Cowley workers defy crackdown

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first conference for Labour women tions and launched the demands for major refin the Labour Partv Thornes. women against the Tories, and represent woman's in. weld the women's sections into a force that can lead Vovember 27th, will be looking at. Register Now! WORKERS in the BL Cowley Assembly Plant have won an important victory. Recently, as part of a full-scale management offensive within the plant, BL sent letters to workers involved in strike action which threatened that any further strike action for any reason would result in instant dismissal.

Management claim that there have been 43 strikes in the plant since May 1 and announced that they would be prepared to take any drastic action necessary to stop further strikes taking place.

Although the figure of 43 strikes exaggerates the situation, since many. of them were of very short duration, the strikes which have taken place have been in response to the ruthless management which has been installed over the past year.

Using the authority which Edwardes has reaped through repeated sell outs by the top trade union leaders, and the agreements, full of penalty clauses, which have been forced in with their collaboration, BL have introduced a system of management based on sheer intimidation and fear.

The trade union structure within. the plant has been seriously undermined, shop stewards facilities almost abolished, protective agreements, particularly seniority agreements, systematically broken down.

Hundreds of jobs have been. abolished, and the remaining workforce has been substantially speededup, with workers constantly intimidated and abused.

The resulting strikes have L-.- 1o-1+ thain Deen unaDIe to nail tis process. The recent threatening letters were therefore both a response to these strikes and an attempt to go all the way, establish total management control and effectively end the power of the trade union movement for a considerable period. - Last week, mass meetings made it clear that they would fully back anyone victimised under the letters.

Another serious issue was also brought before the mass meeting - the disciplinary action being taken against Andy Brown, one of the TGWU deputy convenors and secretary of one of the major TGWU branches.

Although the day shift meeting took no vote, the night shift where most of the letters have been issued, voted unanimously to back anyone victimised under the terms of the letters.

The following night a group of workers struck, demanding the withdrawal of the letters. Management promptly said that this constituted a further uncon stitutional stoppage, and therefore the threat conlameu l ule lecicis would tainal in tha tottare arnold be activated.

Ten workers were instructed to report onto the day shift on the morning of the 11th to be disciplined.

It soon became clear that management -were not proceeding with sackings, but instead said that they intended issuing the ten men with a further letter, saying that next time they would definitely be sacked.

The reason for their shift was obvious.. incy lau The are assessed the mood of the workers and had rightly concluded that the sackings would have created a massive backlash from the workforce which has been just THE : PAPER have beer reporting that the switchboard at Unity House (NUR headquarters) was jammed with members phoning in their support for resigned general secretary Sid Weighell, and there was a flood of simight toe telegra in service bad stopped).

So being an NUR member I thought lought to phone and give my view.

I got through first timeno jammed switchboard.

Young male voice: "Unity House".

Me: "Who do I speak to to give my opinion of Sid Weighell's resignation?"

YMV: "If you tell me, I'u bass it on".

Me: "I think it's a good thing that he's resigned, and he should be put up against the wall'.

Pause.

Two years ago, under the surface for some time.

It is an important victory for the plant under present conditions and shows that even the most hard-line management, created by Edwardes, can be pushed back if it meets a united response.

YMV: "I agree, and so do a lotofothers"

Me: "Ob, what about all these calls in his support".

YMV: "There haven't been ary, all the calls l've taken bave said good riddance".

l've since found out from a member of the NUR executive that the whole press story of mounds of letters and messages is a lie. Most branches that have met have welcomed Weighell's resignation. The few that haven't did so only by a small majority.

Today (Mondayl, in its attempt to drag up sympathy for poor Sidney, the press reports that he was attacked nod herchad danoe the or. ecutive member says il never happened!

Will Special General Meeting delegates support tbe real wishes of the members?

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