Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
Over 40 sparks descended on the Bouygues site at Cardiff University where NG Baileys is working.
NG Baileys and Balfour Beatty have been trying to use trainees at reduced rates of pay to install the electrical system at the giant Hinkley Point nuclear power station construction site as so-called Electrical Support Operatives (ESO), which would then be rolled out across UK sites. So construction electricians across the UK have been protestoong at NG Baileys sites to defend wages and conditions but also to ensure skilled, time-served electricians are use to install and maintain electrical equipment for safety.
The site was blockaded and the gates blocked by sparks and supporters from the Cardiff trade union movement and the Socialist Party, who turned away deliveries from the site.
A line of trucks queued up the road as the red-faced Bouygues boss shouted, stamped his feet and swore, but the sparks stood firm despite one or two trucks breaking every health and safety law forcing their way through the line. Other drivers turned away in solidarity.
As he became more and more irate, the boss claimed that there were no umbrella companies working on the site – not true. And when it was pointed out that workers are having to pay the employers national insurance he exclaimed “But that’s illegal!”. Precisely, but that it what is happening on his site.
A great morning’s work getting the message over to NG Baileys that wherever they go sparks will protest and disrupt their attempts to de-skill.
