Wandsworth Stands Firm
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-05-13Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 15 →
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ABOUT 500 council manual workers marched through Wandsworth on Monday 10 May in support of the dustmen fighting against privatisation of refuse collection.
The day of action had been organised through the local government manual workers' shop stewards' committee, but the turnout was disappointing.
The Wandsworth dustmen's strike is the first nationally against privatisation, and the issue should unite all council workers. Out of 100 stewards at the committee meeting, only one had called for strike action in his depot - getting unanimous support.
Lack of belief in workers' readiness to respond has clearly limited the support mobilised for Wandsworth.
The job of turning the stewards' committee into an authoritative body becomes more urgent.
Calls
Meanwhile, however, Wandsworth NALGO members are continuing to refuse to answer telephone callstput through by agency telephonists brought in by the Council to smash union opposition to privatisation of council services.
The council has sent out letters saying they won't pay anyone taking supportive action by refusing to answer telephones.
Support for the union's position is being built up. Petitions are being circulated with members committing themselves to NALGO's line. And they are staying at work insisting on their right to be paid.
The industrial action has not stopped with the Tory election victory on May 6, and will go on until the new council promises not to privatise services. egate Conference to decide on strike action against the Tebbit Bill. 'Women for communism' face a court injunction for their action of supporting women trade unionists on strike for union recognition.
Women supporters of the RCG leafleted C&A calling for a boycott of goods by High Street shoppers in support of the Rulecan strikers.
The response of Rulecan boss Rattles is to go to the courts to stop this sympathetic action, saying that the leaflet is 'libelous' It certainly states, among other things. that wages earned at the factory were as tow as £30 a week: this can Salinebi of SO to sel I Made L