MICHAEL FOOT came to the West Midlands last week. Not only did he visit the Raindi picket line in Smethwick but speaking at West Bromwich he made would defend the Roundoaks steel works in Brierly Hill now threatened with closure and the loss of 1,300 jobs at Christmas.
Michael Foot, MP for Ebbw notorious for his defence Vale of steel plants. So why all the fuss about Roundoaks particularly when resistance to job loss in this area has been sabotagby local officials notably with the Amsels strikee answer 0?
lies of ourse in the forthcoming General Election. the new factor that has Michael Foot DOLLIE clamouring to the defence *Jewel of the dustrial Crown of the West Midlands': Roundoaks Steel works.
Promising that the Labour Part would modernise and re-equip ined and expanded NEB, struction industry in rebuilding the decaying fabric of the inner cities oot hopes to swing voter 1 the West Midlands bac pledge that Labour to Labour. As the recent by-election and the narrow VICOPY TON right-winger John Spellar shows he's going have an uphill although the loca Tory Council with ingeing attack on social services in the city is giving him a head start camor Puce any confidence Foot to actually fight. But his interest opens the way for the left the trade LIONS Labour Party to take the heart of the Labour Party and force this issue into the centre of the debate.
Saving Roundoaks is vital. Not just for Roundoaks workers themselves out for everyone in Brier The odds, it must be admitted, are heavily stacked against it The Labour movement in the West Midlands has not had a surfeit of victories over the last few years.
Battles have been bitter and the local right-wing bureaucrac both in the Party and the unions more firmly ensconsed than they three years ago. But the last six months has perienced increasing anger among the ranks of the trade unions in this arca Black workers at S&K and now workers at supreme and Raindi Textiles in Smethwick have begun to take against sweated labour and received widespread support despite bad advice refrain from engaging to local T&G officials militant picketing.
Opposition to the vicious privatisatior chemes of the Tories con tinues among school cleaners, caretakers dinner ladies. This looks in the new year despite the NALGO statt accenting efficiency scrutineers at a ago.
And in the DHSS dispute the ranks voted by 581 to 25 with only abstentions to the advice of the CPSA ex ecutive and accept management's offer of a tiny increase in manning levels. A region wide strike has been called and a national one day strike is also in the otting Bill Sirs will be coming Hall Wednesday 30 November. His theme will of course centre on protecting the industr through focussing on blocking foreign im ports coming into Britain such as the one now in dock at Immingham The only way trade unionists have OTOLECECE their jobs under this Tory government is when they have done what the young women at Lee Jeans did -CUE heels, Occupied their factory and refused to budge until jobs were guaranteed Being prepared to launch such ar all-out fight - not scratching favours from John Blackburn, local Tory politician is the only way jobs will be saved. Union officials should make that clear.
country. We want to see HOST OTTUC Frank Corton. trade unior liaison officer for Hackney North Labour Party adds i Tortios is English and We've di Textiles in Turkish for the local garment workers in this area. with your struggle for the rights that you have every right to in this Some of the workers are earning 230 below the minimum E57.05 for the industry. Their firm suppliss such stores as C & A's. Marks and Spencers, Lord Anthony's and Millets Army Surplus Arrangements have been made for the appea o be circuiate to alLo LADOUr and labour organisations Collections been taken at the success of this fight and we wish you the Littlewoods, For further informatio please contact Brother Higgs Transpor "Unio General Worker 9/17 Victoria LSVE Bromwich Midlands Socialist Challenge 3 December 1982 POSE
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Michael Foot speaking to the PS Raindi and Supreme quilting workers now in the fifth week of their strike. Foot said: We wish you success