The 19 workers, mainly Punjabi women, on strike at Burnalls electroplating plant in Smethwick, led 500 people on a protest march past the plant last Saturday. The strikers are fighting very low wages, appallingly unsafe working conditions, and a 19th Century, pettily dictatorial, management regime.
Bill Smith, local organiser of the strikers' union GMB, declared the union's unequivocal support for Indian Workers Association presi dent, called for political and financial support for the strikers and described the dreadful bullying and victimisation they had sul tered.
Labour MP for Selly Oak, brought messages of other Labour MPs. Mike Wills, NUM executive, stated that it was essen tial that disputes like Burnsalls and the miners were linked, and to support them.
Joe Quigley, the GMB official responsible for the strike, argued it was essential to bring down the Tory government, and commit the next labour government to repeal giving real power to industrial executive. Noel McCreevy, TGWU convenor at Longbridge, also spoke.
The Burnsalls strike is against of thousands of workers in small, scrupulous employers.
It has parallels with the Mansfield Hosiery and Imperia. Typewriters. The TOWU and GhE are launching a joint campaign to unionise Isolated and low-paid workplaces; Burnsalls is crucial for the credibility of their campaign, in the West Midlands at least.
For donations and speakers Parry or Joe Quigley, 021-550-4868.
Anne-Marie Sweeney, of the Oxford Womens Film Collective, is dispute for Channel 4.