The workers from Friction the Sky Chefs dispute that if the Dynamics, in Caernarfon, legislation had been in place North Wales have been on then those workers could not strike/lockout since last June. have been sacked. In reality the On Sunday 3rd of February legislation makes no difference they demonstrated in Cardiff, to the determined emplover in a March that ended at the As speaker after speaker at Labour Party Conference. the rally said; "What changes This was a national march after 7 weeks and 6 days? if it organised in their support, by was wrong to sack before that, their union the T&GWU. then why is it right after?" About 500 people attended the This was the major demand pre-march rally, which was of the rally, end the 8 week addressed by John Monks, Bill rule lohn Monks concentrated Morris, and the strikers' repre- on this, and targeting the peosentatives. ple who are the customers of The strike itself is of great the scab-produced goods -importance, mainly because of which includes the governthis group is showing that ment, and in particular the workers will defend their con- MOD. ditions, in a determined man- Morris support ner.
But it also displays the empti- Bill Morris repeated this, sayWing that the General Executive ness of the Labour governhad supported from day one, ments limited improvements and would continue to support to workers' rights.
Employers are not allowed to "until you march back triumphant": "the strike has been sack workers on strike... on for 42 weeks, if it takes 42 unless they have been out for 8 years we will be there with weeks. So this employer, Craig Smith, locked them out when them." He wound up his speech with they went on strike, and after 8 This usual "you are not alone, weeks sacked them. In the meantime he employed scabs we ain't going away" - last heard shortly before the union to do their jobs.
We were told at the time of persuaded the SkyChef workers to accept a payoff, and before that, in a speech he made to the Liverpool dockers before withdrawing support from them.
The most moving speech was by strike leader Gerald Parry, who had worked for the firm for 37 years. He said there had been a continuous series of attacks on conditions in the factory, the dispute itself was over a 15% wage cut.
But the decision to strike had come because they had seen a process of union members Deing got rid or, ana replacec with non-union people. In reality the strike was to defend the axistence of the inion His father had told him, on the day he first went to work, to join the union, and then he would never be alone. Now by the amount of support he was getting, in Caernarfon, and outside, he could see what he meant The strike needs support, both financial, and in their suppliers and customers.
We need to find out who uses their products, and go to the union involved.
For details go to www/frictiondynamics.co.uk
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