Refinery workers use technology to spread the word- Stikes

[DGP1]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -word.html
Wildcat strikes: Refinery workers use technology to spread the word
Websites and text messages are being used to coordinate the wildcat strikes as informal groups of workers use technology to spread their grievances wider and faster.


By Jon Swaine
Last Updated: 3:04PM GMT 01 Feb 2009
Wildcat strikes: Refinery workers use technology to spread the word
Protesters at the Lindsey oil refinery in North Lincolnshire on Friday Photo: PA

Managers at several power firms were yesterday said to be trawling websites in an attempt to outmanoeuvre workers planning further wildcat strikes over jobs being given to foreign workers.

And legal papers filed last week by the oil giant Total to prevent strikers entering its Humberside refinery contained evidence against them gleaned from messages left an online discussion board.

The firm's solicitiors, Denton Wilde Sapte, claimed that workers at the Lindsey Oil refinery at Killingholme near Immingham had been planning the action for weeks.

They referred to plans for "disruptive" action at the 500-acre refinery outlined on the ukwelder.com website, where manual workers meet virtually to share their thoughts on work.

The application, which was granted in the High Court last Thursday, 24 hours ahead of the demonstration outside the plant by 1,000 workers, quoted several inflammatory comments.

Among other calls for action were "stop the men and the steel from going through" and "let's send them stinking foreign leeches back to tgheir urine-soaked shantys."

There were also appeals for the campaign to be stepped up, with one user recalling the fuel protests in 2000 that Tony Blair, then prime minister, at one stage feared could bring down the Government.

The user wrote: "We need a programme to shut down the oil and gas flow just like the wagon drivers did over fuel duty then we will make national news and light the plight of our trades."

The messages have since been removed by the site's administrator.

Lee Young, the firm's company secretary, said: "It is apparent from the website that the intention is to 'bus in' individuals who are not contractors and do not otherwise work at the refinery, in order to boost numbers."


Is it any wonder Postman gets upset with us sometimes whenever these big companies use message boards to take legal action against workers (it's always nice to know that these companies have managers with little else to do but surf the net looking for postings to use against people).

[k979aaa]

It is a shame the CWU are not so savvy they do not even tell us all about the pension's issue nor the latest pay offer or even if half the mail center's and delivery offices will be shut down!.

[Big Daz]

It is a shame the CWU are not so savvy they do not even tell us all about the pension's issue nor the latest pay offer or even if half the mail center's and delivery offices will be shut down!.

At the moment nothing has changed on the pensions accept that RM will no longer have to find the 280 million for the defcit payments if the government take over that for us.


As for mail centres we all know that RM have been extremley cagey with the CWU over mail centre closure plans and I think its clear that very clear that smaller delivery offices will be shut down and merged with their medium sized neighbours or evn brand new spanking delivery office built. We all know the quality of some SPDO buildings are crap so why not get SPDO duties converted into rural duties based in a DO?

I think what is needed is tougher laws for employers to inform trade unions of their plans, if RM were a lot more open and honest about their plans no matter how far developed they were then Industrial relations would be a little better than they are now.

How can the CWU tell you the answer to your question when RM havent old them and the chances are RM dont even know how many mail centres will be in place when the all the automation and other changes have been implemented.

The question is how many MC'S do we need and where do they need to be located and how many people/work hours are needed to operate them.

[k979aaa]

It is a shame the CWU are not so savvy they do not even tell us all about the pension's issue nor the latest pay offer or even if half the mail center's and delivery offices will be shut down!.

At the moment nothing has changed on the pensions accept that RM will no longer have to find the 280 million for the defcit payments if the government take over that for us.


As for mail centres we all know that RM have been extremley cagey with the CWU over mail centre closure plans and I think its clear that very clear that smaller delivery offices will be shut down and merged with their medium sized neighbours or evn brand new spanking delivery office built. We all know the quality of some SPDO buildings are crap so why not get SPDO duties converted into rural duties based in a DO?

I think what is needed is tougher laws for employers to inform trade unions of their plans, if RM were a lot more open and honest about their plans no matter how far developed they were then Industrial relations would be a little better than they are now.

How can the CWU tell you the answer to your question when RM havent old them and the chances are RM dont even know how many mail centres will be in place when the all the automation and other changes have been implemented.

The question is how many MC'S do we need and where do they need to be located and how many people/work hours are needed to operate them.

You are so wrong about the pension's issue as we all even existing members have all been transferred to a career defined contribution scheme from the 1/04/2008!. It is for us all too get involved about our futures as never before for if we don't we will all not have one!.