March for Jobs

Every day we hear new reports of redundancies. Over the last week closures and job losses have been announced in vehicle building, steel, aerospace, and finance. The public sector is not immune with NHS "reorganisations" leading to job losses as hospitals close and services are privatised. Tens of thousands of Unite members have lost their jobs this year - with many more facing uncertainty as to the future.

All this can be blamed on the economic crisis. But while those at the top get huge payouts and pension protection, most of us face the miserable amounts paid out in statutory redundancy pay. The Engineering Employers Federation even had the cheek to complain this week about the Government's raising of the cap on statutory redundancy pay from £350 to £380 - much lower than the TUC demand of £500.

Redundancies hit hardest at those already on low pay. And this economic crisis comes at a time when, to quote The Guardian, "Britain under Gordon Brown is a more unequal country than at any time since modern records began in the early 1960s, after the incomes of the poor fell and those of the rich rose in the three years after the 2005 general election." The figures released this week by the Department of Work and Pensions showed that child poverty had increased for the third year in succession. The economic crisis will only increase this inequality.

The issue of protecting jobs - and with them wages and conditions - is something every union member needs to be concerned with. As unemployment increases, employers are putting the pressure on those still in work to accept zero pay rises - pay cuts in real terms. That is why Unite is calling on all its members to support the March for Jobs being held next Saturday, 16 May in Birmingham.

The march starts at 11:00 am from Highfield Road, Birmingham B15. Unite is organising transport from every region for members, family and friends. Details can be found on the union website.

Marches will not save jobs by themselves. In the end it is up to what we can do in the workplace to put the pressure on Government and employers. The occupation of Waterford Crystal in Cork after closure was announced led to the plant remaining open with many jobs saved. The campaign of Visteon workers in Belfast Enfield and Basildon, occupations, pickets, and demonstrations, has not saved jobs but forced Ford to make massive redundancy payouts.

These results would not have happened without the actions and commitment of the workers, Unite members, in the plants.

The march next Saturday should be a springboard for fighting redundancies and closures whenever they are announced. And for those not immediately facing redundancy, it should be an expression of the solidarity of workers across the union with those fighting for jobs. No group of our members should be forced to stand alone when fighting for their living.

Rob Williams sacked - step up the struggle

Rob Williams, Unite Convenor of Linamar Swansea, was sacked by the Linamar management last week, and then temporarily re-instated following militant action by the Linamar workforce.

Disgracefully, however, Rob today had his sacking confirmed. Negotiations between Linamar management and Tony Woodley took place all day in London , but Linamar did not shift.

Meanwhile at the Swansea plant Linamar revealed their brutality. Massive intimidation of the workforce took place - including foremen going around the shop floor threatening workers with the sack if they dared walk out in support of Rob. The bosses even went to the ludicrous lengths of removing the door from Rob’s trade union office.

This brutal action by Linamar is an attempt to return to the nineteenth century. What Linamar do not realise, however, is that all hell is going to break loose when workers, both in the Swansea and the wider labour movement, hear how Rob and his members have been treated.

The official reason for his sacking was “irretrievable breakdown of trust” - one of the most blatant excuses to behead a trade union organisation ever used in any factory. Rob’s record in standing up for his members, both inside and outside the factory, is second to none. Rob was a leading supporter of the Visteon workers.

However, what is at stake here is not the fate of one individual but the right for workers to be represented by the best militant fighters.

This sacking has to be totally opposed. The union has promised rapid action to organise a ballot for an official strike, but the anti-trade union laws mean this could still take up to a month between the ballot and the strike action actually taking place. That time, which must be kept a short as possible, needs to be used to pull out all the stops in support of Rob. Messages of support and donations should flood in.

If Linamar are allowed to get away with this, no convenor or shop steward, either in the already weakened car industry or in the wider trade union movement is safe. Allow the employers to inflict a defeat here and no trade unionist, shop steward, let alone a convenor, will be able to put their head above the parapet without the bosses seeking to cut it off.

Workers are facing the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. Big business is doing their utmost to make sure that it is the working class that pays for the crisis. Militant, fighting trade unionism – symbolised by Rob Williams and the union organisation in Linamar – must not only be preserved but strengthened in order to prepare the working class for the capitalist offensive that is under way in Britain and worldwide.

Continue to phone protests to:

Head of Swansea Linamar Brian Wade 01792 656339

Personnel Manager 01792 656238

Messages of protest to linda.hasenfratz@linamar.com

Messages of support to Rob Williams: robbo@redwills.freeserve.co.uk