week strike was which has become a struggle inside the union itself.
AUEW leaders, Boyd and Duffy, had previously ing when the workforce I CLuscu which did not guarantee keeping the factory open.
Not content with this stab in the back, Sir John Boyd had also sent Tony Benn a letter protesting at his support for the Scott's fight.
But as Benn explained ne was 'verv proud to he here, to give support to the workers Laurence Scott. Trade unions must develop the political dimension in their activities.
Two other Manchester VPs loned Benn on the picket line. Charles Morris, the local MP reaffirmbaob therland, for MP Ter Bob for Manchester Lettral, endorsed this when he said that he 'would go on backing the Laurence Scott workers were.
marches couldn't give anyone are fighting for jobs.
Socialist Challenge 24 September 1981 timely. union officials were hotly debating the dispute Scott strikers against the system and their UWIl union.' Later that Laurence Scott convenor Dennis Barry spoke at Benn rally of 1,500 in Manchester. He argued forcefully that 'whenever jobs ai c threatened we've got to set Laurence Scott ample.
He went 'As Ull. are totally behind to we are totally Benn.' To tremendous applause, Dennis Barry altacked the misleaders of the trade union movethe likes of Boyd.
LICHE.
Duffy and Chapple. who were trying to stifle the SCOTS strike and defeat Benn's campaign.
Benn again took up the Scott's when he referred to Thatcher's reshuffle. 'Norman Tebbit says you work harder, said Benn. 'But how can Terry Duffy was on the platform at last Saturday's unemployment demonstration in Birmingham. Which was more than the Laurence The through our cities protesting at a platform to a group such as at Laurence Scott will be frightened. To see those men and women who Crede the wealth locked out of the gates is fundamentally wrong.' Benn's visit and the continuing growing port for the struggle of the Scott workers will bring no comfort to Boyd and Duffy. Laurence Scott is now emerging as national symbol in the fight for jobs and a democratic labour movement.
Laurence Scott workers have had no strike pay for weeks. They need money urgently to sustain the struggle. Last Saturday on the Birmingham demonstration they raised £250 and promises of more to come But thousands of week. Socialist Challenge renuers ur e Thpir trade union bransteward committees races counce ana subou Parties send money urgently. Have a collection tions G Fryer, Roundcroft, Romiley, Cheshire. Tony Benn: 'It is these men and women who create the wealth.
AUEW branches
to procedure for deciding on the AUEW National Executive).
SL6 4LL with donations. Model resolution for The following resolution has been sent by the LSE workers to every AUEW branch in In view of the unanimous support for the Laurence Scott dispute from the 28 July 1981 Manchester North District Committee of the AUEW and the rules of the union with regard official status of disputes (Rule 14 Paragraph 16), this branch deplores any attempt by the executive to terminate this dispute against the clear wishes of the workforce expressed at two mass meetings (14 July and 23 July) and calls on the National Executive to maintain official backing for this fight for jobs. (For forwarding with your branch stamp and signature to the If your branch supports this resolution, make sure one copy is sent to the AUEW Head Office and another to the Strike Committee, 20 Round Croft, Romiley, Cheshire police presence throughout the time noto: socialist Challenge Royce at him two foot hammer out of the factory.
stewards committee.
Dennis Barry, convenor
Picket attacked... AT FIVE o'clock on Monday morning, 20 men with crash helmets forced their way through the picket and burnt open the gates. There was a In the scuffles with these twenty cowboys, picketer Colin Mitchell was arrested for allegedly throwing an egg. Ironically it was Colin who was attacked on the Doncaster picket line two months ago when Arthur Snipe drove his Rolls Later in the day one of the scabs was arrested after he attacked a local photographer with a None of this will deter the strikers from carrying on and they will do everything in their power to prevent any equipment being moved Pete Rowen, chairperson of LSE shop ...but support grows AT THE Manchester North AUEW district shop stewards meeting held last Monday in support of Laurence Scott we called for all the factories in the area to send delegations to our picket line.
The meeting passed unanimously a resolution calling for official backing to be restored. To this end, district stewards are calling for a demonstration outside the final appeal court of the AUEW on 12 October in Eastbourne.
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TONY BENN visited the Laurence Scott pickets on Wednesday last week. His support for the 22