As Solidarity went to press, electricians working for Balfour Beatty Engineering Services were still awaiting the outcome of a High Court ruling as to whether their latest strike ballot – which returned a 66% majority for action – is legal.
If the Court rules in favour of the workers’ union, Unite, the earliest conceivable date for an official strike would be 21 February. A strike committee elected from BBES stewards agreed that any walkout would be followed by rolling and selective action as well as action short of a strike, including an overtime ban.
The sparks’ rank-and-file committee have called for mass protests at prominent BBES sites including Sellafield, Grangemouth and the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
The committee has said it will “prepare for action and continue the campaign” regardless of the outcome of the court decision.