Builders demand painters get rate won by strike

Workers Press no. 929, 24 November 1972 · scan page 4

Topics: Culture and reviews, Building workers

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BUILDING WORKERS at Willett's Mile End site east London struck yesterday in protest against uni officials' lack of support for painters who have be officials' lack of support out four weeks.

They later lobbied the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians' headquarters in Clapham demanding official backing , for the painters who are the lowest paid on site.

A petition handed in to union leaders declared no confidence in local organizer Horace Manning,_a Communist Party member. He was accused of 'lack of responsibility in safeguarding the trade union organization on the site'.

New rates agreed at the end of *the national dispute in September gave most men on site a rate of 93p an hour. But the painters, who work for Road Decorations, were left with 65łp an hour when they came on site later.

'At one point we went back after an agreement had been reached, said Harry Hardy, painters' steward. 'But we had to come out again when they only paid us 65kp for an eight-hour day.' 'Since last week we have been the regional organizer down here,' he added.

Federation steward Tony O'Brien told Workers Press why the site had struck for the day in support of the painters.

*This comes from the last strike which was sold out by FROM PHILIP WADE or painters who have be Painters' steward Harry Hardy the executive and the so-called "lefts" in the Communist Party.

Since then, the backlash has been on with the employers taking on every section of building workers before Christmas.

'We had a struggle here and won a victory, with new rates of almost £1 an hour. We organized the site with almost 100-per-cent trade unionism. Then the painters started to come on site so we supported them.

"They had their f5 bonus cut and were worse paid than labourers. They've been out five weeks and we can't tolerate this position. It will lead to an out stoppage if we don't get action,' he said.