Agency Workers' Network
Oct 2 2007
An e-mail list has been started to discuss setting up a network of militant agency workers.
Basically, we're planning to use the network to share experiences and tactics, spread news on issues of importance to agency workers, organise for and support workplace organisation and produce leaflets. If anybody on here is interested, PM me and I'll add you to the list.
Oct 2 2007
#2
Sorry. wrote:
yeah, I'd like to get involved, So long as it can keep reasonable non-sectarian. Who have you got signed up so far?
So far, there's only a couple of us, the more we can get involved the better.
Oct 5 2007
#3
Started a blog so that we can post news, leaflets and articles of interest. Enjoy 
Oct 7 2007
#4
i'm an agency worker, and have been, in the same 'temp' job for 2 years (in fact between 'probation' periods and agency work i've never had a permanent contract). but at the moment i'm not sure if i'd be able to contribute much to a network/list. is anyone planning on going to this at the bookfair?
Quote:
Casualisation: What is it and how to fight it.
South London Solidarity FederationWe spend one third of our waking hours at work. Our bosses are planning new ways of making it tougher: through casualisation, including attacks on our conditions and pay. Learn about this process and ways other workers have fought against it.
if anyone is it might be a good chance to have a chat about this stuff
Oct 8 2007
#5
Well. I am up for being a part of it. But I wonder, what exactly is it I am offering to be a part of.
A union of agency workers, right. But are we talking about setting up a new union to win the rights of these workers? part of the IWW, or what?
Is the goal to get agency workers the same rights as full time workers? (which would take away the tactical advantage for the capitalists, of hiring temp workers as strike breakers) to abolish temp work completely? or what?
Oct 13 2007
#6
I got my job through an agency. I was on a 6 months probationary period, then got offered a permanent contract. That was obviously my goal when I got the job - to stop being an 'agency worker' and start being a full-time, permanent member of staff.
As David has asked, what would be the goal of this group?
Oct 13 2007
#7
My last job was "permanent" but I was on a 9 months probation at first. My current job is contract for one year, but also a 9 months probation. I'm not convinced of the value of Education/Health/agency type networks for this reason - not enough people interested in actually discussing working conditions etc. to justify splitting them up.
Oct 13 2007
#8
I agree - I think a 'network' has to be broader. Such as a network for all admin/clerical/office work. As this cuts across all sectors and industries.
Oct 13 2007
#9
Are there any North American comrades involved (especially Bay Area), or is it all UK? I've been trying to find temp work but everything in the Bay Area is slow, so I'm currently in the sorry position of being lucky if I find temp work.
I'd be happy to join but I don't see how I could be of much help to the rest of you if I'm the only one in the bay area.
Oct 13 2007
#10
on that blog thing, the content needs to be on the frontpage, not behind a link, and it could do with having multiple users, rather than just one. Up the regularity of content, builds a natural group of commenters etc.
Oct 13 2007
#11
...you've moved to manchester?
Oct 14 2007
#12
me? I always lived in Manchester. You met me, in Manchester.
Oct 14 2007
#13
oh, no I meant madas.
I'm confused as to who wrote what now.
Oct 14 2007
#14
Tacks wrote:
...you've moved to manchester?
That was written by somebody else. Annoyingly enough, a few people do seem interested, which means that I actually have to do things for a change.
Oct 14 2007
#15
catch wrote:
My last job was "permanent" but I was on a 9 months probation at first. My current job is contract for one year, but also a 9 months probation. I'm not convinced of the value of Education/Health/agency type networks for this reason - not enough people interested in actually discussing working conditions etc. to justify splitting them up.
I think there's a certain value in having specific lists as well as general ones, simply because some stuff is very industry specific.
I reckon a whole private forum for workplace issues in general, with subforums for industry specific stuff would be the ideal here, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to set that up or how you'd go about making it private enough that people could feel comfortable posting specific information.
Oct 14 2007
#16
David UK wrote:
Well. I am up for being a part of it. But I wonder, what exactly is it I am offering to be a part of.A union of agency workers, right. But are we talking about setting up a new union to win the rights of these workers? part of the IWW, or what?
Is the goal to get agency workers the same rights as full time workers? (which would take away the tactical advantage for the capitalists, of hiring temp workers as strike breakers) to abolish temp work completely? or what?
In the short term, the idea is to get agency workers who want to organise and discuss the problems they face in their workplaces together so we can share information and experience, to produce leaflets on specific struggles that we can hand out at picket lines and outside workplaces, etc.
In the medium to long term term, hopefully we can start helping each other organise, I think that it's best not to assume a particular structure in advance, since it really depends on the situation on the ground whether the IWW, a semi-cladestine group or a TUC union will work best for any given workplace.
Oct 14 2007
#17
madashell wrote:
I reckon a whole private forum for workplace issues in general, with subforums for industry specific stuff would be the ideal here, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to set that up or how you'd go about making it private enough that people could feel comfortable posting specific information.
Next drupal upgrade (likely to start some time between December - February depending on when it comes out), we'll be able to have private forums - we could make one that's only visible to registered users, or invitation only. A bit closer to the time I'll start a thread to see how interested people would be in this.
Oct 14 2007
#18
madashell wrote:
Tacks wrote:
...you've moved to manchester?
That was written by somebody else. Annoyingly enough, a few people do seem interested, which means that I actually have to do things for a change.
Ha ha good - you need keeping on your toes ... 
Good luck with this mads...you may really be gettting a ball rolling here - bad luck. 
Love
LW XX
Oct 15 2007
#19
i'm doing work with agency workers at my place, from the POV of a perm worker though. i'd be interested in this, probably, but i won't join email lists. i'll try to pass on my stuff with temps at some point... we're taking up some disputes on pay and safe working atm. and will be trying to get them not to cross pickets in november.
Oct 15 2007
#20
mk12 wrote:
I agree - I think a 'network' has to be broader. Such as a network for all admin/clerical/office work. As this cuts across all sectors and industries.
i don't see the point in this, i've worked admin for like 7 years. you need to organise with people in your workplace, and then industry, not the same craft.
Oct 16 2007
#21
madashell wrote:
Started a blog so that we can post news, leaflets and articles of interest. Enjoy
hey, thought I'd have another go at this on blogspot, think it's better for this sort of thing than livejournal. I can add anyone to the user list, so long as they send me their email address. And the text is on the frontpage. No one clicks through the links on blogs.
see here: http://tempstories.blogspot.com/ (provisionally titled temper temper, and set up as a general places for stories, comments, and more formal stuff if there's a network that exists)
any use?
Oct 16 2007
#22
Looks pretty good. If you hadn't guessed, I suck at the internet.
One thing though, the link to dreaming neon black is broken.
Oct 16 2007
#23
so it is. Give us your email and I'll add you to the author permissions.
Oct 16 2007
#24
You're probably right about links but I find firefox starts freezing up on blogs where everything is on the front page. Maybe set it so the latest ten articles or whatever are on top.
Oct 17 2007
#25
jef costello wrote:
You're probably right about links but I find firefox starts freezing up on blogs where everything is on the front page. Maybe set it so the latest ten articles or whatever are on top.
yeah, my blog leaves the first few up there and archives the rest.
Oct 17 2007
#26
I like the blogspot blog. Very nice. I may try to contribute something in the near future but I'm busy for at least the new few weeks.
yeah, I'd like to get involved, So long as it can keep reasonable non-sectarian. Who have you got signed up so far?