Defend Rob Williams, sacked Unite Convenor
- Thread starter belboid
- Start date
dennisr
the acceptable face
dennisr
the acceptable face
Subject: Reinstate Rob Williams! Update
An update from today...
It has become clear why Linamar management sacked Swansea Unite Convenor Rob Williams on Wednesday. Group President Brian Wade outlined to Tony Woodley the Company's 'proposal' to lower terms and conditions within the plant.
This will involve 'buying down' (worsening) contracts with a one off 'sweetener' payment. There is no detail of amounts yet but it is clear that it will involve a substantial drop in wages, worse sick scheme etc. Also, the Company announced that they fully intend breaking the agreement that they made with the union when they took the factory over last July of establishing a final salary pension scheme for those Ford-mirrored workers who were in the plant before Visteon spin-off in 2000 and the Visteon New Hire contracts who were subsequentoy employed later. He pretended to be concerned about the lack of a pension for the lowest tier in the plant - yet Linamar refused the union's call for them to get a pension last summer!
Therefore, the timing of Rob's sacking is of no surprise. It comes a week after 140 workers were made voluntarily redundant, including a number of senior stewards and before the pay deals are concluded for two of the three contracts. Incidentally, one of the last straws could well have been when the Ford-mirrored members refused Wade's 'offer' to refuse the 5.25% Ford pay rise. This has always been seen in the Plant as the yardstick for all contract negotiations.
Clearly, Linamar correctly had no confidence that Rob would recom m end these attacks to the members. Now the choice for Swansea workers is clear - fight the sacking of Rob and defend their terms and conditions and pensions and their right to work in a place free of intimidation or face a future of attack after attack. In Canada before Christmas all but one Linamar Plant had their pay cut by 10% by email!! The only plant that didn't suffer this was unionised. Sooner or later, bullies like Wade and Linamar will be confronted by a workforce, tired of being pushed around and walked over. It will inevitably happen, in Canada, China or Swansea. With its great fighting traditions, Swansea workers could be in the forefront of defending their rights.
Continue to phone protests to:
Head of Swansea Linamar Brian Wade 01792 656339
Personnel Manager 01792 656238
Messages of protest to [email protected]
Messages of support to Rob Williams: robbo@redwills.[url]http://www.facebook.com/l/;freeserve.co.uk[/url]
and Socialist Party Wales: [email protected]
JOIN THE GROUP - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=75478591587
Unite General Secretary Tony Woodley will be addressing the workforce next week to push for a Yes vote in the impending strike ballot. Swansea Trade Union Council and the Linamar Shop Stewards Committee will be holding a public meeting at 7.30pm in the Dolphin Hotel in Swansea next Wednesday open to all trade unionists - "Defend trade union freedom - defend Rob Williams - support the Linamar workers!"
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7255
An update from today...
It has become clear why Linamar management sacked Swansea Unite Convenor Rob Williams on Wednesday. Group President Brian Wade outlined to Tony Woodley the Company's 'proposal' to lower terms and conditions within the plant.
This will involve 'buying down' (worsening) contracts with a one off 'sweetener' payment. There is no detail of amounts yet but it is clear that it will involve a substantial drop in wages, worse sick scheme etc. Also, the Company announced that they fully intend breaking the agreement that they made with the union when they took the factory over last July of establishing a final salary pension scheme for those Ford-mirrored workers who were in the plant before Visteon spin-off in 2000 and the Visteon New Hire contracts who were subsequentoy employed later. He pretended to be concerned about the lack of a pension for the lowest tier in the plant - yet Linamar refused the union's call for them to get a pension last summer!
Therefore, the timing of Rob's sacking is of no surprise. It comes a week after 140 workers were made voluntarily redundant, including a number of senior stewards and before the pay deals are concluded for two of the three contracts. Incidentally, one of the last straws could well have been when the Ford-mirrored members refused Wade's 'offer' to refuse the 5.25% Ford pay rise. This has always been seen in the Plant as the yardstick for all contract negotiations.
Clearly, Linamar correctly had no confidence that Rob would recom m end these attacks to the members. Now the choice for Swansea workers is clear - fight the sacking of Rob and defend their terms and conditions and pensions and their right to work in a place free of intimidation or face a future of attack after attack. In Canada before Christmas all but one Linamar Plant had their pay cut by 10% by email!! The only plant that didn't suffer this was unionised. Sooner or later, bullies like Wade and Linamar will be confronted by a workforce, tired of being pushed around and walked over. It will inevitably happen, in Canada, China or Swansea. With its great fighting traditions, Swansea workers could be in the forefront of defending their rights.
Continue to phone protests to:
Head of Swansea Linamar Brian Wade 01792 656339
Personnel Manager 01792 656238
Messages of protest to [email protected]
Messages of support to Rob Williams: robbo@redwills.[url]http://www.facebook.com/l/;freeserve.co.uk[/url]
and Socialist Party Wales: [email protected]
JOIN THE GROUP - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=75478591587
Unite General Secretary Tony Woodley will be addressing the workforce next week to push for a Yes vote in the impending strike ballot. Swansea Trade Union Council and the Linamar Shop Stewards Committee will be holding a public meeting at 7.30pm in the Dolphin Hotel in Swansea next Wednesday open to all trade unionists - "Defend trade union freedom - defend Rob Williams - support the Linamar workers!"
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7255
good statement dennis
btw re why no walkout, enfield visteon workers today were saying that basically Linamar has threatened anyone who walked out with instant dismissal .. though i am still not sure what Unite were saying to people there, presumably to wait and ballot.
btw re why no walkout, enfield visteon workers today were saying that basically Linamar has threatened anyone who walked out with instant dismissal .. though i am still not sure what Unite were saying to people there, presumably to wait and ballot.
Urbanblues
Was that it, life?
There you go again durruti, assuming what Unite have done; or, would that be hoping?
Incidentally, attended a Branch meeting this evening and one of the Visteon lads was present to talk about the occupation and picket. Strange thing, he actually praised Woodley’s involvement in the Visteon dispute.
But then, what would he know; an ordinary bloke whom circumstance had happened upon. Not like you lot; real working class heroes floating from one dispute to the next, in the hope of being at the right place at the right time.
dennisr
the acceptable face
UB and Durruti - could you leave any ructions to PM or seperate thread - thanks
Urbanblues
Was that it, life?
Isn’t it possible they didn’t walk out because the scum employer is using heavy duty threats? Could it be they’re scared of losing their jobs; becoming unemployed in an employment black spot, during a recession?
durruti, I sense you consider these things in a very black and white way; you do this, which is right, or you do that, which is wrong. Life is very rarely lived within the narrow confines of black and white; but, rather life exists in the shades of grey between black and white.
During the Remploy Campaign I fought, and am still doing so, to save the jobs of over one hundred of my Branch Members, as well as those of tens of hundreds of others. At meetings I’d beg, ‘bully’, coerce, persuade, cajole, compel and generally pressurise members to get off their arses and fight back.
Up and down, back and forth we criss-crossed the country attending Saturday demos. But always, unvarying, the same few ‘soldiers’ would turn up, rain, sleet, and sunshine – very little sunshine.
When the company named the factories that they intended closing we fought on. Yet, I’d visit the sites involved have mass meetings, at which the gloves came off, and we told the members that their days were numbered; and, that unless they were willing to come out on the cobbles we were fucked.
We got fucked. Mainly because only a few people in each factory were willing to do the business; as for the rest, it was a mixture of ‘what’s the union doing for us?’; or, they were so scared of losing their jobs they didn’t want to be seen rocking the boat.
I could relate to that fear. Employers aren’t clambering over each other to employ us crips. The poor sods that elected to stay behind the parapet were in absolute denial. Yet, even as they stood on the gallows with the hangman putting the hood over their heads they prayed for a reprieve.
Who knows why people do what they do. I hope the Linamar people do the right thing and win the day. I hope Robbie, who I’ve known for a number of years and hold in high esteem, triumphs over the scumbags that fired him.
Urbanblues
Was that it, life?
In fairness durrati isn't causing ructions.
yes .. thats what i said in my post
dennisr
the acceptable face
I agree
Dear Supporter,
Attached is the official appeal letter from the shop stewards committee at the linimar plant in Swansea
Please send donations to Rob Williams campaign, details are:
Make cheques out to T&G 4/1 branch and send to Linamar workers hardship fund: 31 Wanunwen Terrace Swansea SA1 1DX
or make donations direct through your own bank to T&G 4/1 branch
Linamar attack on Rob Williams part of a plan to drive down workers' wages and conditions
It has become clear why Linamar management sacked Swansea Unite Convenor Rob Williams. Group President Brian Wade outlined to Tony Woodley the Company's 'proposal' to lower terms and conditions within the plant.
This will involve 'buying down' (worsening) contracts with a one off 'sweetener' payment. There is no detail of amounts yet but it is clear that it will involve a substantial drop in wages, worse sick scheme etc. Also, the Company announced that they fully intend breaking the agreement that they made with the union when they took the factory over last July of establishing a final salary pension scheme for those Ford-mirrored workers who were in the plant before Visteon spin-off in 2000 and the Visteon New Hire contracts who were subsequentoy employed later. He pretended to be concerned about the lack of a pension for the lowest tier in the plant - yet Linamar refused the union's call for them to get a pension last summer!
Therefore, the timing of Rob's sacking is of no surprise. It comes a week after 140 workers were made voluntarily redundant, including a number of senior stewards and before the pay deals are concluded for two of the three contracts. Incidentally, one of the last straws could well have been when the Ford-mirrored members refused Wade's 'offer' to refuse the 5.25% Ford pay rise. This has always been seen in the Plant as the yardstick for all contract negotiations.
Clearly, Linamar correctly had no confidence that Rob would recommend these attacks to the members. Now the choice for Swansea workers is clear - fight the sacking of Rob and defend their terms and conditions and pensions and their right to work in a place free of intimidation or face a future of attack after attack. In Canada before Christmas all but one Linamar Plant had their pay cut by 10% by email!! The only plant that didn't suffer this was unionised. Sooner or later, bullies like Wade and Linamar will be confronted by a workforce, tired of being pushed around and walked over. It will inevitably happen, in Canada, China or Swansea. With its great fighting traditions, Swansea workers could be in the forefront of defending their rights.
Continue to phone protests to:
Head of Swansea Linamar Brian Wade 01792 656339
Personnel Manager 01792 656238
Messages of protest to [email protected]
Messages of support to Rob Williams: [email protected]
Attached is the official appeal letter from the shop stewards committee at the linimar plant in Swansea
Please send donations to Rob Williams campaign, details are:
Make cheques out to T&G 4/1 branch and send to Linamar workers hardship fund: 31 Wanunwen Terrace Swansea SA1 1DX
or make donations direct through your own bank to T&G 4/1 branch
Linamar attack on Rob Williams part of a plan to drive down workers' wages and conditions
It has become clear why Linamar management sacked Swansea Unite Convenor Rob Williams. Group President Brian Wade outlined to Tony Woodley the Company's 'proposal' to lower terms and conditions within the plant.
This will involve 'buying down' (worsening) contracts with a one off 'sweetener' payment. There is no detail of amounts yet but it is clear that it will involve a substantial drop in wages, worse sick scheme etc. Also, the Company announced that they fully intend breaking the agreement that they made with the union when they took the factory over last July of establishing a final salary pension scheme for those Ford-mirrored workers who were in the plant before Visteon spin-off in 2000 and the Visteon New Hire contracts who were subsequentoy employed later. He pretended to be concerned about the lack of a pension for the lowest tier in the plant - yet Linamar refused the union's call for them to get a pension last summer!
Therefore, the timing of Rob's sacking is of no surprise. It comes a week after 140 workers were made voluntarily redundant, including a number of senior stewards and before the pay deals are concluded for two of the three contracts. Incidentally, one of the last straws could well have been when the Ford-mirrored members refused Wade's 'offer' to refuse the 5.25% Ford pay rise. This has always been seen in the Plant as the yardstick for all contract negotiations.
Clearly, Linamar correctly had no confidence that Rob would recommend these attacks to the members. Now the choice for Swansea workers is clear - fight the sacking of Rob and defend their terms and conditions and pensions and their right to work in a place free of intimidation or face a future of attack after attack. In Canada before Christmas all but one Linamar Plant had their pay cut by 10% by email!! The only plant that didn't suffer this was unionised. Sooner or later, bullies like Wade and Linamar will be confronted by a workforce, tired of being pushed around and walked over. It will inevitably happen, in Canada, China or Swansea. With its great fighting traditions, Swansea workers could be in the forefront of defending their rights.
Continue to phone protests to:
Head of Swansea Linamar Brian Wade 01792 656339
Personnel Manager 01792 656238
Messages of protest to [email protected]
Messages of support to Rob Williams: [email protected]
Similar threads
- Featured
