Wednesday 12 October, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! joined London electricians and supporters’ for the weekly demonstration against the construction companies who are planning to withdraw from the Electrical and Mechanical National Working Agreements (JIB, Joint Industry Board) to drive down conditions and pay. The demonstrators met at the Tate Modern site in Southwark and marched over the bridge to Blackfriars to the Balfour Beatty site, occupying the road outside St Paul’s cathedral and keeping the police on their toes.
This is the civil disobedience against the ruling class assault on living standards that Unite’s general secretrary Len McCluskey has repeatedly called for. But despite all their fine words, there is no sign of official union backing and to win this struggle, and fight the anti-trade union laws, the electricians will have to mobilise allies outside their ranks, including other trades and migrant workers, the unemployed, community members and amongst women.
Onwards to victory!
