Fight on 39 hr week

Scan page 14

ON 10 September 1980, 48 pickets, members of the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers (ASOB) and the GMWU, were arrested during the dispute at the Hunterston oil-rig yard (Ayrshire).

Last October, fines totalling £2,350 were imposed on 47 of them. The last of those arrested, Abie Courtney, a member of ASOB, and former shop steward at the yard, is coming up for trial on Friday 19 February.

Last week Abie spoke to Socialist Organiser.

*There were 120 of us on the picket line that day. The police told us they were going to arrest us for picketing on private property. They asked us to move. We refused. They asked us again and we refused The police formed up a quarter of a mile away from the picket line. They marched towards us in military formation, three abreast and 20 deep.

The way they marched towards us over that distance made a real psychological impression on the picket line.

The line dwindled from 120 to 48. One of them even climbed a tree to get out of the road of the police.

They arrested us and took us to the police station in Largs. There were even more police there, from Kilmarnock, Irvine, Saltcoats and Largs itself.

We were charged with breach of the peace and so on, and photographed in groups of 12. Ronnie, the convenor, and me were interviewed by the chief inspector. At the time he struck me as quite sympa13 20 27 Ads for Socialist Organiser events and many campaigns are carried free. Paid ads: irch. Send to: " Socialist Organiser (What's On), 28 Middle Lane, London N8.

Fight the Cuts: rally and march organised by Birmin ham Trades Council Anti-Cuts Campaign. Saturday February 27, assemble 10.30am Chamberlain Square. thetic, but in court a lot of things the police said simply weren't true.

Was this the first time had had trouble with police in the strike?

Aye, but it wasnt the first time we had trouble with the firm. They were anti-shop steward, and 1 mean bitterly anti-shop steward.

The first eight of those arrested were tried in the test case.How did their case go?

I wasn't in court the first day, so I never got to hear what the prosecution was saying. I was there the second day and heard the defence speeches. The solicitors didn't take up the cases on a politicai basis, the right to picket, but on a purely legal basis. At no time on that day did they make a statement about the right to picket. The solicitors didn't fight based on a political stand.

They had promised they were going to co-operate with the stewards, but they didn't. I missed the first day of that trial because they never told us about it!

And before that, when we were signing the legal aid forms, I had said we should get a leaflet out about the trial to the labour movement. The solicitors objected very strongly to this and said it would jeopardise our case.

The test case was lost, and so was the appeal to the Lords in Edinburgh. What did the solicitors do between the defeat of the appeal and the trial of the MEETINGS FORUMS NORTH-WEST LONDON.

Monday Mar. 15: A Woman Right to Work Monday Apr.12: Fund-rais.

ing social to commemorate the Easter Rising.

Details from SO sellers.

SHEFFIELD: Every other Wednesday, at the Brown Cow, The Wicker. Business Mar.3: Turkey Mar. 17: The decline of capitalism Mar.31: Women and the labour movement LEIGH: Every other Sunday 7.30 at the White Lion (opposite the market).

Fen.21: Afghanistan and the Soviet invasion.

LAMBETH. Sundays

7pm. For venue phone 3071.

Feb.28: The origins of other 40?

Nothing. There was no communication at all between the solicitors and us before our trial, nor any communication between the solicitors and the shop stewards before the appeal in Edinburgh.

They took the case the way they thought it should be taken, not the way that we, their clients, wanted. The morning of the trial of the other 40 in Kilmarnock, was the first time we saw the solicitors since signing the legal aid forms. They told us we're advising you to plead guilty. If anyone pleads not guilty, you'll have to find another solicitor to defend you.

Some of the boys pleaded guilty because they had jobs again by that time and IN THE face of mounting public anger, Southampton's Tory controlled council has given the greenlight to plans to build a 100bed private hospital smack on the doorstep of the existing Southampton General.

By just one vote last Wednesday, 10th, a full council meeting agreed the planning application of American-based Hospital Corporation International for development of the £8 million, 124 acre Chalybeate pay hospital.

Prior to this crucial vote 150 lobbyists had given the STOKE SO Structure of the Labour Thurs 25 Feb at 8pm.

The Resource Centre, Mollard St., Hanley.

MARXISM London Workers' Socialist League classes on basic Marxism: alternate Fridays, next class February 19 on 'The Working Day'. For details of registration and venue, write to PO Box 135 London N1 ODD.

IRELAND What is Britain Ireland?

Speakers include: Ken

Livingstone, Ernie Robe MP, Richard Balfe, MEP Phil Flynn, Deputy Gen Secretary, IL GWU.

Friday Feb 19 at 7.30.

Stone Newington Town

Hall, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16.

Organised by North London Labour Committee on Ireland. MEMBERS of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) from over 30 book publishing houses in the London area have decided to stage a half-day official strike on Thursday 25 February against the low level of wages in the book industry. just wanted to get it over with. But quite a few had said they would be pleading not guilty, before they heard what the solicitors had to say. But out of disgust, and I'd emphasise that, people change their minds.

In my opinion it was a bit of sharp practice by the solicitors on working class people. I'd emphasise that too: sharp practice. Like the promise to cooperate, and then they didn't. And the way they worked to hush the whole thing up in What was the reason for the Campaign in Defence of the Right to Picket [CDRP] being set up?

Because it was wrong for us to get arrested for picketing. We were Tories a rough ride while handing over a 1,100 name petition demanding a public inquiry, many staying to occupy the public gallery during the four hour debate.

Unfortunately they hadn't reckoned with these hard-bitten Tories, many of whom are themselves members of private health schemes.

At an earlier public meeting, speakers from HWAC (Health Workers Against Chalybeate had angrily rejected claims that the Chalybeate would be an acute hospital able to handle accidents and emergencies.

Labour Movement conference on Ireland: Saturday February 27, from 11am at The Theatre, 309 Regent St, London W1. Sponsored by LCI and Committee for Withdrawal from Ireland.

Credentials £2 from 1 North End Road, London W14.

Manchester Labour Committee on Ireland: discussion on the southern Ireland general election. Thursday Feb. 25, 7.30 at the Briton's Protection pub, Gt Bridgewater St, Manchester 1. Open to all LP members.

WOMEN Action Committee for a Woman's Right to Work organising conference: Feb.20, University of London Union, Malet St, London WC1. Registration £3 (or £1.50 unwaged) from WRTW, 181 Richmond Rd, London E8.

Defend a Women's Right to Work: public meeting called by the Women's Advisory Committee of Leeds Trades Council. Friday February 26 8pm at Leeds Trades Club, Saville Mount, Leeds 7.

The and pub 1,000 known will be action.

Abie spok Croa NUJ represents , design, production, icity staff and about people from well publishing houses taking part in the nch-time Courtney e to Stan ike.

picketing for health' and safety at work (the initial cause of the strikel, we were fighting against 300 getting made redundant (management's response to try to break the strike). We were fighting to stop scab labour being imported from America and being used against us, and breaking the site agreement. We were defending our liveliWhat do YOU think about the way forward in the NUM? Write in to Socialist Organiser, 28 Middle Lane, London N8 The project is, after all, a money-making exercise for a privately owned company - with a responsibility to its investors, not the general public.

The city council's decision is nothing short of a scandal. Clearly, with such widespread opposition building, the Tories felt that any searching examination would be a bloody affair, with HCI pulling out of the project altogether.

Their ruling must be vigorously challenged by the labour movement.

blacking of the private hosFARES CAMPAIGN Keep Fares Fair Speakers: Dave Wetzel, GLC Transport Cttee.

Richard Balfe, MEP Speakers from LT unio Monday 22 Feb at 7.30 Dominica Centre, Peckham High St.

Organised by Peckham

Oxford Women's Fightback meetings.

PORNOGRAPHY, Mon.

Feb 22, 8pm., East Oxford Community Centre, room 2 Rally for International Women's Day sponsored by Socialist Challenge, Revolution Youth. Speakers from the Fourth International.

Mary Vinns, United Mineworkers of America. Speaker from Peoples Democracy.

Speaker from Nicaraguan

women's movement. Camden Centre, off Euston Rd, 7.30pm, March 12. Doors open 5.30pm. Stalls and displays. Entrance £1; 50p unwaged. tion outside the employers' organisation, the Publishers Assocation in Bedford Square will be followed by a march to Congress House, where a mass meeting will be held in the afternoon.

Freelance workers and members of other unions in hood.

Maggie Thatcher brought out her Bill during the strike. It was only a Bill not law, but the police began to implement it. Only six of us were allowed to stop a car. The rest of the pickets had to stand on the pavement. They siad they'd arrest us if we didn't comply, and they did.

What do you think will happen in your trial this week?

I look at it from the point of view that I'VE BEEN FOUND GUILTY BEFORE THE CASE EVEN STARTS: A letter I got from the Procurator Fiscal this week said as much as this. Going by that letter, I'm going to be found guilty.

But you go in there fighting, because a worker has a right to picket for the defence of a job and for basic conditions on the job.

pital. This applies esp ally to members of the buiiding union, UCATT.

Issue

Steve Ferris, Southampton Hospitals branch secretary confirmed this would be the issue at the next Trades Council meeting, while a spokesperson for HWAC stated the need for escalating the fight to draw in health service unions, local residents, environmentalists, as well as tapping the Regional Health Authority's hostility to the scheme.

SUPPORT LEYLAND VEHICLES WORKERS!

Demonstration and rally

Saturday 27 February.

Assemble, 12 noon, Leyland Civic Centre, Leyland, Lancs Speakers: LV Leyland Strike Committee, Tom Dalyell MP LV Bathgate speaker.

Picket Kilmarnock Sheriffs Court: Friday February 19, from 9.30, in support of Abie Courtney, ex-Hunters.

ton shop steward, on trial for the 'crime' of picketing the Hunterston oilrig yard during the September/October 1980 dispute there.

Transport details from Glasgow: phone lan McLeish, 041-641 2204. The Campaign in Defence of the Right to Picket is to date supported by ASOB Clasgow branct 11, ASOB Glasgow branch ASOR Partick branch 2, NALGO Edinburgh, Hillhead CLP, Ibrox branch LP, Crosshill/Prospecthill branch LP, Drumry/Summerhill LP, Portobello/Milton LP, Inch Gilmerton LP, Telford/Blackhall LP, Broughton/Inverleith LP. Rutherglen LPYS, Stirling Unemployed Workers' Association, Edinburgh UWA.

book publishing (notabl

NGA, SOGAT, NATSOPA SLADE and ASTMS) wil be participating along wit! NUJ members in companie where the union has no yet achieved bargainin rights.

Union members in boo companies outside Londo will support the strike b local initiatives and by sen ing delegates to the ma Support for the actio has been enormous, wil 75% of those voting at worl place meetings backing it strike.

This is not surprisir since real wages in the indu try have fallen by between 1975 and 198 while profitability has ris by about 50% in the san period.

This half-day strike h to be seen as the first in series of actions to bring tl wage levels of workers in t book industry up to adequate level and arrest t decline in living standar that has been taking plai KYRAN CONNOLI ppor THE STRIKE at Je Razors, Sheffield, is be ning to get the suppor needs to win.

Shop stewards Ambrose Shardlows, a l factory, have blacked firm Warrington Transp which has been busting picket line to deliver sup to Jewel. The bosses maintaining production scab labour after sackin the strikers.

The strikers-who oi ally came out over the :

ing of convenor John I ningham-are confident, are planning further pickets.

Donations and mes of support are needed.:

to: Jewel Razor Strike I c/o D. Brameld, 10 Pa Cross Rd., Sheffield 6.

DAVE AYR THE four week dispi the Stockport Electro plant of McLure Clarkes ended on Tu 2 February with a 1 for the workers, remained solidly behi strike from the start. The company, face a determined worl and with the order full, conceded al union's demands, inc a pay rise of 15½' improvements in # conditions.

A negotiating tea sent from the paren pany in Scotland an only one day of negi the necessary concr were made.

This is being see great victory for a with no real history: tancy. Certainly a been learnt throu dispute. The lesson workers is that livin dards can be defen united and dete struggles.

PATRICK MI Stock

Scan page 15

WHEN AND WHERE: The conference has been PUT BACK from the original date of March 6 - which turned out to cla AS the occupation of Plessey Capacitors in Bathgate enters its fourth week, there are signs of solidarity action by other employees of the multi-national.

Following visits to the Bathgate plant by shop stewards from Beeston and Northampton last Friday, 12 February, mass meetings are taking place on Friday 19, to decide what form of support to give.

Deputations from Bathgate will attend these meetings and on Saturday 20 7 meeting of the Plesseys Com bine will take place.

The workforce at Bathgate are well aware that they can only inflict so much damage on their own and it is becoming increasingly apparent that this dispute may well be lengthy.

The confidence of the THERE was a patchy response to BL's imposition of cuts in relief allowance in both the main Cowley plants last Monday. Management moved suddenly last Friday afternoon, having told the Convenors and officials when the dispute procedure was exhausted, that they would give five days' notice of imposition.

They gave what was effectively two hours.

A letter was handed to every worker on Friday afternoon informing them that the relief times would be cut by four minutes from 50 to 46 minutes and the track speeded up by 1½% (future work study would be based on 101½ BSI).

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workers was noticeably higher this week. They recognise that Plessey management, not known in the past for a softly-softly approach, may baulk at using large numbers of police to smash the occupation.

Workers in neighbouring factories have indicated that bodies will be available should force be attempted against them.

Although the phone was cut off last Thursday, a call box allows outgoing calls to contact for support.

The level of support in the community is high, for it faces almost complete devastation if these redundancies along with the 1365 planned for BL also at Fight on Peters In the Assembly Plant shop stewards implemented the policy adopted by mass meetings early in January when management first tried to implement the cuts, which they say are to fund the 39 hour week. This policy involves clocking off fifteen minutes early at the end of each shift.

The response was only partial and it will be necessary to stiffen the action if it is to be successful.

In the Body Plant where there has been a series of strikes recently, production stopped when the cuts were forced in, under conditions Bathgate allowed happen.

For these reasons, as the Plesseys and BL disputes escalate, Bathgate could become the focal point for the jobs fightback.

Support is steadily growing, and coverage in the media in Scotland has been significantly higher than the Lee Jeans occupation received a year ago.

To hit Plessey even harder blacking of their products is essential. British Telecoms is one of their. most significant customers.

In stark contrast to the British Leyland dispute, where the workers are picketing daily while the strike committee talks to management without any consultation with the membership), the strike committee consults the memberwhere there was no prepared response by the leadership.

The Rover Ambassador track stopped for the first four hours, demanding common action throughout the plant. Action also took place in the paint shop and on the Ital and Acclaim track.

Eventually a mass meetand a policy of non-cooperation against the company's move.

A resolution for an all-out strike was opposed by the convenor and defeated by a 5-1 majority. The night shift struck for three hours but eventually adopted the same policy as the day shift. ship before any steps are taken and everyone is involved in decision making.

While financial support is beginning to come in better, money is still urgently needed.

Messages/money: Mary Murphy, 30 Main St, Fauldhouse, West Lothian.

fight Foyles of Charing Cross Road like to be known as London's leading book shop. However, when it comes to employment practices they are back in the 19th century.

Rights of any description are an unknown luxury it you happen to work there.

Job security, resonable health and safety, canteen facilities, and trade union rights are just a few of the basics most workers take for granted. But these are conspicuous by their absence in Foyles.

Because of the low pay and poor conditions, the shop workers' union USDAW has been successful in recruiting new members in Foyles.

However, when management found out that unionisation was spreading within the company they dismissed the five people (including shop steward Siobhan Lanigan) who they knew were unionised.

Since this blatant act of victimisation occured last Wednesday, there has been a growing campaign for reinstatement of the five and recognition of the union.

There has been a continuous picket mounted by the five plus other sympathetic trade unionists.

So far management have refused to respond to calls to negutiate. However the pressure on them to do sc is increasing as delivery vans are turned away by the pickets and membership of the union spreads rapidly inside the shop.

Messages of support and donations should go to: Foyles Action Committee, c/o Collective National Book Stores, Charing Cross Road, London WC2. ONLY widespread blackings of all goods trom owner Arthur Snipe's firms can now gain victory for the fight for jobs at Laurence Scotts, Manchester.

Un I Monday Sth, at 6.45 am, over 500 police smashed a way through a 300-strong mass picket. Vans and lorres -including some from Armitage's of Hull-went in to collect the £1 million worth of Admiralty equipment blockaded in the factory.

Another raid backed by masses of police, at 3pm, removed further equipment.

One woman picket was injured in the morning raid, and two strike leaders, Dennis Barry and Phil Penning, were arrested.

Toxteth

The people living near the factory were bitter about the police brutality: "Toxteth 1982!", , some shouted.

The Scotts, strikers are undaunted. They deserve support if anyone ever did. Where they specially need support 1s in dealing with the leaders of their own majority union, the AUEW, who have defied union rules to remove official recognition from Scotts and even to denounce the struggle publicly.

The strike committee are asking for AUEW branches to pass a resolution calling for the removal of the union's Executive Council (see text in Open Letter to Leyland, back page).

The resolution needs maximum support now-to force the AUEW to restore official support and lay the basis for blacking Snipe, or at the very least to ensure that the lessons of Scotts are learned as widely as possible in the labour movement.

GARETH CALEY had his instructions from somewhere in the union hierarchy to torpedo the Liaison Committee. This view is reinforced by the conspicuous absence of Stratford ASLEF branch (another branch with a strong CP element) from the second meeting of the Liaison Committee.

It has now emerged that Stratford branch hava themselves called for the re-launch of the Liaison C'ommittee and are proposing in create a rival offic¡al: Liaison Committee. Vore evidence, perhaps, of El -inspired sabotage.

Whatever attempts are made tu scotet: the Liaison Committée or divert moves to rebuild it towards a sater '"¡fficial' body, there can be no question that there is a hurning need for this kind of organisation. Genuine militants who want tu see greater consultation and coordination between depots, especially in the present situation, can only view the creation of a rival committee as a divisive and treacherous move.

The issue of flexible rostering is by me means resolved. f le BRS firmly ligs iis neels in, with backing trom the Tory govornment, then the sharpest 'tufe of this struggle is -till de come. ASLEF memhers must quard against any moves ky our leaders to fiab defea! from the jaws of victory, and an effective Liaison Commitlee will play a key role in this.

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WHAT'S ON

Certainly Trades Council policy must be for a total

Victor in pay strike

ing was called, which voted to impose an overtime ban

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