Picketing GM Plastics

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A MASS picket took place this week, (Monday October 10) in support of nine victimised Asian trade unionists who were sacked almost nine months ago by G.M. Plastics of Redditch for joining a trade union, the National Society of Metal Mechanics.

A clear majority of the workforce (20 out of 22) at this small plastic mouldings factory joined the NSMM at this time to get a better deal on wages, hours and conditions.

For example, the basic working week is 44 hours divided into four 12 hour shifts, for which day-shift workers get £1.75 an hour and night-shift workers £1.95 an hour. All overtime, SOUTHWARK Council, which prides itself on being • a leftwing • Labour Council,. is planning to use scab labour against the residential social workers' dispute.

They have decided to use agency staff, 'volunteer' scab labour, and management staff to look after children in care.

Southwark has been particularly affected by the dispute because the Council has left a 25% vacancy rate amongst residential social services staff.

To justify their use of scab labour the chair of Social including Saturdays and Sundays, is paid at time and a third, and there is no fixed working week, workers being brought in and sent home as management wishes. None of these conditions have been subject to any negotiation by workers, but imposed by management.

The company, on being informed of their workers' action, immediately went onto the offensive, sacking eight of the night-shift (where moves to join the union had started) and one day-shift worker, the shop steward, justifying this move by saying work was running short.

However, on the Monday following their dismissal they deal with manual residential home workers in order to divide manual from non-manual staff.

The NALGO branch has yet decided its response to council's threats, but it were replaced by other Asian workers, with the workforce then being put on an 84 hour week for the next seven months.

Tribunal The union, instead of calling strike action, decided to go to an industrial tribunal - which found in favour of the company!

Although many months have now passed the victimised workers feel determined to fight for their rights and jobs, and have now formed a campaign to gain publicity and support through the labour movement.

Contact: M. Younis, Colville Rd., Sparkbrook, Birmingham 12. possible that they may decide to increase the action locally, perhaps including local strike action.

The issue must also be taken up in the Labour Parties as a matter of urgency.