Oxford pickets repel scabs

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The DHSS strikers are fighting not only agcinst cars. Far a AN important step forward on the Oxford DHSS picket took place on the national strike day - December 3.

Over 60 DHSS strikers and supporters succeeded in turning away three of the DHSS scabs' cars by weight of numbers and determined action. This is the first time this has been achieved and shows that determined picketing brings results.

Delegations from Oxford Unemployed Workers and Claimants Union, Ruskin College Trade Union Support Committee, the Claimants Defence Committee, Oxford LPYS and many individuals, including Andrew Smith (Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate), Peter Moss and other Labour City Councillors, were on the picket line.

Smith told the Oxford Mail that "The strikers had intollerable pressure put on them. It was the government's economic policies that had created the unemployment and poverty"

Attempts were made to persuade workers in other government departments on the site to respect the picket line, as this was a national strike day. Most took the latest strike bulletin, although none refused to croSS.

Throughout the dispute there has been very little police presence, but as soon as the scabs were stopped, two police arrived to clear a way through the picket.

Their future attendance is assured after Friday's success.

Another welcome boost to the strikers' morale occured during the week when four Clerical Assistants joined the strike. Other people who have so far been DHSS NOW DECK:

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ety more jobs to deal with more work working, are also to shortly come out.

Firm picketing is the way forward in escalating the strike in Oxford (and in Birmingham). The Monday and Friday morning mass pickets have to become massive shows of support for the strikers, especially over Christmas and into the New Year.

An excellent way to develop this shoula come from the General Committee meeting of Oxford City , Labour Party on December 13 where the Executive Committee will be recommending taking a speaker from the strike committee and urging all GC delegates to attend and build delegations for the mass picket on Friday December 17.

Nationally, the next initiative in moving towards an all-out strike will be at the SCPS and CPSA Special Pay Conferences.

Chair, Pete Chio, CPSA Bealist "We will be sending two delegates and four observers, maybe more, to the CPSA Special Pay Conference on the 9th.

"I want to see a commitment to increased action on a national level in the DHSS section. We've got to push for an all-out strike - that's what I want to see discussed, because as far as I'm concerned it's all-out or bust."

Support the Oxford mass pickets Monday and Friday, 7am to 9.30 am. Take a delegation from your workplace or organisation. Donations, wood, coffee, all welcome.

Messages of support and donations to: M. Robertson. 24 Beechcroft Road, Oxford.

DECEMBER 3rd WE'RE ON STRIKE FOR YOUR BENEHT

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