Glencroft: women fight for union blacking action

Scan page 2

support of their demands for reinstatement and union recognition.

But Leon Newman, the firm's owner, still shows no sign of giving in. Despite the pickets, the non-unionised employees are working as usual, and a considerable number of TGWU drivers are continuing to make deliveries to the firm.

The worst offenders for breaking the picket lines are the drivers for the Knoll company in Saddleworth near Oldham, who have made deliveries of yarn both this week and the previous week.

Donations

Financially, things are looking up a bit for the pickets, although donations are still desperately needed. Apart from strike pay from the unions, donations are now starting to No.8 1980 paper of Monthly the women s campaign FIGHTBACK FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS our Party branches. Bothwell CLP alone managed to raise over £40 for the women.

surprisingly enough, there have been no problems with he police lately.

Pressure

Support for the women continues to grow. A mass picket was organised for the women by the 'Right to Work' campaign last Tuesday lunchtime (15th), and another one is being held this coming Tuesday, 22nd. A meeting to build support for the women in Edinburgh has been organised jointly for the following day by Women's Fightback and the Edinburgh Unemployed Workers' Association.

However, there is as yet nowhere near enough pressure being put on Newman to defeat him. But the 10p/ local National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers reject criticisms in last week's Socialist Organiser that they have been lackadaisacal about stepping up the pressure.

According to the local officials, the main problem in getting Glencroft products blacked at the washing plant is that, while union members there are ready to carry out the blacking, management has intimidated them by threats of sackings and closure.

But then shouldn't the union be doing something to counter the threats?

The local officials also defend the full-timers who came up from the NUHKW head office in Leicester, pointing out that they came up specially to see the women and prepare their case for the next hearing of the ACAS tribunal.

But the tribunal, even if it finds in the women's favour, cannot force Newman to reinstate them and recognise the union. No reliance can be placed on ACAS. Indeed, Newman has already made it clear that he is not prepared to have anything to do with ACAS.

So, after almost two months of picketing, the situation shows no sign of chance: despite the picketing and the growing support for the women, Newman seems able to maintain normal levels of production.

With the October round of union and Labour Party meetings coming up, it is therefore essential that members raise the question of this dispute in their branches and build as much support as possible for the pickets.

Information/collection

sheets from: Glencroft Knitwear Dispute, c/o NUHKW, 44 Kelvingrove St, Glasgow G3 7RZ.

----- pull-quotes -----

come in from factory coll- ections, and union and Lab-