Thursday 8 March 2012

SPONTANEOUS WALK-OUT AT BRIDGWATER SORTING OFFICE

Bridgwater Posties on strike
CWU members at Bridgwater Sorting Office held an unofficial and spontaneous walk-out on Thursday 8th March, to show their anger over the sacking of a colleague.

The three and a half hour walk-out was successful. Management have agreed to bring the sacked man's appeal process forward, which increases his chances of reinstatement. There will be no victimisation of any of the workers who took industrial action, and a ballot will be held for official industrial action if their colleague is not re-instated.

Bridgwater Trades Union Council congratulates Bridgwater postal workers for their compassion and solidarity  - an inspiration to all workers.

Friday 2 March 2012

MORE P.R PROBLEMS FOR E.D.F FOLLOWING HEAVY HANDED EVICTION

Anti nuclear protesters outside the court in Taunton
Hot on the heels of Sedgemoor District Councils  tussle with Energy giants EDF, when they delayed setting the Council Tax  due to the failure to come to an agreement with the company over 'Community Benefit' payments for the proposed construction of  a new power station at Hinkley point, the French Multinational are now in trouble over their heavy handed treatment of anti-nuclear protesters near the site.

After over 24 hours in custody Theo Simon of Shepton Mallet, and David Jesse of Taunton, appeared before Taunton Deane Magistrates court. Officials were stunned by the packed courtroom as well-wishers and supporters packed into the room to follow the proceedings, one official commented that “this was the most people we've ever seen here”.

Peaceful protest

Magistrates, after taking into consideration the time they'd spent in custody decided to release the defendants with just a conditional discharge, and no fines or court costs as they accepted that the defendants were men of good character and that they had been engaged in a legitimate peaceful protest for the last two and a half weeks.

Night time eviction

The defendent's solicitor told the protestors outside the court that the police hadn't favoured a night time eviction, but despite this EDF pulled the eviction time forward from the scheduled 7:30am to just before daybreak, said Shana Deal “ EDF are trying their hardest to keep local opposition from becoming visible not content with stitching up the legal processes they want to silence protest too. We are pleased that twice this week the courts of our land have upheld and respected our right to voice dissent at EDFs plans.”Defendant Theo Simon commented on his release “This was just one battle in the fight against new nuclear we'll be back on March the 10th & 11th with Stop New Nuclear to surround and blockade Hinkley Point, we're not going anywhere until EDF and the government get the message that nuclear power is not clean not safe and not necessary”.