THE LAST few weeks have witnessed what may yet turn out to be the shoots of class-struggle recovery.
The current wave of disputes at private sector blue-collar workplaces like Glasgow's Yarrow warship yard, Dundee's Timex watch actory, the Co ventry Peugot Talbot and Liverpool Halewood car plants, and the Hillier engineering factory in Reading, all point to a new mood among crudal layers of the working class. NATIONAL DESTRIBUTION DEPOT 021-3444554 In some instances, Tory anti-union laws are being openly broken. i As socialists active in the eighties realise all too well, a spate of isolated strikes do not guarantee a hot autumn or even a winter of discontent. But the labour movement may yet spring into action.
Developments in the fight against pit closures, especially the synchronised coal/rail union ballots set for March 5, will prove a crucial factor. • Ai Yarrow, a subsidiary of the profitable GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, 1300 production workers have been HORN on strike since February 8 after management offered a one-off unconsolidated payment of E300 in place of a wage rise.
In return, the bosses wanted to cut teabreaks from ten minutes to eight and abolish them altogether on Fridays! But the workforce knows the company now has full order books, and the old 'can't afford it' line is cutting little ice.
Donations/messages of support to First Shipbuilders' Credit Union, 2033 Dumbarton Road, Scotstoun, Glasgow G14. • At TIMEX, 300 assembly workers were dismissed last week ment at the American-owned multinational follows a lockout which began on Monday 15 February, after workers refused to accept a 10 per cent pay cut, three hours on the working week, plus adverse changes in pensions and other benefits.
A high level of militancy has been on display, with injunc tions trying to enforce the 'six pickets only rule simply ignored, despite police intervention. Around a dozen scabs are nevertheless getting through.
Donations/messages of support to AEEU offices, 2 Union Street. Dunder • reysis save a probably in.
legal) spontaneous walk-out at ne metal, stamping and bod ›lant on Monday night las week, after selective red undanTuesday's day shift followed suit.
Coventry, PEUGEOT TALBOt workers were set to Jutloak went to press. Som 500 workers at the plant ha earlier voted 2300 to 859 to strike against a derisory 3.5 pe cnt pay increase in return for complete flexibility, compulFood firm 20 workers at Minor, Weir and Willis, which supplies exotic foods to large supermarkets, have been on strike since January 30. Despite being on part-time contracts, many were forced to work up to 50 hours a week regardlesss of school and college commitments, and supply such essentials as overalls, tools and lockers themselves. Wages were little over £2 an hour. Donations/messages of support to Birmingham Trades Council, 723 Pershore Road, Birmingham B29 7NY.
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