Stockport stoppage
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-02-11Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 15 →
Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: expect misread words, and now and then a caption or a line from a neighbouring story. For anything you quote, read the scan.
Scan page 15
by Patrick WORKERS McLure and Plant in Stockport have been on strike for four weeks in protest at their low wages and poor conditions.
Some workers in the plant, at the top rate, take home just over £60 per week. The going rate for engineering workers in Stockport is £ 100 plus.
The Stockport factory is small, with some 100 workers, but the strike has 1007 support from the shopfloor and official backing from the AUEW and EETPU and the white collar union. The workers have received no strike pay as yet and a strike committee fund has been been established.
Conditions in the plant have been described by the workers as 'Victorian'. There is no canteen and no proper lighting. Workers must pay for their own overalls and working clothes.
Machines in the plant are packed tightly together. Up until recently the workers had to pay for the 'barrier cream' which they need for the job.
Management are making a big deal of the fact that this is now to be provided tree. This "barrier cream concession' has not impressed the strikers.
Apart from this the management will concede Murphy nothing: In fact the parent company. based in Scotland retuses to negotiate directly, sending instructions to local management not to budge.
The only serious offer to the workers was of €90 conditional on it being a bonus. This was unanimously rejected since the management have a long history of reneging on agreements and still refuse to put anything in writing.
Support from outside the plant has been strong. The main customers are the NO B and the Ministry of Defence. and the NUM have been contacted for support.
Support
The Scottish plant of the parent company dave agreed to retuse to handle any work that is transferred. even though it is a very recently unionised plant Meanwhile back in Stockport no deliveries have passed the packets and 100. support for the strike was reaffirmed at a mass mecting on Wednesday 27 January.
Support has been forthcoming also from engincering unions locally and the Stockport Soutn Labour Donations and messages of support to: Strike Committee. do AUEW House, Wellington Rd.. Stockport.
leaders.
level.
Street, London N7.