Support UNITE members at Heinz

UNITE members at Heinz in Wigan are out on strike for the second time tomorrow over pay.

You can send messages of support to their convenor wrightian5@sky.com, and if you've got online banking you can make a donation to account 16085255, sort code 08-92-86.

The strike starts around 6am in the morning, with pickets at Heinz, Kitt Green, Wigan, WN5 0JL.

They have a Heinz Strike Info Page on Facebook.

They're also out again for 24 hours from 9:50pm on Wednesday 29th December.

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Goodrich Aerospace strike for pensions - and using Facebook to campaign

I understand that UNITE members at Goodrich Aerospace have chosen their next strike day in their campaign to defend pensions - Monday 11th February.

Given that there is clearly another round of attacks on pension funds in our own (EEE&IT) sector, it is particularly important that members support our colleagues in Goodrich. A win there would show it is possible to defend our pensions, and the value of unions in doing so. The partial win at BAA over Xmas had quite an impact, even though a settlement was achieved before the action started.

The increasing use of Facebook in disputes is interesting. I've been trying it out for a little while, trying to work out whether it's just a way of getting addicted and wasting vast amounts of time, or whether you can actually use it. I think the answer is "both".

There are Facebook groups for "Goodrich Industrial Action", and for "Defend Karen Reissmann - Defend the NHS" as well as a general one for UNITE. The most useful aspects I've found so far are:

1. the ability to create an "Event" linked to a "Group", allowing you to invite all members of the group to the event very easily
2. the ability to send messages to all members of a group
3. I like the way Goodrich strikers have set up a "Guest Book" as a way of collecting messages of support

Of course, the reason why these features are useful is that membership can snowball, with people stumbling across the group and joining, but more importantly with people inviting friends who invite their friends. The Karen Reissmann group currently has 833 members - worth using!

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