Sparks last night kept up the pressure on construction giant Balfour Beatty by dropping leaflets to Crossrail workers to highlight damaging pay cuts in the industry.
Up to 50 activists took part in the evening action, which began at 7pm, with many having already picketed the same site that very same morning.
Marking nearly 20 weeks of the bitter industrial dispute over the imposition of the controversial Besna contract which union reps argue will lead to 35 percent wage cuts and de-skilling in the industry, the sparks have been buoyed by a “Yes” vote for official strike action.
The official strike against Balfour Beatty is due to take place within the next month but the company is using anti-trade union legislation to challenge the legitimacy of the ballot by seeking a court injunction.
Such a move, the second by the company to try and frustrate an official strike, is being challenged by the Unite union with a result pending.
But whatever the outcome, rank and file construction workers look set to continue unofficial action at building sites and will attempt to disrupt the Electrical Construction Association dinner on February 15th.
Speaking to UnionNews from Blackfriars, electrician and blacklisted worker Frank Morris insisted the campaign would continue “until the employers backed down.”
He said: “We can’t afford to live on what they will pay us if the deal gets forced through. There is no other work for us to do and nowhere else for us to go. So this will go on for as long as it takes.”
Spark Brian Hudson revealed a culture of continuous work for months without days off was prevalent throughout the industry, despite the “Besna 7” insisting there needs to be fewer electricians.
He said: “The working time directive – that is just ignored and this undermines health and safety too. There is plenty of work out there that needs to be done. Just look at Crossrail.”
Although some sparks have admitted it is difficult to maintain a weekly protest, others have called for a change in strategy to keep up the momentum.
UCATT activist Mick Dooley called for official “smart strikes” and for his union to “put its full weight” behind the dispute which has been led by Unite rank and file members.
He said: “There is nothing to stop 2 hour stoppages at times of peak production. This would hit the employer and the suppliers.”
* A national day of action in opposing Besna will take place on February 15th.