Firefighters are hold ing a special conference on 2 September to discuss industrial action against the 1.5 per cent limit. The imposition of this effectively tears up their pay which links them with manufacturing workers.
• By a huge majority thousands of BBC workers in BECTU have also rejected the 1.5 per cent offer. TIMEX strikers face defeat unless union leaders are prepared to act in the face of the imminent closure of the plant.
Despite calls for an international boycott and messages of solidarity the process of closure continues. At the Monday 9 Angust acmonstration speakers and many of the strikers spoke of occupying the plant.
Much of the work to close the factory will have to be done by unionised workers and their leaders must defy the anti-union laws and call on them to refuse to work for Timex.
Already the laws have been challenged. Dundee postal workers have refused to deliver mail to the factory. BP workers struck in support of the Timex strikers, and Strathclyde bus workers refused to have anything to do with Timex supplier Young and McMillan (the catering firm that supplied their company) forcing management to go to another firm. The anti-union laws have not been used against this action The sacked workers are speculating that the plant may be closed in two wecks as another 49 people were paid off by the company on Friday 13 August.
A demonstration, backed by the STUC has been called for Saturday 21 August assembling at 10.30am in Dudhope Park. down to defeat, occupation and refusal by unionised workers to have anything to do with Timex is the way forward.