Casualisation / Workplace

Migrant and casual labour reside on the front lines of capitalism, and the IWW has a strong history of militant organising amongst these groups. They remain the two of the most exploited and vulnerable groups of workers today.

What can be done? How can casual and migrant workers help themselves? What are their connections and differences? How can other workers support them?

Saturday 20th January, 3pm Marchmont Community Centre (Russell Square Tube), London more

The question then is can there be a genuine model for grassroots rank and file political activity and organising within a union setting, and if not what are the alternatives?

One initiative has emerged, on the back of the T & G tube cleaners campaign, called The Solidarity Collective – a group set up by people involved in the IWW, the Wombles, T & G organisers and other left groups to support ongoing workplace struggles independently of union hierarchy. more

Excerpt from Leeds Mayday Group discussion, Spring 2004: "The third, current, phase is that of the 'socialised worker'. In this phase the factory is dispersed into society, giving rise to the 'social factory' and the 'real subsumption' of labour under capital..." more

Protesters who scaled cranes, at the King's Cross Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) construction site to hang banners in solidarity with an ongoing workers' struggle, successfully appealed convictions for Aggravated Trespass last week, in a two-day hearing at the Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court. more

In London up to 4000 people marched from Clerkenwell Green to Trafalgar square. One of the largest blocs of the march was the Autonomous Bloc which consisted of around 500 people, marching on the issues of precarity and migration.  more

This is a list of events and activities in London over the Mayday weekend, including discussion and events to look at anarchism in 2006. more

Originally Posted 11.00 12 April 2006: This Mayday we invite all self-organised workers, migrant workers, non-unionised workers, agency workers, cash in hand workers, dole claimants, free-lancers, work rejecters and all of those who fall outside of traditional union organisation to join our autonomous bloc on the TUC march. To make Mayday a day where the invisible claim a common voice. more

Posted 20:55 15 December 2005: The text that follows is reproduced from an email received. The Gate Gourmet workers' dispute is an ongoing struggle and has been discussed in previous WOMBLES meetings. more

Posted 16:40 26 October 2005: Corporate Watch presents an interview with Mrs Kaur, one of the striking workers at airline catering company Gate Gourmet. Mrs Kaur has worked at Gate Gourmet for over six and a half years. more

Posted 17:50 24 October 2005: Reproduced from email: We, the women workers sacked by Gate Gourmet, urge you to publicise our experiences at the hands of the brutal management of this multinational corporation and their utter disregard for our basic rights and dignity. more

Posted 10:42 18 September 2005: Reposted under Workplace Struggle by Solidarity Federation: Workers in the construction industry look to be gearing up for some serious opposition to the latest insult thrown at them by the employers.  more

Posted 12:11 03 August 2005: Support Polish workers wildcat strike against Tescos in Ireland. Solidarity pickets this Thursday 4th August 2005, 6pm at Tesco's all over Ireland and at Hackney Central, London and other cities around UK. more

Originally posted 22:42 02 May 2005: Yesterday, Sunday 1st of May saw the first EuroMayday action happen in London. Organised by the precarity network, our aim was to bring together people in London who have precarious working and living situations.  more

MAYDAY this year falls on a Sunday, once a day for relaxing, now part of the working week for many people. It's symbollic of how our time is increasingly dominated by work. As part of EUROMAYDAY, our aim is to make MAYDAY this year a day off for everyone. A day when we extend our hand of solidarity over the counter & checkout & learn to live for free. One day less for working, one day more for us! more

Posted 14:58 01 March 2005: At the end of Fashion Week in Milan, anti-precarity activists pulled off an ambitious spoof against the fashion industry and the mainstream media. The scene was set earlier in the week when protesters targeted the a cat walk show by Prada and issued a statement that there would be further protests and that the fashion show by the controversial japanese designer Serpica Naro. more