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From The Socialist newspaper, 6 October 2021
Scaffolders strike at Scunthorpe steelworks for pay rise
Scaffolders walk out on 4 October, photo Alistair Tice (Click to enlarge)
"I've worked here eleven years and only ever had one pay rise", one scaffolder told me on the picket line. Another added: "That was three years ago but was self-funded!"
That's why around 60 scaffolders, members of Unite the Union, started an all-out strike on Monday 4 October at British Steel in Scunthorpe. They are striking for the national industry NAECI rate for the job, which is 10-15% more than they get paid now.
This dispute started two years ago and the scaffs took several days of strike action against their previous contractor Brand last winter. A pathetic 6% pay rise over two years is all that's come out of months of 'non-negotiations' with new contractor Actavo. But the scaffs want the NAECI rate that's paid to others at the steelworks. And they're fed up of being fobbed off, hence the 95% vote for an all-out strike. Picketing has been stepped up to all three main gates from 5.30am to 2.30pm. Encouragingly, on the first morning, several scaffs from other firms turned around at the picket or didn't come in. As the Actavo contract maintains around 500 structures on the steelworks, the scaffs don't expect it will be long before their action really begins to bite.
Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party
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In The Socialist 6 October 2021:
What we think
Bakers' union disaffiliates from Labour
News
Sarah Everard trial reveals police abuse of power
Tories plunge millions further into poverty with Universal Credit cut
Railway bosses cook the books in another capitalist market failure
Glasgow's equal pay battle set to re-erupt
Pay NHS and care staff to address worker shortages
Workplace news
NEU: National executive agrees campaign on pay
Coordinated FE strike against measly pay offer
Unison LG members reject insulting pay offer
Unite health members say no to 3% and vote for action
Tesco warehouse rep fighting for reinstatement
Scunthorpe steel scaffolders strike for pay rise
Brighton waste workers walk out
Economy
Capitalism's economic instability in the 'new normal'
Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs - why we're marching on 9 October
Ten years since our 330-mile Jarrow March for Jobs
Campaigns news
Barking NHS: "Sorry, please try again later"
We have the right to breathe fresh air
Nottingham: Punish Labour for cruel cuts
London protest for Texas abortion rights
North West socialists join march against Tory conference
Fighting Fund target smashed - £31,703 raised
Obituary
Obituary - Dave Hardaker, 1952-2021
Review
Caffeine and capitalism - a symbiotic relationship
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2021