Vloerwerk campaign against Tata Steel now confronts their chess masters

Tata Steel and Mabeco still haven’t paid. The time for action has arrived! We started with a intense picket at the Tata gate… and then stepped up the game by partycrashing the worldfamous Tata Steel chess tournament. Big fun!

Demonstration at the Tata Steel Chess tournament
January 30th 12:00 Wijk aan Zee, dorpshuis

It was with about 15 workers of the Vloerwerk solidarity network that we held a protest at filthy Tata Steels chess tournament last january 14th. How we looked forward to this action. To reverse the roles, when Tata is vulnerable and we are the players. More and more intense actions can and should be expected by those withholders of justice and compensation, Tata and Mabeco.

The actions took place in the middle of Vloerwerk’s campaign with Daniel, introduced here. The chessprotest was the second live action. The first was on January 7th: another group of Vloerwerkers spoke out in front of the entrance of Tata Steel with banners and a megaphone approaching the entrance of the factory where they were repelled by the private security; but not before they had made their message very plain, very clear and especially very loud. Tata’s hypocrite tranquillity was disturbed.

Magnus zit te schaken
gesponsord door vergif. En
Magnus zit te schaken
slachtoffers krijgen niets. En
Magnus zit te schaken
waar denkt die jongen aan? Want
Magnus zit te schaken,
Daniel heb geen baan.

Chess grand masters confronted with dirty deeds sponsor Tata Steel

At the chess tournament action it was pretty clear that the fancy chess people weren’t expecting this riff-raff at their party. We held many banners, decrying the lack of job security by the contractor Mabeco and the complicity of Tata Steel in covering up for Mabeco and harming Daniel in his claims against the company. It was a noisy and fun protest. So many slogans about filthy Tata to be had! We had even written a few songs. And made sure the people inside got to enjoy them too.

Tata Steel
destroys the planet
exploits the workers
And they dont give no fuck NO!

Some professional chess players who were waiting for the tournament to start were given flyers and the day ended with a short demonstration of Wijk aan zee where slogans were shouted against Tata Steel and Mabeco. Daniel himself took the mike, led the action, and delivered multiple moving speeches. In addition to this a mailing to the press was written and as a result an interview was obtained with a newspaper where Daniel will be interviewed this week. All of Tata’s crimes are under scrutiny these days and they won’t stop this crime, against our friend, from getting public and shaming them once more.

Meer gif // meer winst
ongelukken-ongelukken
Meer gif // meer winst
ongelukken-ongelukken

Despite the apparent silence and calm that the steel company has shown so far, we know very well that our actions are upsetting them. We know that accidents happen within Tata Steel and that many of the firms hire foreign workers who are subjected to the worst conditions and these actions are a clear demonstration that these workers are not alone.

Demonstration at the Tata Steel Chess tournament
January 30th 12:00 Wijk aan Zee, dorpshuis

More actions like this will be called soon. Be vigilant.
Want to join in and fight with us against dirty Tata?
Mail info@vloerwerk.org for more info.