SIXTY-SEVEN workers occupying the Lyons Maid factory in Kirkby, Lancashire, were forced out of the occupation by a court injunction last Thursday afternoon. The injunction was obtained by the receivers employed by National Westminster Bank.
The background to the two-and-a. half week occupation was the sudden collapse of Lyons Maid, after it was sold last year by Allied Lyons, the 300 Club group dominated by the Australian Allied Breweries. to American asset stripper Henry Clarke.
Clarke received £1.6 million towards redundancy payments when the plant was bought, but that money has gone missing. All 200 London Lyons Maid workers have now been made redundant by the receivers.
The receivers decided to close the Kirkby plant despite the fact that 30 firms had expressed an interest in buying it.
Henry Clarke is a former US arms dealer; he failed in his attempt to impose a no-strike deal on the firm before bankrupting the firm.
Despite abandoning the occupation, the Lyons maid workers have pledged to continue the fight for their Messages of support and dona tions should be sent to: Steve Alcock. TGWU 6/556 branch, c/o 2 Melrose Mount, Kirkby, merseysdie. Cheques payable to: TGWU 6/556 branch.