the picket line this morning, showing support for those on strike at Remploy.  Jon Bryan and Joyce McAndrew went to show their support for the action which has been taken by GMB and UNITE members against the closure of their factory and the consequent loss of jobs.

Facing the loss of their livelihoods, the workers were angry, defiant and would be on strike again on Thursday 26th July 2012.

"Its great that people have come down here to show their support", was the clear message from the pickets, "We will be back here again taking action".

Show your support by signing the petition: http://saveremployfactories.co.uk/, following the campaign on Twitter @saveremploy and visiting the picket lines next week.

For more details and some of the media coverage:
http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/25571
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/121586
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=29110
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9798706.Remploy_staff_vote_in_favour_of_strike_action_to_halt_closures/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/tyneandwear/9809206.MP_s_anger_over_Remploy_closures/

Click here to got to a video on "The Guardian" website about Remploy and today's dispute

UCU at the 2012 Durham Miners' Gala



Dave O'Toole, Branch Development Organiser for UCU in SW Region and Ritchie Bathgate, Chair of UCU at Gateshead College, set up the Banner at the Gala

 

UCU member Maureen Rankin, Ritchie Bathgate, Jude Letham (Regional Secretary of UCU) Dave O'Toole and Norman Jemison (Secretary of UCU's Retired Members, Northern Region)

UCU and the Regional Banner once again were at the Durham Miners' Gala, Saturday 14th July 2012.  While it became a talking point this year as it was the first time that a Labour Leader had addressed the Gala in 23 years, UCU are a regular feature.  The President of UCU (Kathy Taylor) and the Vice-President (John McCormack) were on the platform with other promient labour and trade union figures.

Other representatives and members of UCU were at the Gala to take part in what is the largest remaining working class demonstration in the country.