THIS FRIDAY, 19 February, a day of strike action and a lobby called the action elected a steering committee.
BRIAN GROGAN members - CHRIS FRANCIS from Cannon St, from Streatham Hill depots.
'Friday's action is an coordinate NUR members' whelming opposition flexible rosterings and all the other productivity strings that are also in the pipe-line'. explained Brian.
'It's the first stage of the battle to get a recall of our AGM ference). We intend to ahead the arivers response 10 the McCarthy Tribunal.
'Weighell claims that 25 per cent of the depors have agreed to flexi roster. ing, Chris added. 'then how come haven't met anyone that supports it?
•Part of the steering committee's jobs develop a nerwork so that we can compile accurate information.
nart and arcel of a campaign from elow Weighell. He is not representative of the membership's views.
But Percy was quick 1o sav: This is not an action against the union as some people have tried to make out. Friday's action is part of a campaign to get the NUR leadership organise national action.
Chris pointed out: "You've got to realise that Inis is ine urst ume inal Cannon St guards have gor and Kings Cross with Padi and so on.
'It such an action had happened would be in a much better position. But at least now action under way.
Percy exnialed that Friday's action was still on Kac case. *The Western Eastern touch and go on Our (Southern) region. We've been out a few limes over of the National Union of Railwaymen's headquarters has been called in London against flexible rostering. The meeting of representatives of the 25 London depots that spoke to of and BRIAN WHITEHEAD and PERCY FLOWER seven southern region depots had been called off.
It was a lie, but it confused everybody. are fighting build an alternative leader. ship.' Brian said "This is why whatever happens on Friday is not the be-all and end-all. Hopefully it will beginning. further meeting of London guards, signalmen and platform staff has been called for Monday February, Friends Meeting House custon Rd. LOONCE 7.00. an effort to save their jobs. comoany took them against them to end the sit-in.
defence of their occupation.
been cut off by the employers.
occupation is being jeopardised by this.
over occupations.
they were served court orders.
Inis alspute, urgently defended. THE WORKERS at the Plessey plant in Bathgate, West Lothian occupied their factory on 25 January in Two weeks later the count and got an Here we reproduce the statement made to the court by the Plessey shop stewards committee in Since they have defied the order to quit, the management has sent all the employees dismissal notices. This threatens the redundancy payments of the workforce, many of whom have between 10 and 20 years' service. All the phones into the factory have Despite the occupation having been made official, funds for the workers have not been coming in as much as thev need, and the continuation ot the Finally, the Plessey workers are the first group of workers in Scotland in many years to defy the courts The British Leyland workers at Bathgate felt unable to take the same action when therefore, assumes a significance much greater than the 300 jobs involved. It could be crucial to the development of a mass movement against the Tory government in Scotland, especially against the attempt to use the Tebbit Law to shackle All activists in the trade union movement should discuss how best this occupation can be in defence of their occupation of the Bathgate plant in order to save jobs.
seek proper would be on our side.
munity could change that decision. tion. This is a totally illegal act.
cupation on products in demand. Statement by Plessey Shop Stewards in the Court of Session, Edinburgh, on 4 February, LET US make it clear that the way Plessey notified the workforce of its intended court action (around Spm yesterday) has made it impossible for us to legal advice or representation.
Although we have come to court to make our case heard, we come with few illusions about the ourcome of the case, but let us make it clear that we feel that this is an industrial dispute, and not a legal issue. If there was any natural justice, then it From the start, Plessey has stated that their decision to close the factory was irrevocable and no alscussions wun ine workrorce or ine com Plessey stated that all the machines and products were obsolete, we have now exposed this a lie. Plessey have admitted that there are viable products in the factory, and certain machines are go. ing abroad — machines that were bought with huge government and SDA hand-outs over the This is a very rich multi-national company with huge profits (around f100m for this financial year) but they cannot pay the workforce one week's wages owing, for work done before the occupaIn contrast to this, the workforce, who are mainly women, many with decades of service to the company, have conducted this occupation in a most responsible manner — paying careful attention to safety, security, care of machinery, and we are continuing development work during this oc per cent — the highest in Scotland achieve by taking this court action?
tidy up their business before closing the factory.
power of the law should be used for?
achieve by occupying the factory? -dals' here?
which is already beginning to be mobilised.
Finally let us workforce hold this ambition.
tons and message ot support should be Murphy, su Main st, raulanouse 'Plessey Joint Shop Stewards Fighting Fund'. coverage IP presents week in and week out.
Iran, Grenada, Cuba... Des lin Marindey. Hugo Blanco ster Grenadian Prime workers movements • Analysis and features on world events and i developments in the Middle Easi Yes! I want to subscribe. • fIl for six months; [I £22 for one year Nami Address Send cheque to:
Intercontinental Press, SCD, P.O. Box 50, London NI 2XP The workers are not just fighting for their jobs, but are concerned for the future of the community, the young and future generations. Unemplorment in Bathgate is at present around 23 per cent and it is estimated that the redundancies and closures at Plessey and Leyland would push it to 30 We cannot emphasise strongly enough ine stark contrast between the attitude of manager:r:
and workforce. What do the management nir:::
16 days work between now and the end of February, to be no more than a vandalised shell. Is this what ine On the other hand what do the workers want 1o • years, not days of work; jobs for the young and a thriving community for the future. Who are the true 'vanNo one should underestimate the support we have in the community, the District Council, and from the MP as well as the wider sections of the trade union movement. There is massive support reiterate that this is a trade dispute and not a legal matter. The workforce are motivated by one admirable objective - to save our jobs and to save jobs for Bathgate. It would b foolish to underestimate the power with which the Money is urgently needed to assist the fight. All dona West Lothian. Tel Fauldhouse 70924. Cheques should be made payable to No other magazine has the in-depth political reporting and news • On-the-scene reports from Nicaragua, Poland, El Salvador • Interviews with class-struggle fighters and revolutionary lead.
: Minister Maurice Bishop, Bernadette • Translations of key documents from the world revolutionary and nuclear arms race, to liberation struggles in Southern Atrica, t from the Enclosed is [ $4.65 for three months of IP Socialist Challenge 18 February 1982 page 5
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say why they wón't quit
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