Workers strike at Lucite International

Attendees at the March for the Alternative rally in Manchester on Sunday may remember Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey telling the assembled thousands that "civil disobedience is the oldest form of democracy". Well, there's been an unofficial walk out at Lucite International (manufacturer of acrylic-based products) up here on Teesside in the last few days, involving so-called “unlawful secondary picketing” after workers struck in solidarity with 14 colleagues who were laid off after asking for their pay to be made equal with the rest of the workforce -- and it looks as if Unite have not only refused to back the action, but have condemned it. According to today's Evening Gazette: The Gazette has seen a copy of a letter from Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, to members stating the union will give no support to the unofficial action. 'If you fail to work normally you will be taking part in unofficial action,' he warns. The Gazette explains the background to the dispute:

Crowds of around 100 people have been reported at the company’s entrance in recent days in an action which has delayed planned maintenance work. The protest comes after 14 scaffolders and labourers were escorted from the chemical company’s site - triggering a disagreement which saw other workers join the dispute.

A source at Hertel, which employs the workers at the Lucite site, said the “unofficial strike action” had been going on for several days and involved the “unlawful secondary picketing” of the premises. He claimed many of the demonstrators had no direct connection with the work in question, adding the firm had written to its employees to “counter false allegations that the dispute is in any way linked to pay or that the men were forcibly removed from the site.”

The source said Hertel had ended a temporary scaffolding contract last week due to a reduction in the planned scope of scaffolding work required at the Cassel Works site. The decision meant that around 14 scaffolders out of a total of workforce of around 160 contractors employed by the company were given a week’s pay in lieu of notice. The company says that is in line with the agreed terms of the temporary contracts.

But the workers claim their action comes after they were laid off following a pay review request. Advanced scaffolder Tony Seaman last night told the Gazette he had taken a letter of grievance to management last Wednesday. He said workers were asking for Hertel to set up a meeting with union officials regarding payments for a planned shutdown. The 41-year-old, of Ormesby, claimed workers got £10.46 a hour and wanted £14. They say that is in accordance with NAECI (blue book) rates, but Hertel has said Lucite is not part of that agreement. “We believe they don’t want to pay the correct rate for the shutdown and for the new build which is going on,” Mr Seaman added. “I can’t describe how we feel.”

One comment on the Gazette website by a former Hertel worker provides some context:

Being ex hertel, they have been paying under the odds for years, paying pink book and maintainance terms on blue book sites this was going on in the 90s when i was there. The workers are only asking what they are entitled to and are codemmed as troublemakers and will no doubt be black listed by the firm. The bigger picture is that they want to drive down costs and destroy trades so they can employ anyone they want for monkey nuts,withuut these guys making a stand it will spread to other firms and be the end of trades as we know it. They tried it with dilultey laggers in late eighties/early nineties nearly destroyed the trade singlhandedly and ended many mens lively hood without the stand made by others this would have come to pass. They did the same empolying foriegn labour on Wilton for far less money and without the requred skill to match the proper time served tradesmen. Good luck lads and keep making a stand.

And a worker from Lucite International comments:

just like to clarify a few things,yes we knew what the starting pay was but assumed it would go up during the shutdown,why should we work alongside other trades who are on £14 a hour while we get £10? with the bonus that goes to £12.50 not £15 which was quoted by someone on here,it's not being greedy,we don't want anymore money than the next man,just the same,we're tradesmen and want the blue book rate on a shutdown,same as what the other trades on teesside get! NOT MORE,THE SAME!