Heathrow rostering strike

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Dunlop backing "'AN unnamed shop steward" was quoted in most newspapers last week. Did he exist? According to the Press Association he did, and he said that It now seems almost certain there will be a vote for a return to work" at Heathrow.

Shop steward Mike le Cornu who represents baggage handlers at Heathrow wasn't so sure, "someone, somewhere seems to be trying to subvert this action" he said. The 2,000 baggage handlers. themselves didn't back up the Press Association's claims.

On Monday 22nd they voted overwhelmingly to continue their action.

If the Heathrow baggage handlers have enemies in the press they have worse ones lined up against them. They have now been locked out for two weeks by the British Airways management.

The bosses wanted them to accept new work schedules: an extra 1½ hours a week, a block on guaranteed overtime, stiffer penalties for being late and moving workers from job to job.

These attacks are part of British Airway's "survival plan. " that involves pushing i arugs an uverall tucal of 9,000 redundancies by June. When they've cut the staif, dealt with the unions and made more money the government plans to sell off BA to the people who know how to keep airlines running, private owners.

The Heathrow workers refused to be pushed about like this. Despite management organised scabbing, at least 15-20% of all domestic and European flights have been cancelled and many others delayed.

On February 19 baggage handlers at a third BA terminal at Heathrow. for long haul flights, came out on strike in protest at new schedules due to be introduced in their section too. Engineers at Heathrow are likely to become involved soon as their new schedules are introduced.

British Airways workers are being attacked the same way as Leyland workers have been -unions. Other trade unions have to back the baggage handlers and show that "survival plans' for the bosses won't survive a determined workforce.

NIK BARSTAY! 450 workers occupying the Dunlop Semtex plant at Brynmawr, South Wales, have won TGWU official backing for their action and promise of supporting action..

The occupation started before Christmas, in protest against 60 redundançies. Dunlop has since said it will close the plant.

A national Dunlop TGWU shop stewards' meeting was called in Skelmersdale last weekend. It decided on supporting action —but TGWU officials refused afterwards to say exactly what. They wanted to take the company by surprise, they said. A more certain result of this policy is that Dunlop TGWU members will be kept in the dark.

TGWU members should insist that the promises of supporting action are kept.

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through a 'survival plan' designed to beat down the