John Laing/Border Agency attack on RMT members

15 November (Taken from a recent RMT CLEANERS bulletin. Full bulletin can be viewed here)

In a scene reminiscent of fascist Europe in the 1930s up to 30 John Laing Workers were rounded up and detained by the UK Border Agency. These included RMT members and one of our union Reps on the London Overground cleaning contract

These workers were told by their managers to come in to do overtime. When staff said that they did not wish to do this overtime the managers became insistent. Instead of being given overtime they were hauled in by Border Agency agents. These Workers now believe that there was never any overtime for them to do and John Laing is clearly complicit in this disgraceful operation.

The incident occurred on October 25th. Among those rounded up was one of the RMT Representatives who was handed over as ‘the RMT Rep’ by management. Further evidence of John Laing complicity – if further evidence was needed – comes from payslips where the pay of those who were to be detained had been stopped in advance and when workers arrived with company vehicles there were staff there ready to take these vehicles off them and drive them back to the depot.

After great inconvenience and going through a humiliating process most of those detained have now been released. Despite this a John Laing manager has said that none of those who had been detained will be re-employed.

A number have not yet been released and may even face deportation. The RMT will assist these members legally and will be part of any fight back against deportation

The Union is conducting an inquiry into these events and John Laing’s complicity in them. We will fight to get our members back to their workplace.

The Border Agency was used against members on LUL and Network Rail after RMT won the London Living wages. We saw them off there and will see them off here as well.

The Border Agency and the Immigration laws are powerful weapons in the hands of the Bosses and our enemies. When our members come under threat from these agencies we must stand together and defend each other.

AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL.

Protest at John Laing HQ:

8:00 AM, Wednesday 16 November.

Arlington House, 150 Victoria Street (opposite Victoria Station)