A delegation of strikers showed up to show bosses that they deserve to be heard
Strikers from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) gave their managers a surprise on Wednesday. Around 30 strikers showed up to negotiations with the mediation service Acas, instead of the four management were expecting.
The Unite union members are on indefinite strike for pay restoration.
Three strikers involved in the meeting told Socialist Worker about why mass participation in negotiations is so important.
Unite rep Teige explained, “It’s the third time we brought a mass delegation to an Acas conciliation service negotiation. Every time we invite everyone from picket lines and members’ meetings to join us.
“It acts against management’s attempt to have a propaganda war by email, which leaves people feeling passive and confused about what to believe. They see for themselves how management lies and have no answers.
“It also stops the three reps and the official becoming a cosy clique. It makes sure that our most solid and committed strikers are in the room, so we don’t forget about them,” he said.
“Other workers should absolutely do the same thing—it stops the bosses getting too comfortable,” he said.
Teige added that, “We asked to go round giving names. This was a power play. It meant less time listening to their nonsense because we can only improve our offer by showing we are strong.
“All 30 strikers gave their names and said what they did, so management realised that we have strikers in every department.
“When we had talked before Acas was involved, we ambushed them by bringing in a group of strikers.
“They spoke from their hearts about their jobs, what it means to be on strike and how shocked they were that there were no meaningful negotiations.
“Someone who works on clinical trials described how they were motivated by the experience of surviving cancer. We were all in tears.
“The next words out of the chief financial officer’s mouth was that we must seek to balance supporting staff with finances. But they don’t ‘support’ us. We work for them”.
Striker Danny told Socialist Worker, “They were surprised to find 30 people in the room. It was important we were there as witnesses and observers.
“We don’t want to hide anything—we want everything to be open and public.
“They thought we would give in and they tried to divide us. But we have shown them we are going to stay out until we win.
“And we know the impact our strike is having—and they know it too.”
Another striker, Chris, explained, “Having that number turn up to negotiations shows that our strike is collective.
“We don’t want a few people negotiating on behalf of all the members.
“The Chief Financial Officer has actually gone on holiday. They kept trying to justify their latest figures, but they didn’t really know what their own offer meant. They couldn’t clarify anything—except the CEO, who clarified that there was no more money on the table.
“But we are going to be on strike until they find that extra money,” he said.
“Management has a habit of saying one thing to negotiators, then saying another in their written offer.
“Their offers are smoke and mirrors. But we are scientists, we are used to scrutinising statistics.
“What is so powerful about our strike is we have scientists and manual workers involved. Management offered a rise to the scientists, but not to professional services—the workers who support what we do.
“I am so proud we shut that offer down,” Chris said.
“Management have blinked first. A few years back they got rid of incremental pay rises. They called us ‘fantasists’ for demanding they are reintroduced. But those incremental pay rises are in the new offer. It shows striking works.
“The vote to go on indefinite strike from Monday was almost unanimous. The experience of striking has made us more determined. Now we need solidarity.”
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