shaw, Manchester fighting.
Although money workers throughout of their unions.
labour movement.
support in the crucial weeks ahead.
9 Oct 1980 Arthur Snipe of Doncaster Mining Supphies takes over the Laurence Scott group.
16 Oct Louisa Street works in Manchester niaced on shorttime working 17 Oct Our shop stewards committee requests an immediate meeting with Snipe but 1s refused.
10 Feb 1981 Local directors are notified of forthcoming 13 March Second period of short-time working applied for and obtained from the government.
8 April The union is told that the works are to shut 10 July. Local management admits that the decision was taken two months earlier but kept secret under threat of dismissal. wmon are asked not to cause create be to coopera rate' with clearance of order Contract 16 April At an informal conference local management stated that the closure decision was irrevocable and they had no mandate negotiate. Failure to agree was registered and the presence of Snipe or a director empowered to negotiate is insisted upon at next conference.
April External conference takes place. Again Snipe and MS directors absent. Mass meeting votes to occupy. Occupation begins at 3.30pm 1 May Workforce threaten ed that unless they return to work they were in contract and would receive no redundancy Mass meeting 10 3 May discuss this threat votes to continue occupation.
meeting with members soard, represented by R Lane Smith, S Lamb and the comLion or Shipbuilding rad Shipbuilding Engineering Unions officials at Manchester Engineering EmpLOVETS ICECTATOR HQ. Company stated that they had mandate to necotiate. for an adjournment for coffee and promptly left.
Reject 27 May Company submits written proposals to re-open lactory with 10 people on condition that the workforce leave the factory immediately stay away for week. Wereject it out of hand. Laurence Scott engineering factory in Openoccupied closure. Today despite the attacks of the employers, courts and bailiffs they are still and support poured in from hundreds of thousands of Britain, they without backing of the national leaderships The Laurence Scott workers are in the front line of the fight for jobs for the whole PHIL PENNING, a TASS shop steward in the plant, gives the story of the dispute and appeals to the labour movement for their full 1 June First and (so far) last meeting between Snipe and local union officials. repeats the written proposals, complained massive m unc group and claimec that LS Manchester had made ten ames ine toss that t actually had. We reject the proposals. 2 June Redundancy ments received through Workforce told receipts and lawyers mend that the unions bank the cheques. Picket 29 June Picket placed on parent company Mining plies in Doncaster. After shaky first two days full T&G backing for picket gained and picket en forced successfully. 30 June Snipe offers to extend closure deadline for three months. Offer rejected 5 July Picket withdrawn as Snipe agrees with national officials. 10 July Snipe HOTEL ONICES keep the factory open on a two day woon, the poston reviewed in thre months, but only on condition that redundancy money is returned.
National officials Enough a INO clause is completely absent put deal in front of full shop stewaras mccang. laughed out of the room. Convenor resigns and Dennis Barry voted in. Hostage 14 July Proposals put mass meeting workers by local officials. Only 21 votes in favour. meeting, picket hearing of summons for i-possession of lactory. hearing scheduled day 23 July. 21 July Three coach loads picket AUEW HQ in Peckham Fficial support.
Executive Committee decision occupy the Council ror over an hour, hold Boyd and Duffy hostage harangue the Executive. Police called but not used. 23 July Mass meeting called Hall EC at Lesser Free Manchester. member Ken Cure and rest of national officials put forward and same proposals which are again rejected. This time only 15 in favour. against have fight He cash paypost.
Sup meets naand offers to agree reamnaancy Agreement Court grants myuncuor Snipe for repossession of fac28 July North Manchester District Com.nittee lobbied and over From this attend Socialist workers Trades and labour Club. meeting Court for Thurs- Bailiffs 29 July word seen party bunside the tend METEROE On hearing of tactory in support of the occupation. 4/5 Chamber tempt to serve Prevented from forcing an er and try and successfully crowd made up of IS workers delegations from a dozen fac tories and local people Trades 4 Aug Executive draws all travention of union rule book 6 Aug National CSEU Executive meeting AUEW sell out and all unions withdraw strike pay.