Articles
Friday, September 30, 2022
In 1972, after a national strike, building workers achieved the largest single pay increase ever negotiated in the building industry: an immediate pay increase of £6 per week for craftsmen and £5 per week for labourers. This was on a previous national minimum rate of just £20 for a skilled worker and £17 for a labourer. It was a magnificent victory for the workers and their trade unions. In achieving this victory, however, leaders of the strike were imprisoned on trumped up charges with the state intervening on the side of the employers.
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Unsafe working conditions and a lack of safety reps have led to accidents among construction workers on the HS2 rail project. with some success, trade unions have fought to gain recognition against determined opposition from employers.