THE HOPED-FOR nanagement buy-out a JAF Vans Common Lane lant at Washwood Heath irmingham, has disastrous fOr the workers. Already a third of the workforce has been sacked; and it now appears that managing director Allan Amey expects a cut in wages and conditions to be ccepter ohn Allen, AEEU organises has pointed out the disastrous effects on the local components By Bob Smith MORE THAN 1000 people attended a gig at Camden Town Hall on 12 February to support the Burnsalls strikers. More than £5000 was collected for the strikers, mainly Punjabi women, who are in the ninth month of their strike to demand decent pay and working con ditions, and union recognition, at the Smethwick electroplating plant.
Dharsan Kaur, Burnsall shops steward, praised the work of the Birmingsam support committee, and its efforts. to organise delegations to the picket line, raise money and organise spoakKeesi donon and Cobra. said the with Bily Bragg, Linton was a tremendous boost after eight months on the picket line. Sixty strikers their supporters came by coach from Birmingham.
The fest of 53 industial tibunals involving the strikers have been won and the employers, the ONeill family. condemned by their own Irish community, were visibly shaken Jimmy O'Neil, Burnsalls managing director, attacked one of the strikers last Monday morning. The striker got a doctor's certificate proving the injuries, and complained to a GMB official. But 2 was the striker who was taken to a industry, many of whom have stopped supplies because of tears of not being paid. The DAF workers have sent pickets plies started again, with some The receivers, Arthur Anderson, are discussing rescue packages, all of which would wages and worsening of worktion'. The plant was extremely efficient with a full order book, and crashed mainly because of the weakness of the Dutch parC85608a8 The Tory government hasigpolice station and interrogated for The industrial tribunals could cost Burnsalls more than 100.000 and out them out of business. Maybe they will now sit down with the GMB, the strikers' trade union.
On Thursday: 18 February, the TUC day of action ofjobe, delogations Trentham NUM, Women against Pit Clo Brigades Union. North Staffs, Birmingham and Co ventry Councils attended tho port ine to snow sardant ourse the O'Neills.
They were told of the appalling working condisons, including nil health and safety provision, C120 a week (C90) for women), and a compulsory 65hour, 7-day week. Workers were сленю сі а повозу pay and bore fts. nored the plant of the work force, unlike its Europear counterparts. DAF Vans will be a knock-down bargain, with a cheap labour torce, a full order book, and a fully equipped facto Convenor Dickie Gould argues the mood of depression and lack of combativity among . But pable of any kind of lead. Until now they are exclusively concerned with demobilising any potential resistance to a buy-out. the wages and conditions in the metal Snishing industry The strikers are now being blocked by the GMB from speaking af Birmingham Trades Counci and other meetTaMU for union recruitment in the The joint campaign with the metal Snishing industry has also boon dropped.
However the strike and the industrial tribunals have forced the manage ment to make improvements, including nstalling four large industrial vensia unfortunately at this stage for the beneft of the scabs working at the actory The support committee continues to meet. and attracts more than 50 people to its regular meetings. It can be much on offer: Leyland hear the Burnsall strikers still battling on Cente, 346 Soho Rd., Handsworth Birmingham B21: Tel 021 551 2258.
Donations to the strike fund and reDO OFFICI M DISPUT quest for speaker should go to: GMB Will Thorne House, 2 Birmingham Rd., Halesowen, West Midlands.