Occupation support thread

[danny la rouge]

Radio Scotland Newsdrive is on air now. You can email via this form here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/contact/index.shtml (Select Newsdrive from the dropdown menu).

Or text to 80295.

 

[Garcia Lorca]

Email in future!

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

yup ive already done that, ive spoken in public before, been on radio and tv, short experiences... just get the nerves if they do it live.

thanks for tip tho.

 

[danny la rouge]

Best of luck!

 

[danny la rouge]

The (Glasgow) Herald journo who wrote the story they carried yesterday was Gerry Braiden [email protected]

Updates/ suggestions to Gerry?

 

[Fedayn]

The (Glasgow) Herald journo who wrote the story they carried yesterday was Gerry Braiden [email protected]

Updates/ suggestions to Gerry?

I know him, he's a mate.

 

[danny la rouge]

I know him, he's a mate.

Then I nominate you to update him!

It's like Random said: human interest, cash support, blah de blah!

 

[Fedayn]

Then I nominate you to update him!

It's like Random said: human interest, cash support, blah de blah!

Bit difficult for me to do it....

It'd be like..... Ooog gerry, I have a story, I went up to the school with money....

Better if someone else did it, apssed on number etc and he did some 'digging'.

 

[danny la rouge]

Fair point.

 

[grogwilton]

Drove up today from Reading with my gf and a mate. We're all teachers and so on easter holidays. We donated some food and money and the whole site was really lively i'd say 30 people outside including family and kids.

Workers very friendly and all say its been an eye opening experience for them and theyre touched by the support thats been shown, particularly from the local turkish, Indian and Kurdish community (they have the Indian flag flying on the roof alongside assorted British ones and union flags). When they heard we had come from Reading the welcome was very warm and I would recommend anyone to go done there, a great day out!

 

[danny la rouge]

You drove from Reading to Maryhill?! Good work. You get extra cool points for that, in my book.

 

[grogwilton]

Sorry I was talking about the Vestion occupation not the schools one, am i in the wrong thread? Apologies, we drove to Enfield in north london which isnt nearly as far as Glasgow, about 90 minute drive! Sorry not so cool maybe!

 

[danny la rouge]

Sorry I was talking about the Vestion occupation not the schools one, am i in the wrong thread? Apologies, we drove to Enfield in north london which isnt nearly as far as Glasgow, about 90 minute drive! Sorry not so cool maybe!

Still pretty cool.

You're right, of course, all the occupations are represented on this thread. All are lauded.

 

[Fedayn]

Form the leader of Glasgow City Council's website....

"He pushed forward an ambitious new education strategy to replace half-empty and run-down primary schools with community-based pre-12 campuses which merged primary, nursery and special needs facilities. The programme remains on-track to be extended across the city and is designed to include communities in the decision-making process."

The former totally contradicts the latter unless he means included and then totally ignored

 

[danny la rouge]

unless he means included and then totally ignored

That's called Consultation.

 

[In Bloom]

From the Visteon Support e-mail list:

A few of us from HSG (and others) were up at the factory today. We took a printer/copier and paper up to them and I went into the factory to chat to some of the workers about a couple of things. They are looking at the emails and when I was there they are replying to as many as they can. Web access is still limited and the computer they have can't seem to access the libcon site to see all the reports there. Spirits seem good and they are waiting to talk to Kevin after the meeting.

2 portaloos have arrived outside, and a local hire company have donated them (not sure for how long). Speaking to one of the workers apparently they went and asked if they could hire them and the company brought them along and refused any money, saying they totally support what the workers were doing.

There is now a caravan outside the site but it seems to have a notice on it saying "official Unite HQ". Seems strange it's outside, but hey - whatever.

From the workers I spoke to there seems a feeling the offer from Visteon USA won't be that great, and they realise their holding card is the equipment in the factory. I definitely got the feeling there is, at least an element of workers who are thinking beyond Thursday - but this is onl;y a feeling after talking with 5 or 6 of them. And, we all know things can change from hour to hour.

But, there seemed no hostility to the supporters outside - including those of us who are not friends and family. All the workers I spoke to had nothing but praise for what supporters are doing for them. Comments like "knowing we have support all over gives us a real buzz" and "its amazing, we are getting support messages from all over the place" and "a group of teachers came down from Reading today and brought us cakes and stuff".

 

[In Bloom]

Just saw this:
http://libcom.org/news/visteon-enfield-occupation-ends-struggle-continues-09042009

Sacked workers occupying Visteon's Enfield plant vacated the premises following announcement of a "deal" discussed with the Unite union.

Workers occupying the Visteon factory in Enfield left the building together at midday today after voting to end in their occupation. There were around 200 people outside to greet the occupiers who, carrying pillows and sleeping bags, descended the spiral steps to rousing applause and chants.

At the High Court earlier this week, the employers agreed to grant a three day window for negotiations to occur before pushing for charges against the occupiers. Talks took place in New York City on 8 April between Visteon bosses and union officials, and it was announced that an improved deal was offered. Details of this new offer however have not been shared with the workers so far.

The occupation may be over but they will continue to picket outside the factory to ensure Visteon can't strip it down. Visteon workers in Basildon have been picketing their workplace all week, and over in Belfast their factory occupation continues.

Some have expressed fears that by ending their occupation workers will lose leverage with their employer.

Supporters of the workers are gathering tonight to discuss how they can assist the Visteon workers in their dispute. Here are the details:.

Support Visteon Workers
7pm - Thursday April 9th TONIGHT!
Phoenix Millennium Centre, 386 West Green Rd, Tottenham N15 3QL (entrance
on the corner of Vincent Road)
(10 mins south east of Turnpike Lane tube)

Remains to be seen how good the deal will be.

 

[treelover]

Talks took place in New York City on 8 April between Visteon bosses and union officials,

Sometimes, most?, the gap between the workers and the Union Tops is as wide as that between the workers and the CEO's

 

[bluestreak]

anyone free on tuesday morning?

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 t 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]

Arse biscuits, I can't edit my posts at the top of the thread anymore.

 

[butchersapron]

FORD VISTEON SOLIDARITY GATHERING/RALLY ENFIELD
SATURDAY 18th APRIL - 11am

At the Enfield Factory
Morson Rd (Gate 5), EN3 4NQ - nr Ponders End train station, Enfield
[The plant is 5mins walk across the footbridge, southwards down the main road and turn left into Morson Rd]

Following the insulting and unacceptable offer from Visteon this week the sacked workers are stepping up their 24/7 picket of the Enfield factory. The Belfast and Basildon Visteon workers have also rejected the offer. Now more than ever they need support and solidarity for their decision to continue their struggle for justice.

Come along to find out what is happening at the factory and what people can do to help step up the campaign.

The Fight Goes On!

 

[In Bloom]

As I said, I can't edit the posts at the top of the thread any more, is there any chance a passing mod could update the Visteon post at the top with the info in Butchers post and put back in the fundraising details (send checks made out to "HSG" to PO Box 2474, London, N8.) I stupidly deleted?

 

[Udo Erasmus]

I would argue for the HMP Ashwell Prison Uprising in Rutland that took 21 hours for riot police to quell over the Easter weekend to be considered part of the movement of occupations.

They took over the prison, is that not an occupation/sit-in. We know from past evidence that the leaders probably had the shit kicked out of them by prison guards once the uprising ended & will probably receive extended sentences in punishment. Prisoners have very little representation and rights & when they rise up it is generally a struggle for dignity.

450 prisoners protesting over privileges, according to the Guardian the ‘riot is thought to have started after a prisoner was deprived of privileges for being out of his room out of hours.’

They barricaded themselves in, wrecked three-quarters of the gaol etc. Some might condemn such wanton destruction, but when you've been penned up for a long time the pent up rage and frustration of life explodes in a way that is a kind of liberation.

Hard to get an exact idea of the nature of the rising, as naturally the prisoners don’t get a voice in the media who get all their info from the screws.

Looks like the first fleeting glimpses of the summer of rage with factory occupations, council house occupation in Streatham, school occupations, prison uprising, anti-capitalista at the G20 etc.

 

[In Bloom]

Also, fundraising events organised for Visteon workers:

Saturday 25th April 5pm, London: Housemans bookshop
Sunday April 26th 6:30pm, London: The Foundry, Old St
Thursday April 30th 7:30pm, Birmingham: The Spotted Dog (104 Warwick St, Digbeth)

There should be an event organised by the (unfortunately named) Workers' Fightback group in Liverpool soon as well, date and venue TBA.

 

[Fedayn]

The St Gregory's and Wynmdford school occupation will be ending tomorrow, Saturday, at 12 noon. Not because the parents have given up. The threat from the council that if the parents are still in the school come Monday when the children go back after Easter Holidays they will bus the children to the designated schools. Not wanting to disrupt the childrens education they will be leaving tomorrow.
Discussions have been taking place over what to do next, the campaign, i'm assured isn't ending.
There's gonna be a press release from the parents tomorrow at 12 noon.

 

[butchersapron]

Up with this sort of thing! Model campaign as far as i can tell, please keep us updated fed.

 

[Fedayn]

Up with this sort of thing! Model campaign as far as i can tell, please keep us updated fed.

Will do, Garcia Lorca (formerly perry1) on here is gonna go up to the presser and to greet the parents tomorrow. I'm gonna give Nicola a phone in the morning.

 

[butchersapron]

Good stuff. Phase two. (and good on our Garcia, i'll post a poem in the poem of the day thread for you later)

 

[Garcia Lorca]

theres a list of 46 of the labour mps email addresses on the Save Our Schools website... http://sosglasgow.wordpress.com/

"Please email the list of Glasgow Labour councillors below, and politely appeal to them to vote against the party line over the school and nursery closures. At the very least all the proposals have to be reconsidered due to the alarming consultation process.

You don’t need to include your name and address, but if you do it will add weight to your message."

Posting it here in case anyone who can email there objection hasnt doesnt so yet. Ill be over at the schools tommorow afternooon, if fed doesnt get an update on ill get one on later in the evening.

As you said butcher, model campaign. Good on the parents for taking the stance that they have.

the campaign definately will not end there.

A full council meeting will take place in the next week.

 

[In Bloom]

 

[Garcia Lorca]

Went over to the schools today for the parents ending their occupation of wyndford and st gregorys primary, Maryhill in Glasgow.

Around 100 people gathered and at 12pm the occupation ended with the parents coming out to a big cheer and chants from the supporters. They then read out a statement, thanking everyone from Austrailia to Italy and more... and of course, Glasgow for their support of the occupation. Stating that it appears everyone else is listening, except Glasgow City Council.

They have been under pressure for a week now from the council to end their occupation and were told by the council if they didnt end the occupation by yesterday, on Monday morning the children due to attend the school would be taken by bus to the school proposed to be used after the closure. There is a lot of anger at the way Glasgow city council has handled the occupation and the final straw was threatening to "snatch" the children onto buses to take them to another school against the parents wishes. It was decided to end today, as the parents have said since day one they would not interfere with the kids educations, tho the council wouldnt listen.

They were told by Glasgow City Council that education was a luxury and they should be grateful to have it at all. There should be education facilities in every community and people are sick of closures that rip apart the communities. We want facilities in every community, not closures.

It is far from over, there is a full meeting of the council on the 23rd to finally decide the fate of the schools lined up for closure. There will be a protest there and they are to continue to lobby councillors to reverse the decision in the mean time. There is further discussion going on of the next move.

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Prior to the end of the occupation i got talking to a couple of parents who said that I was to pass on "BIG THANK YOU!!!" (could not be said enough), to the people who have supported them throughout the last 2 weeks. Be it financially, with text messages of support or with equipment that has made the time in the school more comfortable.

Its a pity that GCC will not listen to the shouts of the community from these schools and another 23 across the city.

I took some photos that ill get online in the next couple of days.
cheers all.

edit to add: its on the bbc website here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8005771.stm

edit to add: Video of the statement by the parents is here http://sosglasgow.wordpress.com/