Local electricians who were locked out of their work place - the new building on Piccadilly Gardens - for setting up a Trade Union branch and pointing out safety concerns resulting from the bosses asking some to do work they had not been trained for (let alone would receive appropriate payment for) went to the Manchester Industrial Tribunal at the start of June. The result of their case for "dismissal for trade union activities" should be out in July.
Paul, a member of the Manchester Social Forum, which has supported the electricians during their year long dispute, put a series of questions to Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, in June, asking how the Council had conducted an inquiry into safety on the two city centre building sites without consulting the electricians. Richard Leese responded by saying that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) had investigated the complaints and had given the sites a clean bill of health (we understand that on each visit the HSE warned the employers, DAF Electrical, of their visits in advance). Councillor Leese had more trouble answering the supplementary question, "Why were the local labour conditions not enforced?'" Councillor Leese's full written replies to the questions will be sent to to questioner shortly and can then be made public.
A booklet about the dispute, "Locked-Out Manchester Electricians 2 - Sub-contract Killers, Wonky Wiremen and Manchester City Council under Labour" is available from Northern Voices (see below) for £1 (to the electricians) plus postage.
Watch this space.
Brian, Northern Voices ([email protected]), Springbank, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7AA.
Electrician's Fighting Fund, c/o Steve Acheson (Shop Representative), 6/1400/7 Branch Secretary, 13 Thompson Close, Dane Bank, Denton M34 2PQ. Tel: 07813 456 831
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