IN MID-NOVEMBER 89 women workers were sacked by Middlebrook Mushrooms at Pateley Bridge near Selby, after an overtime ban.
TGWU workers at the company had refused to accept a pay cut and enforced Sunday working. Last year they were only paid nine per cent above minimum rates and had a pay treeze.
The sacked women have been holding daily pickets at the Pateley Bridge farm, but have been prevented by the trade union laws trom picketing other Middlebrook farms.
They have also organised profests at super. markets supplied by Middlebrook, which include ASDA, Safeway. most of the big ones Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Marks and Spencer They have cafed for a boycott of Bookers. Middlebrook's parent company.
The dispute has been supported by local Labour pardes, NUM and miners support groups - many of the women are from mining families.
Wider support is urgently needed for the womens' struggle. For information, donations contact: TGWU, Bevin House, George St, Hut.
Bob Smith THE 19 STRIKERS at Burnsall's Electroplating.
10 Downing Street (honestly), Smethwick, near Birmingham, are continuing their picket into the New Year.
Before Xmas several brutal attacks were made by the scabs, and the strikers (mainly Punjabi women) defended themselves.
West Midlands Police
(notorious for their bigotry and racism took it upon themselves to arrest two of the male pickets after one incident.
But they were released after the police failed to manutac ture any credible evidence.
The scab violence continues however: pickets have been UNITE TO FIGHT!
PUBLIC MEETING READING THURSDAY JANUARY 1993, 7.30pm • Support the miners • No pay freeze • No public sector cuts • NO TO Reading Trades Union Club, Chatham St., Reading Speakers from UCW, RMT, NUM etc.
Organised by Reading Trade Union Council and Reading RMT:
supported by NUM, UCW, TSSA, MSF. Health union COHSE is preparing for an offensive to smash the government's 1.5% pay limit on NHS staff.