Forty years ago Asian women at Grunwick led a strike for basic human dignity at work and for the right to join to a trade union. Today these battles are still being fought, often by migrant workers in precarious employment conditions. The experiences of workers at Byron revealed the extent to which migrant workers can be exploited by 'the new economy' and tossed aside when no longer needed, while those at Deliveroo showed that resistance is both necessary and possible.
This one-day conference will bring together campaigners, trade unionists, activists and thinkers to examine the changing nature of work and the terrains for resistance.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26TH 10.30AM-5.30PM
95 High Road
London
NW10 2SF
Willesden Green tube (Jubilee line)
Although
a free event, please ensure you book your place HERE as spaces are
limited.
Sessions will include:
Sessions will include:
- The legacy of Grunwick
- Do we need independent trade unions?
- Building community support
- What does Brexit mean for workers
- Resisting immigration raids
- Building community support
Confirmed
participants are:
- Rita Chadha (Refugee and Migrant Forum Essex and London
- Dr Sundari Anitha
- Suresh Grover (The Moniroring Group)
- Anti Raids Network
- Amrit Wilson (writer, activist)
- Durham teaching assistants
- Jack Dromey MP
- Unite Hotel Workers Branch
- United Workers of the World Union (Deliveroo and other campaigns)
- More to be announced
3 comments:
why are durham teaching assistants speaking: do they have particular knowledge?
They are speaking because they are low paid female workers whose bosses are currently attempting to worsen their conditions of service. They are fighting back just as the Grunwick strikes did: Durham teaching assistants have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the long-running dispute over cuts to their pay, their union UNISON has announced today (Wednesday).
UNISON held a ballot over Durham County Council plans to move teaching assistants to term-time pay. This could see school support staff lose up to 23% of their wages.
The vote on whether to move to industrial action was put to the largely female workforce on Thursday 6 October. The ballot closed today and 93% of UNISON members who responded voted for strike action.
The ballot was carried out against a backdrop of intimidation by the council which has threatened to sack and re-employ teaching assistants who are UNISON members on a worse deal than that given to other employees, says the union.
UNISON has notified the council of the decision to take action and will now decide with its teaching assistants the nature of the action they want to take.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This huge vote has taken place against a backdrop of bullying by councillors, head teachers and church leaders, all of whom should have known better.
“These are low-paid women workers who deserve much better from their employer – a Labour council.
“Even at this late stage there’s still time for councillors to think again and agree to reverse their decision to slash the pay of these workers by nearly a quarter.”
UNISON northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “We’re disappointed at the council’s decision to treat UNISON teaching assistant members worse than their colleagues.
“Teaching assistants are essential in the classroom and to devalue them in this way is unacceptable. Parents and teachers understand their worth, it’s a pity the council does not.
“This decision to move to industrial action hasn’t been taken lightly. But with employees facing massive pay cuts, they have been left with no other option. Durham council must do the right thing and get back around the negotiating table.”
UNISON Durham County branch secretary Neville Hancock said: “This shows the incredible strength of feeling in this long-running dispute. Every day teaching assistants go above and beyond the call of duty yet are being treated like second class citizens by their employer.”
The teaching assistants in Durham have been compared to the Grunwick strikers and they seem to have taken great inspiration from this
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/06/teaching-assistants-durham-pay-slashed-women-lions-of-durham-grunwick%3f0p19G=e?client=safari
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