IWA External Bulletin #11 - Some More Struggles and Victories of Solidarity Federation

 (en) IWA External Bulletin #11 - Some More Struggles and
Victories of Solidarity Federation

Brighton Pub Pays Up ---- On Tuesday March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, a group of around 10 
people accompanied a former worker of the pub. The aim was to ask if the management had an 
answer to the demands that he, in conjunction with Brighton Solidarity Federation, had 
made the previous week. The pub is located in the Western Road area and the worker was a 
kitchen porter for about a year before he was sacked without any notice. As usual, he was 
on minimum wage and a zero-hours contract, the worst conditions the law allows. However, 
the company decided this wasn't enough and didn't pay him for holiday leave not taken and 
the one week notice period. ---- After some attempts by the worker to talk to his former 
managers, he decided to make a demand with the support of Brighton SolFed Hospitality 
Workers. A demand letter was handed and sent to the company, giving them a period of one 
week to answer.

By Tuesday 17th - a bit more than one week later -
no answer had been received apart from an email
saying 'we are looking into your request'. Since, as
workers, we have heard this answer enough times
to know its meaning, we decided to start a public
campaign immediately.

Leaflets explaining the case were given to
customers inside while we started a picket outside
the pub. After 10 minutes in which private security
was called, and having received support from
some of the customers, the general manager
appeared in his car.

He said we were wrong to do what we were doing
because we had already had an answer from the
company, that the matter of the holiday pay 'was a
mistake which they were resolving' and that
'according to investigations the worker was not
entitled to get the notice pay but they will pay as
proof of good faith'. Picketers answered that we
would accept their resolutions and good faith as
soon as the worker was paid.

On the following day we received an email from
the company promising that they'll pay by the end
of the month, so we suspended actions. It seems
that the company understood the message as the
worker received his money by the agreed date.
Brighton SolFed considers this dispute as new proof
that we can stand up to abuses in our workplaces
if we refuse to shut up and if we stand together. We
do not need professionals, union leaders or
politicians, just solidarity among workers.
We are getting stronger with each struggle and are
building a new society. Viva SolFed! Long live
anarcho-syndicalism!

Caffe Bar Italia Conflict Resolved

The Caffe Bar Italia conflict is finally resolved after
over 4 months of actions as the former worker has
accepted an offer from the boss. This follows
weekly pickets and a social media campaign during
which we received increasing support & interest
from locals & contacts, many of whom boycotted
the cafe. The boss' behaviour became increasingly
irrational & desperate and he recently admitted to
the damage we were causing to his business,
despite calling cops every time we picketed and
trying to incite us. Brighton SolFed Hospitality
Workers proved to bosses that we're in it for the
long run & are capable of maintaining an extended
high profile dispute. We would like to thank all
supporters for their dedication and fighting spirit,
and extend solidarity to the worker, who was
strong throughout!

We are currently supporting workers with
demands in several disputes.
Brighton Solfed

https://libcom.org/files/IWA_external_bulletin,_no.11_May_2015.pdf