Norfolk trade unionists send solidarity to Birmingham homecare strikers

Trade unionists in Norwich collected over £400 for striking homecare workers in Birmingham last week at a screening of inspirational new documentary Nae Pasaran.

Nae Pasaran tells the true story of how workers in East Kilbride struck a blow against General Pinochet’s fascist regime by refusing to service Rolls Royce fighter engines for the Chilean air force.

The workers managed to ground half the air force for four years thanks to the boycott, which only ended when the engines were secretly taken away to be serviced elsewhere.

More than 120 people packed into Norwich Arts Centre to watch the remarkable tale of solidarity, using the opportunity to offer some practical solidarity of their own by raising over £400 for the Birmingham homecare workers’ hardship fund.

Nearly 300 homecare workers have taken over 50 days of strike action to fight Birmingham City Council’s bid to slash their pay by thousands of pounds by forcing them onto part-time contracts.

The new contracts would force carers to work flexible hours, making it harder to find a second job to make up their loss in earnings.

UNISON Norfolk County branch organised the documentary screening.

Assistant branch secretary Alison Birmingham said: “Nae Pasaran tells the incredible story of how a handful of workers in Scotland managed to give the Pinochet regime a bloody nose.

“Their bravery and solidarity, risking their jobs and livelihoods, still inspires us today – just as it inspired those in Chile who realised they were not alone in battling the brutal regime.

“With so many people gathered together for such an occasion we had to dig deep and show our own solidarity with workers taking a stand for what’s right today.

“The whole trade union movement should stand behind the Birmingham homecare workers’ fight and we hope this money will give them strength as they take on their Labour council’s attempt to wreck their jobs and the vital service they provide.”

UNISON Birmingham branch secretary Caroline Johnson thanked Norfolk County for its efforts.

“We have only been able to sustain our action for so long because of the real solidarity being shown to us by the trade union movement,” she said.

Talks at conciliation service ACAS are ongoing, and workers hope an agreement can be reached, but a mass meeting last week voted to continue strikes in March if there’s no deal.

She said: “Our members are determined to win.”