GlaxoSmithKline: The fightback starts here

A handful of workers were present at the second National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) meeting for GlaxoSmith Kline (GSK) workers on 10 January. But they included stewards and former stewards - all with a common aim to build the confidence of GSK workers to fight against the job losses.

The meeting was only advertised amongst those who attended the first meeting in Ware in December, but new people were there.

It was agreed that the NSSN write to the stewards' committee to offer a joint meeting with the aim of getting a site meeting to discuss how to prepare a fightback. It was also agreed that a press release be sent out about the redundancies. A hall is booked for a follow-up meeting towards the end of January.

Many ideas were put forward to get things moving, such as a recruitment campaign to organise the agency workers and the non-negotiated parts of the site, thereby uniting all the workers under threat of losing their jobs, and to start a bit of momentum that things are happening on site.

The workers that attended the meeting had years of experience between them and a readiness to fight, understanding the need to take the rest of the workforce with them. Just like the Ford workers in Southampton a small but determined group can and will make a difference.