Strikers inspire each other to fight back

ICR strikers at a solidarity meeting in Manchester

Trades union councils in Manchester and Trafford called a meeting this week in solidarity with striking workers from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). 

Three of the striking members of the Unite union spoke about the power of striking. “For 18 months they ignored us. Then, when they realised we would go out on indefinite strike we got four offers in one day,” they told us.

Alongside the ICR workers, there were local strikers as well.

Lorien, also in Unite, spoke about the Kimpton Clocktower hotel strike. Hospitality workers there are fighting for union recognition.

“People felt fearful,” she said. “But we are also stubborn. I look at the strikers here and realise that we can do it too.”

Sally, from the Unison union, spoke for the Northern Care Alliance strikers. These NHS theatre workers are on their fourth round of strikes around overtime pay.

Currently, they are less for an overtime shift than a normal shift.

“What we need is a national response from Unison, with no branch left behind,” Sally said.

Andrew is a worker on Arriva trains and an RMT member, out over pay. He was overwhelmed at being in a room full of other workers out on strike, saying, “I feel like I’ve come home”.

Laura, a member of Unison from the AQA exam board strike, talked of having won a significantly improved offer after taking action.

She said, “All these other strikes make it clear—we are not on our own.”

And John, from Unite, who won a strike a few years ago to increase staff at his workplace, is now campaigning for 77 newly qualified psychologists in the north west.

These workers are facing a future without jobs. This is despite loads of vacancies in the NHS—but posts have been frozen to save money.

“Strikes, however hard they are, are some of the best times you’ll ever have,” he said.

A Unite member at the meeting said, “When people talk about unions and strikes for the first time, they might not be confident, especially in non-unionised workplaces. But listening to striking workers from the ICR, Kimpton, Arriva, AQA and the NHS is so inspirational. One fight can inspire more fights.”

Many of the workers offered donations to the ICR strikers, personally or by way of their union branch.

What you can do

• Use the collection sheet to do a collection at work, or at a union or campaign meeting

• Circulate the crowdfunder: www.gofundme.com/f/cancer-researchers-get-a-fair-pay-deal/

• Organise a donation from your trade union branch. Reference: ICR-Strike Fund

  Account name: Unite LE/524 Branch

  Sort Code: 608301

  Account number: 30010808

• Invite ICR strikers to your next meeting

• Organise for strikers to come to your town or city in a delegation—and set up meetings for them