their factory against redundancy the women of Lee Jeans in Greenock have won their fight.
from the US-based VF Corporation.
the workers were determined to back their demands by uncompromising action, hoping to force the firm to retreat.
tion in the labour movement, waiting to see how serious this fight was going to be before committing full support. But soon support was flooding in.
Their example and their presence cominated the Scottish Trades Union Congress in April. Their speakers galvanised May Day rallies throughout Britain. They took pride of place at the highly successful Festival for Tory Attacks and on People's March for Jobs.
The small factory in Greenock became a Mecca or use want o see a serious fightback against the Tories. Labour leaders Foot and Benn visited the factory. Scottish TUC ofand leading trade unionists throughout Britain 'popped in". Sustain But it ordinary trade unionists and other working class people who Workplace collections, workplace levies and fundraising efforts brought in the massive sums of money required to sustain the occupaton.
For most working class pe sac the helped it was sacrifice will worth while. workers somewhere were showing that they would no longer accept the continied Government. They The factory has been sold to a split off When the redundancies were announced At first, there seemed to be a bit of hesitawere showing the way to fight.
A month ago it looked as if all the efforts of the Greenock workers were about off Although they had been unable to persuade Tne VF Corporation to change decision close, a London based Jeans retalier. Mr Nigel Wright, owner of Dickie Dirts, offered to buy the plant and employ workforce in jeans production.
The deal seemed simple enough. Dickie Dirts million pounds for the plant and equipment Greenock and indicatec that they were prepared immediately produce 10,000 pairs of jeans per week. The total workforce would be re-employed.
However, the deal didn't go through.
While the Lee Jeans workers waited patiently, however, they reacted bitterly to the withdrawal of union, the National Union official Their Tailor Garment Workers (NTGWU)
The Executive Board of the union, including the ComLee Jeans women victorious munist Party, explained their disgraceful decision by accusing the Lee Jeans worrero ot changing the original demands of the ctrike Aven if this had been true and it wasn't . it seemed a narticulariv flimsy excuse for their acTiOn The leadership of the NTGWU, traditionally very right wing leadership has allowed the loss over 100,000 jobs in the textile industry over the past ten years. Worried It is extremely worried by the success of the occupation at Greenock. It is worried that this success will inspire workers in the textile over Britain take similar This would break up the 'cosy' relationship which they have developed with the textile companies, and expose their strategy