Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://archive.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/577/7216
From The Socialist newspaper, 29 April 2009
STOP PRESS: Key union activist sacked
 |
Rob Williams addresses Socialist Party 'Support Visteon Workers' meeting in London, photo Paul Mattsson |
Socialist Party member Rob Williams, the Unite convenor of the Linamar car parts factory in Swansea, was called into the directors' office of the plant on Tuesday 28 April and told that he was being sacked for "irretrievable breakdown of trust".
Updates at http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/7210
This blatant victimisation of one of the leading left-wing shop steward activists in the car industry was met by an immediate production line walk-off by the day shift. They surrounded Rob's union office after management called in police to forcibly remove Rob from the building.
Rob has been very active in the campaign of the sacked Visteon car parts workers and has recently visited all three of their plants. His sacking is likely to be linked to his role in this struggle. The Visteon Unite convenors are demanding that Rob be reinstated and they, alongside many others, are calling on Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley to also back the immediate reinstatement of Rob.
Linamar recently announced 140 redundancies.
● Messages of support should be rushed to Rob Williams:
[email protected] and to Socialist Party Wales: [email protected]
● Send messages urging Unite to defend Rob and other lay officials, to the Wales secretary of Unite:
[email protected]
● Phone through your protest to Brian Wade, head of Swansea Linamar on 01792 656339 and to the personnel manager on 01792 656238.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 29 April 2009:
Youth Fight for Jobs launch conference
Olympics: Defend jobs, pay and conditions
Socialist Party election campaign
European elections: Build support for a workers' alternative to Labour
Stop Press
STOP PRESS: Key union activist sacked
Socialist Party workplace news
Sacked workers protest in Newcastle
Socialist Party news and analysis
Budget 2009 - debts passed to all of us
Does the 'botch it' budget benefit young people?
International socialist news and analysis
Workers' internationalism: A history of the first four socialist international organisations
Sri Lanka war: Rajapakse regime ignores Tamils' plight in renewed army offensive
NUT feature
National Union of Teachers conference: Fighting "teaching-on-the-cheap"
Hands off Lewisham Bridge school!
Being a new teacher - a shock to the system
Home | The Socialist 29 April 2009 | Join the Socialist Party
2021