WORKERS at Project Aerospace are linking up with other disputes to try to spread support for their struggle Justice" march on April 12. They are frustrated that despite official support from their unIon, MSF, little is being done to spread their message.
The full-time official is hard to contact and rarely visits the picket lIne. Only four of the unIon's regions have so far given any support.
In December, 1996, two weeks before Christmas, fortyone sheet metal workers were locked out and then dismissed by Project Aerospace Ltd In Coventry.
The workers had made a claim for the establishment of a sick pay scheme and a company pension as well as a reasonable They had serious concerns about health and safety - when It rained, water cascaded through a flaking asbestos roof onto electrical equipment below.
No discussions The company offered a wage Increase of 3 per cent, refused to discuss anything more and demanded the workers to sign a new contract or else.
Following limited Industrial action In November and early December, the forty-one were dismissed on the very day that discussions were due to take place between the union and the company.
Since then the company has refused approaches from ACAS and has begun negotiations with another firm to register a new company.
The workers belleve that even though the struggle will be protracted they can win. There are already indications that the company will not be able to survive without the workers specialist skills.
They need support on the dally pickets at Canal Road, Foleshill, Coventry and financal Messages, donations and requests for speakers to Project Aerospace Dispute Fund, Corentry Trades Council, Unit 15, The Arches Industriai Estate, Coventry, CV1 3JO, (01203 474261 or 0976 971796)