[SINCE July 28, members of the National Union…]

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SINCE July 28, members of the National Union of Journalists and the National Graphical Assuciation have been picketing the offices of Latin American Newsletters. They are editors and production workers who were sacked and locked out for taking action in defence of basic trade union rights.

Radical

Latin American Newsletters is well known for its radical position as far as Latin American political affairs are concerned; it has been critical of the dictatorships and military regimes which govern much of the region, and has given sympathetic coverage of trade union disputes in countries like Brazil, • Chile and Argentina.

But the new management which took the company over last year, headed by two Argentinian journalist-businessmen, Rodolfo Terragno and Miguel Angel Diez, decided in June to move production to Paris rather than sign agreements on wages, conditions and new technology which had been negotiated in February. The company also attempted to force individual - including the right of the unions to organise and bargain within Latin American Newsletters. Union members who took limited action against this move were sacked.

In solidarity with those dismissed, most of the company's correspondents in Latin America have stopped writing for it, while the French printing union, CGT-Livre, has taken an active part in efforts to stop production of the newsletters in Paris.

The support and solidarity shown by our comrades overseas contrasts sharply with the behaviour of those people in the London office who have sided with the management. These include three journalists and one or two others who argue that British trade unions are 'reactionary', and claim that their work at Latin American Newsletters is of paramount importance.

Refugees

Among these people are some who themselves benefited from the aid offered by British trade unions when they were refugees from Chile after the 1973 coup. The same people now claim a monopoly on political rectitude.

The Latin American Newsletters management has shown no sign of willingness to negotiate but the pressure of the dispute is having its effect, in the shape of low-quality newsletters and late arrival. The demands of the picket are: reinstatement of those dismissed, and signing of the rebruary agreements. HeIp on the picket line is welcome: 8am to 6pm, Monday-Friday, 91-91 Charterhouse Street, London EC1. Donations are also most welcome; please send to: LAN NGA/NUJ Dispute Fund, c/o Magazine Branch, NUs, Acorn House, 314/320 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1 or c/o London Region NGA, 12/14 Theobalds Road, London WCIX 8PF.