Air India strikers confront cowboys

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important, as the way the for nine weeks. in India shows how the time and for many of our Air India UK management members, either they are trying to play down the are the sole bread winners success the strikers at in a family, or both wife and DMMUNITY groups icketed the Home Office • August 27 to protest bout the case of Bakhtaur bgh.

Popularly known as ABA Bakhtaura, he is a *ger who came to this pantry 3 years ago. He pied to extend his leave • be here, and this was Aproved.

He applied again, but is refused Then his șlicitors failed to make his peal within the set time On June 14 Bana Bakhdura was arrested and imrisoned. Oldbury Magisdes sent him to prison * 2 months on July 7 and commended to the Home *fice that he be deported.

s only 'crime' was wantto stay here with his and serve the romanity.

Oving to wrong advice tom counsel, he pleaded ¡ilty to knowingly overdaying his leave to be here nder the Immigration mies.

After he finished his ntence he was still rended in custody. Only after a prolonged campaign by the community was he given bail with strict conditions.

Baba Bakhtaura is crippled in one of his legs.

Fears

He is a much loved and respected Punjabi singer of religious, cultural and historical folk songs. During his 3 years here he has sung at many temples all over the country. These temples have now written to Timothy Raison, Minister at the Home Office, urging him to let Baba Bakhtaura stay.

Baba Bakhtaura's case proves that what the Minister says publicly is only to appease the fears of the black community, when in reality hundreds of black people are being deported' said Mr. Tariq Ali, Secretary of the Defence Committee which has compaigned in support of Baba Bakhtaura. 'The arrest, imprisonment and criminalisation of Baba Bakhtaura is part and parcel of a vicious witch hunt of black people in this country. Our communities are being destroyed at an ever increasing pace.

In Bradford 18 people are threatened with deportation, in Manchester whole families are being kicked out of this country, in Oldham 30 families are split up and are now waging a struggle to be re-united with their loved ones, and now there's Baba Bakhtaura.

Picket

Contact:

Baba Bakhtaura Defence Committee, 19A, Birmingham St., Oldbury, w. Midlands. [021-552-6121]. Friday September 3:Mass PICKET outside Wolverhampton Crown Court, 10.30 am, when Baba Bakhtaura's appeal is to be heard.

Friday September 10:Public MEETING and SOCIAL at the New Inns, Holyhead Road, Hands: worth, Birmingham, at 7.30 pm. SACKED Air India shop steward, Alroy de Silva, told us:

'Support for the strike. is still strong, and it is really hitting the airline. Flights are leaving Heathrow as many as 150 seats light, and this during the peak season.

Since the reservation section is paralysed, the company is carrying on only at enormous cost. Baggage has been disrupted and much of it is being totally lost, yet the company is determined to carry on paying out huge amounts in compensation as they don't want to admit that they can be beaten by the unions.

Only 20% of Air India cargo is going through, and we're trying to deal with athea pig ate cowboys private After 9 weeks, the 100odd Air India strikers are still solid. Last Thursday the Air India TGWU branch totally rejected a proposal put to the union leaders by the management that they were prepared to take back some of the 91 sacked workers, but not the union activists.

Management trying every trick in the book. Their latest effort has been to get some of the strikers, who are suffering badly financially, to circulate a petition criticising the leadership of the strike!

As Alroy de Silva pointed out, "That confirmed to us that it had been instigated by management as they would not have known about it (prior to it being handed in) unless they had been responsible for it themselves. In fact some of the strikers who were involved in getting it signed have admitted as much themselves.' Blacking from other workers is still very important. There are possibilities of international blacking. The International Federation of Transport workers has said to the strikers that if the TGWU nationally was to ask them theyt would black Air India.

Moss Evans hasn't got round to this yet, but he has writted to Mrs. Ghandi about the dispute!

There is also the possibility of solidarity action from Air India workers in Bombay. This is very dispute has been covered Hearnrow nave nau. dit had Tha Federation of Guilds (Indian unions) involving Air India workers in Bombay has already written expressing support and is trying to arrange a meeting to discuss further support for the British strikers.

Pitch Alroy de Silva stressed the importance of donations and financial support. Many strikers are feeling the pinch, having been out 'Nine weeks is a long husband work for Air India. There are only 100 of us, so a little money can go a long way'.

The Air India strikers will be at the TUC next week looking for support, and they are speaking at the anti-witch hunt conference at Wembley on September 11.

Send donations and messages of support to: TGWU AIR INDIA Brancn 1/1305, c/o Transport House, 7-9 South Road, Southall, Middlesex.

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