Some 50 workers from the Cadbury plant in Keynsham, Somerset, travelled to the Bourneville plant in Birmingham on Monday. They protested at plans to close the plant and move the work to Poland. Some 200 jobs are also threatened at Bourneville.
The looming confrontation between Birmingham council and 40,000 of its workers will move a step closer this week when two important trade union meetings take place.
Respect has impact beyond elections
Respect members in Handsworth, Birmingham, have been campaigning alongside others against cuts in vital accident and emergency and children’s services at our local City hospital.
Birmingham
Workers in the GMB union at Birmingham council showed overwhelming opposition to the single status agreement in the first of several mass meetings last week.
Respect is gearing up to build on its successes at last week’s council elections. The party won three council seats on 3 May. Michael Lavalette was re-elected in Preston, Ray Holmes won in Bolsover, Derbyshire, and Mohammed Ishtiaq was elected as Respect’s second councillor in Birmingham.
Mohammed Ishtiaq has been elected as Respect councillor in Sparkbroook, Birmingham. He won 3,514 votes compared to 2,503 for Labour, 919 for the Lib Dems and 548 for the Conservatives. Congratulations to Mohammed Ishtiaq and everyone who helped with the campaign.
