Occupation support thread

[In Bloom]

Okay, so Butchers suggested on this thread about the Glasgow school occupation that we should have a thread where we can discuss what we can do to practically support the recent wave of occupations.

Edit: Apparently there's been some confusion about the nature of this thread, it is inteded for any and all ongoing occupations, whether workplace (in the case of Visteon) or community (in the case of Wyndford & St. Gregory's) based. If people could be explicit in saying which occupation they're referring to in their posts, that'd be ace.

Current ongoing occupations:
Wyndford and St. Gregory's Primary Schools
Belfast and Enfield Visteon plants

 

[In Bloom]

Glasgow primary schools
The occupying parents have said that they need:

• Sleeping Materials - airbeds, covers, pillows etc as they currently have only a couple of airbeds.
• Camping Stoves - the gas has been turned off, although currently they still have heating in the school.
• Pots, Pans and cutlery or anything else you think they would need for the occupation.

Messages of support are appreciated and can be sent via text to 07894123721

If you want to go to the school and lend a hand, the address is:
Wyndford Primary, 116 Glenfinnan Drive, Glasgow G20 8HL.

You can check the situation before going up by texting 07894123721.

Butchers mentioned having a small gas stove, but no transport to get it from Bristol (right?) to Glasgow. Anybody nearby with a car who's willing to make the trip?

 

[In Bloom]

Visteon occupation
Enfield occupation now over, but the Belfast plant remains occupied.

Messages of support can be sent to [email protected]

Aparrently, Visteon are trying to get equipment out of the plant tomorrow (Tuesday, 14th of April), if you're available, try to be there from 6am:

The Visteon occupation is calling...for a mass turnout...on Tuesday am crack of dawn....it looks very possible...the Company are going to try and move stuff out. Apologies if you knew this already....but it really could be crunch time. Without materials trapped in the factory....the occupiers at negotiations Tuesday wont have any leverage

--- On Sat, 11/4/09


I've just been looking up the trains for Tuesday morning to get up there for 6am before the 17 turn up for work at gate 2. The first train leaves Liverpool Street at 5.42am and gets in at 5.59am. Those catching it from Liverpool Street could meet by the ticket machines under the departure board at 5.30am?

 

[In Bloom]

Reserved for updates

 

[In Bloom]

Right, that should do for a start, can people let me know if there's any important information I've missed out?

 

[danny la rouge]

Right, that should do for a start, can people let me know if there's any important information I've missed out?

It's on the thread, but for ease of access:

Wyndford Primary, 116 Glenfinnan Drive, Glasgow G20 8HL.

You can check the situation before going up by texting 07894123721.

 

[In Bloom]

Cheers mate.

 

[butchersapron]

We're having a whip around for the schools thing on matb - thread here:
http://meanwhileatthebar.org/bar/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20082&p=714572#p714572

 

[danny la rouge]

We're having a whip around for the schools thing on matb - thread here:
http://meanwhileatthebar.org/bar/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20082&p=714572#p714572

I'll chip in what I can.

 

[smokedout]

Family Rally at Fords Visteon Enfield
Support the family and freinds of the sacked and occupying workers ..


Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Time:
11:30am - 2:00pm
Location:
fords visteon
Street:
morson road
City/Town:
Enfield, United Kingdom

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=76846015107

 

[Udo Erasmus]

I'm sure I have read somewhere thatCar-plant workers occupying Visteon in Enfield have raised an important demand related to climate chaos. While demand for private cars may be going down - and should be cut, they argue that they have the equipment and skills to manufacture public transport such as buses and also could transfer to green technology such as manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels.

This is a very positive demand & maybe links could be built between the environmental movement and the occupation it would be great if groups like Campaign against Climate Change and the Climate Campers could get down there etc. Linking the kind of militant protests and direct action to a workers struggle would be v.positive for both.

 

[bluestreak]

We're having a whip around for the schools thing on matb - thread here:
http://meanwhileatthebar.org/bar/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20082&p=714572#p714572

How can I donate?

 

[danny la rouge]

How can I donate?

PM Fed.

 

[butchersapron]

How can I donate?

Best way for folks from here is to pm fed - he'll either give you his address for chequs POs or something more direct.

 

[smokedout]

This is a very positive demand & maybe links could be built between the environmental movement and the occupation it would be great if groups like Campaign against Climate Change and the Climate Campers could get down there etc.

It's be great wouldn't it

except sadly theres more chance of the police coming out in a wildcat strike in solidarity

 

[In Bloom]

I'm sure I have read somewhere thatCar-plant workers occupying Visteon in Enfield have raised an important demand related to climate chaos. While demand for private cars may be going down - and should be cut, they argue that they have the equipment and skills to manufacture public transport such as buses and also could transfer to green technology such as manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels.

Aye, their statement, which is online at the libcom.org library, is very interesting.

As well as proper redundancy payments, some are suggesting that the skills of the workers who can make anything in plastic, should be used to make increasingly needed parts for green products - bike and trailer parts, solar panels, turbines, etc. Government investment in this rather than throwing money at bankers could be profitable & save jobs in the long term.

 

[butchersapron]

More money, give us more money - that pint? Have two but put one in for us.

 

[butchersapron]

Also put your camping gear, if there's enough gear in one region we'll pick it up, in one go.

Think- locked in a school with fuck all -what do you want?

Please help

 

[tangentlama]

I'm sure I have read somewhere thatCar-plant workers occupying Visteon in Enfield have raised an important demand related to climate chaos. While demand for private cars may be going down - and should be cut, they argue that they have the equipment and skills to manufacture public transport such as buses and also could transfer to green technology such as manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels.

This is a very positive demand & maybe links could be built between the environmental movement and the occupation it would be great if groups like Campaign against Climate Change and the Climate Campers could get down there etc. Linking the kind of militant protests and direct action to a workers struggle would be v.positive for both.

Exactly - i love how those workers are thinking - so progressive!
And yes, climate fluffies need to give their concrete support.
That news has made my day

 

[tangentlama]

I'm sure I have read somewhere thatCar-plant workers occupying Visteon in Enfield have raised an important demand related to climate chaos. While demand for private cars may be going down - and should be cut, they argue that they have the equipment and skills to manufacture public transport such as buses and also could transfer to green technology such as manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels.

This is a very positive demand & maybe links could be built between the environmental movement and the occupation it would be great if groups like Campaign against Climate Change and the Climate Campers could get down there etc. Linking the kind of militant protests and direct action to a workers struggle would be v.positive for both.

Have you sent this info to the Climatecamp contact email address?
http://climatecamp.org.uk/node/67

 

[peacepete]

hey - i know how to build wind turbines! i'll go and visit them.

I could also forward information through the climate camp networks if there's interest in taking this forward.

 

[cantsin]

I'm sure I have read somewhere thatCar-plant workers occupying Visteon in Enfield have raised an important demand related to climate chaos. While demand for private cars may be going down - and should be cut, they argue that they have the equipment and skills to manufacture public transport such as buses and also could transfer to green technology such as manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels.

This is a very positive demand & maybe links could be built between the environmental movement and the occupation it would be great if groups like Campaign against Climate Change and the Climate Campers could get down there etc. Linking the kind of militant protests and direct action to a workers struggle would be v.positive for both.

really positive, lets hope this is the begnning - and for the inevitable naysayer above, if Obama can attempt to link the bailing out of big auto with green alternatives ( which he will no doubt turn into a 'self regulatory ' situation further down the line ) then it's hardly over ambitious to hope this Ford /Enfield episode cold be starting of something

 

[danny la rouge]

Dissemination

I was talking to some folks this morning about community action, and gave these occupations as examples. None of my interlocutors had heard of them.

I know there have been short newspaper reports, and Radio Scotland carried a very short piece on the school occupation. But obviously this is slipping past people who aren't listening out for it. So, I was wondering about prodding the media to keep us updated on the stories. But really, in the hope that more people get to hear about real people doing real things to help themselves.

Obviously, they won't want to carry "thing we aren't that interested in is still going on" stories. So, there needs to be either an existing story to hook it onto, or a fresh take on the stories.

Here's what I think, feel free to knock it about:

The car plant thing can be hooked onto the existing story about dropping car sales, and given a fresh slant by pointing out the workers' suggestions on environmental re-structuring of production: is this the way forward for British industry? Type of thing.

The school closure thing can be given a new slant by pointing out that this is a fresh take on "parental choice": instead of thinking only about your own kid getting into a decent school, these are parents combining to try and keep good education available to the whole community. That sort of thing.

Then, we need to get onto the local media and say "Oh, do you have any updates on this story, I heard the car workers were doing this". Or "I was inspired by the parents doing that". The more queries, the more interested the radio station or whatever is going to be.

So, what are your thoughts? And what media should be targeted?

 

[durruti02]

It's be great wouldn't it

except sadly theres more chance of the police coming out in a wildcat strike in solidarity

there have been people there form Climate Camp and people have been talking about alt production

 

[Garcia Lorca]

anything needs picked up roon the glesga area, if fed aint available ill offer services as a back up. nicola, donna and rest of parents are well chuffed.

brilliant work from this board.. again.

 

[Random]

So, what are your thoughts? And what media should be targeted?

Well I think you're overestimating the journos - most won't want to bother working out such high-concept stories as that - except maybe the Independent, always worth a try.

But local papers might well be interested in a human interest 'area man sends money to occupation despite only knowing thrm off the internet' thing. And local papers, especially the really crap ones, are desperate for content - lilkewise local radio stations.

It's not as appealing as contacting the big outfits, but it can still reach hundreds or thousands of people.

 

[danny la rouge]

It's not as appealing as contacting the big outfits, but it can still reach hundreds or thousands of people.

Yes, that's a good point.

As to overestimating journos: damn.

 

[Garcia Lorca]

Yes, that's a good point.

As to overestimating journos: damn.

Real radio, radio scotland.. stv news.

http://www.rockradio.co.uk

Im not the most elegant of writers, if someone would like to put it together these would be the stations to send it to. (or a start).

ill also look up some local newspapers

http://www.localnewsglasgow.co.uk

Shit - edit to add ive just called real radio and they are calling me back live for a wee interview i think.. im not the best public speaker!!!!

 

[danny la rouge]

Shit - edit to add ive just called real radio and they are calling me back live for a wee interview i think.. im not the best public speaker!!!!

Email in future!

You'll be fine, though. Just note down the 3 things you want to say, and keep referring to that.

 

[Random]

Shit - edit to add ive just called real radio and they are calling me back live for a wee interview i think.. im not the best public speaker!!!!

Good stuff!