Scaffs picket line 1 November, photo Alistair Tice

Scaffs picket line 1 November, photo Alistair Tice   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party

Now into their fifth week of all-out strike, the Actavo scaffolders at British Steel Scunthorpe remain solid and determined in their fight for the national industry (NAECI) rate for the job.

All the strikers picket the three main gates every day from 5.30am till 2.30pm. British Steel bosses are trying to intimidate the Unite members by ‘investigating’ their social media!

A strike committee has been set up to involve more strikers in the running of the dispute, and are considering ways to up the ante on Actavo and British Steel bosses. A family and friends Saturday town centre march has been suggested, and also a ‘solidarity with the Scaffs day’ to appeal to the 900 Unite members on site to join the strikers on the picket line.

There has been support from other construction workers on nearby Keadby and Drax power stations, and the strike will be discussed at the upcoming national engineering construction shop stewards forum.

But to win, the dispute needs active support inside British Steel, to stop other scaffolding firms doing Actavo work, and for British Steel Unite stewards to lead from the front by standing on the picket lines and talking to their members not to cross.