Canary Wharf protest forces construction bosses to follow the rules—instead of sacking the rep

Rank and file construction workers and their supporters took on the Morgan Stanley Corporation on Monday of this week—and won.

Unite union shop steward Graeme was sacked in Canary Wharf, east London, after he asked for direct employment for all the electricians on site.

The company D&D are subcontracting for Phoenix Electrical, who are signed up to the JIB national agreement. Under JIB rules all workers on site should be directly employed.

Despite an injunction and threats of arrest bosses backed down and Graeme was reinstated.

Discussions to get workers on direct employment were ongoing as Socialist Worker went to press. 

Graeme said, “Millions of workers are being denied their basic employment rights by the use of zero hours contracts, employment agencies and umbrella scams. But we don’t have to passively accept these abuses. Today proved that if we fight back, we can win”.

Dave Smith, secretary of the Blacklist Support Group (BSG) was in court last week, charged with unlawful obstruction of the highway at a protest in March.

The trial has been moved to next January.