[Demonstrate •SEDR LAMSHIN HAIE DINI ANSIACRTIMOANISEN OVER 50…]

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Demonstrate •SEDR LAMSHIN HAIE DINI ANSIACRTIMOANISEN OVER 50 workers travelled down to London on Monday 8th March where they were joined by other workers including representatives from every other Plessey plant in picketing the company's HQ. They then went on to lobby Parliament. The other reason for the trip, however, was to attend an ACAS hearing which had been requested by management.

At the time of writing, the outcome of these talks is unknown, but there is to be a mass picket on the morning of Sunday 12th.

Appeal

The appeal launched by Plessey against the interim interdict was postponed on Tuesday to await the decision of this mass meeting. Although no details of these negotiations have yet been released, it is believed that it involves the takeover of Plessey Bathgate by another company, possibly run by Harold Jackson, managing director of the Bathgate plant, who put forward proposals some time ago for retention of 80 jobs. It seems unlikely that the contempt which was expressed for this proposal when it was first mooted will have changed sufficiently for the workers to accept it.

Solidarity

We can only hope that the offer is rejected on Thursday. If this is the case, then the need for labour movement solidarity will be even more vital. That means sufficient broadening-out of the action will have to take place almost immediately. Several of Plessey's plants staged a token stoppage on Friday 5th March. While this is to be welcomed, it in no way goes far enough to force Plessey's to change their plans.

Redundancies have been announced at the Ilford factory and the lead shown by the Bathgate women must be followed up by cross-plant strike action. Plessey's run-down plans will not be over if they succeed in chopping Bathgate.

Dave Milliken