www.socialistworker.co.uk by Simon Basketter Rank and file electricians walked off jobs, protested and blocked roads in towns and cities across Britain this morning, Wednesday. They are battling building bosses’ attempts to slash their pay by 35 percent and bring in a new grade of semi-skilled worker. At the Balfour Beatty site at Blackfriars station in central London, no electrician went into work. Pickets gathered on all entrances and turned lorries away—despite a sustained police attempt to stop them. Today was meant to be the day of the first official strike against the attacks. It’s also the day that Balfour Beatty has threatened to sack workers who don’t sign up for their new, worse, contracts. Workers at Balfour Beatty across Britain voted by 81 percent to strike in a recent ballot. But their Unite union called the action off after bosses threatened to challenge the ballot in the courts. Electricians came out anyway. One Balfour electrician told Socialist Worker, “I don’t care what Balfour Beatty say—I’m not working.” Another said, “I’m out because they want to deskill my job. They’ll always try to stop any strike but what’s the worst they can do?” Workers said they had to take action to stop the assault—official or otherwise. In London, workers marched to Balfour Beatty’s headquarters to protest outside. A post worker respected the impromptu picket and refused to deliver the mail. Workers then marched to the Gratte Brothers site at Victoria. As they arrived a fire …
