'THIS dispute,' Guest Keen and Nettlefolds, steel ation's largest customer and one of the largest private steeimakers. in Britain, informed employees in Cardiff last. week 'is nothing to do with us at all.' The occasion for the letter from GKN's chairperson instruction from the steel union for its members in the private sector to join the strike. That the company's declaration of non-involvement the affairs of BSC should echo the sentiments of Lord. Denning and the goverament can be taken as more than a coincidence. trous to the Tory the Party. company's last published for 1978, show that donated £25,000 Conservatives, sufficient to place it in the top ten of the party's financial Think-tank GKN also handed £3,200 to the right-wing Economic League in 1978, and for good measure it donated £1,000 to Centre for Studies, which is Sir Keith Joseph's private think-tank for developing his monetarist ideas (not that a lot of thinking is required).
Company handouts to the bosses' own political party aren't especially surprising, but they often indicate particular interests government policy. For GKN that interest lies in a gravy train known as the British Steel Corporation.
Tucked away in Times over recent weeks have been brief references to talks inconclușive' - between BSC and GKN over what the newspaper refers to as the rationalisation of rod and bar production between the public and private steelmaking sectors.
The need for talks is that in the heady days of 1976 the corporation invested £33m in a new rod mill at Scunthorpe; while similar production plant in Cardiff. Then came 'over-production' in the shape of the recession.
i can be confidently that the beneficiary of this discussion over how production can be merged will be neither the involved nor the public sector. GKN long experience in channelling KEITH Johns, organiser for ISTC's No. 3 division, Yorkshire and Humberside, to Socialist Challenge:
The policies of the government enshrined in The Tories deliberately steel workers we could be taken on and beaten. I think they have what's happened.
But having made that mistake the Tories are perpetuating it. They are trying to break us down brute force. The use of the BIRKENHEAD согротWillenhali the GKN has been The Dudley accounts.
in that year to the Policy in the Financial profits from BSC. "so far partially west, nearby in Britain).
GKN opened a of these two of the down The judiciary, defeat movement.
the industry like South Wales by whole closures in both the SCLOTS whole of the working class. don't which covers South action talking situation. attacked by judges, private government. chose the should because they thought been shacked by The only settlement per cent sheen law know I couldn't.
Manchester Steel Round Oak The major private steel firms ÷ now taking 25 per cent of the British market In 1967, when the steel industry nationalised, GKN of owned two steelworks: East Moors in Cardiff and Brymbo in the Northworks (GKN is the largest engineering firm The company received f42m in early compensation for the nationalisation both of which happened to be obsolete. In line with the main aims nationalisation - throwing tens of thousands of steelworkers out of their jobs - East Moors was shut have But after a f4m face-lift, Brymbo:
BRYMBO
GKN was sold back to GKN in 1974 along with a foundry at Dowlais tor a tota £20m. Taking inflation account, the company was allowed to buy back its modernised plant for a third of the price it had previously been paid. Meanwhile BSC bore the cost of redundancy payments.
And GKN's balance sheet? In the '70s the company's surplus nudged an annual £50m. the late '70s it topped £110m. Over same period, the steelmaking sector has watched its output grow from 8 per cent to 25 per cent of the UK market.
In short, the private steel firms bloated themselves nationalisation reason to both MANCHESTER Manchester Steel SHEFFIELD Neepsend Sanderson Kayser Johnson & Firth Hadfields Arthur Lee Osborn/ Edgar Allen Balfour SHEERNESS Sheerness Steel extend the steel companies, into train to a halt by demanding their thus nationalisation." They been richly compensated by BSC and the so they nothing for their plants • That's the view of ISTC member Derek Parkes, who works at GKN's •Cardiff plant. 'Private steelmaking is trading the most profitable By industry,' he says. 'For that reason alone nationalisation makes sense private Monday indefinite strike action provide the kind of struggle that is needed to stop the closures rationalisation which workers interests.
Lт85O0W plant strong.
build Sunken Brown the strikers largest inside the police supported Surerutu strike to these and to bring the gravy.
should be paid Prestor part oi lne week "The all-out strike in South Wales and the proposal for and and raise demands like defend 'WE want a Labour government led steelworkers last week McFadd th of Tube Works, Bellshil, Coyle and Laita a works" delegate from the Dalzie ! Motherwell attended Aberdeen 11dtC Council on 23 January and told of the state of their current struggle McFadden assured the meeting: *We're determined to go nign on le the end. The rank and file is very The trades council set up a support committee for the strike and decided La public meeting for • the said: "If we get this response everywhere the Tories will be - and they won't be praying either.' Blackburn John Parkinson, Ann Henderson, and Brian Grogan IF Hollywood making a om about the steel sinke around to Walkers in Blackburn — one of thi steel stockholders in West WOlU • MaRC • a good location for a dramatic pre-credit Outside the yard lerries line up to form a convoy. When there are 30 or 40 in the line, the sky suddenly lights up. is a signat to we sean avers be charge the picket line, the police unit yard sends flare time is richt to break through the pickets military-style of and driver scabbing operation, the Isi nas organiseo mass pickel by Sheffield and mass pickets held last week halting the conroys Transport disinc officials in Preston are still turaing s fact that theil Support trades Prestors is for edia slur is Trades.
Blackburn for a hundred pickets last week.
At the Preston Liaison Committee, La joint approach TGWU. and solidarily action on thi picket lines. A lour of local factorie union branches organise support will also be proposed Lancashire-wide mobilisation for a march and rally against cuts in Jobs and services is plannco. 1o February. The events will take place in
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Ductile Glynwed
Warley - Duport
CARDIFF GKN
WEST MIDLANDS Wednesbury Patent Shaft Lloyd Cooper Brierley Hill
NEWPORT Alpha Steel
STEEL BLOCKADE
member are scabbin local unionists has led to plans to morades