Construction electricians invade Kings Cross station

September 28 Hundreds of construction workers held an impromptu protest and rally on the main concourse at Kings Cross train station this morning.

Speakers like Mick Dooley, left candidate for the Ucatt general secretary election competed with the station announcer as the campaign against the de-skilling in the construction industry was brought home to thousands of commuters. This was the sixth weekly protest by electricians, who blocked Pancras Road, bringing traffic to a stand still for over half an hour.

Workers have been buoyed by the fact that one of the 'Big 8' construction companies MJN Coulston has backed down from withdrawing from the JIB agreement. Tearing up this agreement would have a calamitous effect on workers terms and conditions. In particular it would mean a cut of 35% in wages for some workers among other

NSSN chair Rob Williams pointed to the example of the workers at West Burton power station and Saltend who walked out on unofficial strike on Monday to protest outside Lindsey oil Refinery. While it is a massive boost to see Unite officials at today's protest promising to get an official ballot organised - which now needs to be progressed, Monday's action shows that workers have the power, whether its official or unofficial, to stop the sites and defeat the employers.

Many speakers gave solidarity from Alex Gordon and Steve Headley from the RMT to left Labour MP John McDonnell. Protests and action are spreading around the country and starting to shake the employers.

There is a rank and file meeting in Manchester this Saturday. Rob called for Unite to organise a national conference open to all electricians in the construction industry to work out the industrial action strategy that will be necessary to win this battle.

The next London protest is next Wednesday from 6.30am at Park House in Oxford Street (left out of Bond Street tube)