Build support for Jerry Hicks
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Jerry Hicks tells a Bristol rally what he thinks of management's offer to pay him off "compulsory employer conThe all-out indefinite strike has been absent from the industrial scene in Britain since the 1980s - and the employers have taken full advantage of that fact.
This is what makes the current official strike by 96 engineering workers at the Rolls-Royce aero-engine plant in Bristol so unique and so Important.
They have been on strike since August 21st in defence of their Amicus deputy convenor -and Respect member - Jerry Hicks. They would strike, as they put it at their meeting, "for Initiative as a means to fund as long as it takes".
The plant employs about 3,600 workers and makes engines for military aircraft. Roll Royce has just announced that it has won a 2.4 billion contract to build engines for the F35 stealth fighter for the US airforce and marines.
Jerry Hicks -who has been a trade union activist at Rolls Royce for 20 years and is a member of Amicus National Executive - was sacked by management in early July accused of "gross misconduct".
His alleged crime was to support two workers in the test area who were disciplined by management and then reinstated after a walkout and mass meeting.
Following spontaneous walkouts in the test area where Hicks works. a preliminary hearing of the Bristol employment tribunal concluded that "on balance" Jerry Hicks had probably been dismissed "on trade union grounds".
It is very unusual for such a tribunal to make such a ruling at such an early stage, and was a major boost for the campaign to support Jerry Hicks. In negotiations with the union management also offered £50,000 as a settlement which was flatly rejected by Hicks. He said that the issue was not money but full reinstatement and the defence of trade union rights.
Tony Wood, managing director of Rolls-Royce in Bristol said: "an irretrievable breakdown in trust between Jerry Hicks and the company" meant there was "no basis" on which he could be reinstated. His case is due to go in front of a full tribunal hearing in six months time.
After the initial tribunal hearing a ballot took place of the 96 workers in the test area. Management urged the workforce to vote no in the following terms: "We have a great business here is Bristol and would urge employees considering strike action to think carefully
whether supporting the unlawful actions of one individual is
in their best interests, or those
of our customers".
The result was of the ballot
was a decision for an all-out
strike by a vote of 55 to 35. It is
the first official strike action at
Rolls Royce for 20 years.
Amicus national officer lan Waddle said: "Amicus and our members are determined to do everything we can to achieve Jerry Hicks reinstatement. It is unbelievable that the company seem to be willing to let this dispute grow rather than just do the right thing and take Jerry back".
This is now a decisive battle over trade union representation and steps have now been taken to widen the dispute by ballot'Ing a further 800 workers for all out strike. This could be declsive in the final outcome of the action.
Meanwhile Jerry Hicks has been addressing meetings at other Rolls Royce sites across the country - at Ansty in Coventry, Sunderland, Barnoldswick near Burnley, Derby - where hundreds of workers walked out to a meeting - and East Kilbride near Glasgow in Scotland where 400 workers left the plant to listen to his case. He has been received extremely well at all these locations.
Amicus has also held two successful events in support of Hicks in Bristol. The first was a rally on August 17 which attracted 400 people. Speakers Included Tony Benn and Bob Crow as well as Jerry hicks himself. There were representatives present from the NUJ, NATHE, the T&G, RMT, CWU, NUT, AEEU and the FBU.
This was followed by a national demonstration and rally in Bristol Another last week on September 2. This was
also very successful with trade union members at it from
across the country representing
many different unions.
The task of the movement
now is to expand solidarity to
this very important strike. Send
messages of support to
jw1610@blueyonder.co.uk and
copy them to
derek.simpson@amicustheunion.org
Bombard Rolls Royce with
faxes, phone calls, and letters
of protest - Rolls-Royce
International Limited, 65
Buckingham Gate, London,
SWE 6AT Tel 020 7222 9020
or fax 020 72279178.
Get collection sheets from
jw1610@blueyonder.co.uk and
take it round at work, Respect
groups and trade union contacts.