'We want to bring down Tories'

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outside ACAS CHRIS BUNCE, a member of the Oxford strike committee, was part of the demonstration on Sunday outside the AÇAS building, under a banner reading, 'Oxford says no sell out. He said:

"The lobby was very successful. Nobody there had any misunderstandings about what the strike was for - the full 15 per cent.

«The union leaders all made out that they were in the dark, and that we knew as much as they did. Whether that's true or not is another question.

"GMBU national official Eddie Newall refused to talk to us. We tried to stop him, but he walked straight through the lobby.

"NUPE leader Ron Keating was different. He stoped and said, 'I know what you're out for' , and he gave us his support.

"The mood of the blokes was very angry, very contident. We voted to come out, we want a vote about going back. We told Keating that he shouldn't bother coming out of the inquiry unless it was to tell us that we were going to per cent. » Set the whole 15 Oxford Constituency Labour Party this week agreed to print and distribute door-todoor 30,000 leaflets supporting the water workers. Tories' next election manifesto.

It will be vital for Labour to reply vigorously to this anti-union agitation. But Labour's leadership has been practically silent on the water strike. The National Executive Committee passed a resolution supporting the water workers - and then, on a request from GMBU general secretary David Basnett, left it 'on the table' And three weeks ago TGWU general secretary Moss Evans anticipated Tebbit by suggesting that a no-strike agreement for public service workers could be arranged under a future Labour government. IN THE Severn-Trent Water Authority, Thame Division, covering Birmingham, there is no emergency cover, but the strikers are making special provision for hospitals, dialysis machines and certain other cases.

Strikers from Edgbaston pumping station attended to the Hagley. Road reservoir last week to ensure that supplies continued to Sorrento Hospital. They are therefore particulariy angry at the stories being put out by the employers that hospitals and kidney patients are being cut off.

Management is now using contractors in unmarked vans to repair mains, and at the Frankley purification works supplies of chlorine were driven in at midnight by Leonne THIRTEEN women from the Hull Women's Peace Group and two male supporters, including an NCCL observer, were arrested on Saturday 18th.

They were charged with obstructing the highway after 12 women laid down in by an outside contractor while the picket line was depleted. This underlines the need for strong 24-hour picketing.

At Minworth sewerage works, the largest in Europe, raw sewage is now flowing into rivers, despite the employers' denial of this.

Pickets at Edgbaston told us of their total hostility to any sell-out. Many of them had been down to Sunday's lobby of the ACAS headquarters, and felt that it had been a useful demonstration of the rank and file strength of feeling.

They were particularly incensed by the suggestion that the deal might be accepted without any further consultation with the membership. Pickets said they did not want to know about any new productivity deal or any 16-month package.

Most were insistent that they must stay out for the full claim.

A GMBU shop steward told us: "Instead of scratching round for a sell-out deal, SHEFFIELD GMBU took 40 people down to Sunday's demonstration.

One of the weaknesses of the demonstration, they thought, was the lack of an organised shop stewards' leadership, so that the occupation was allowed to fizzle out. 'Be better organised next time' is their conclusion.

Sheffield GMBU has unanimously passed a resolution saying that there will be no cooperation after a return to work with NALGO the unions should be organising for spreading the action. The gas and power workers should be out with us. We want a general strike to bring down this government"

Jim Denham members who have been scabbing.

It has also passed a resolution calling for:

1. No retreat from full claim, 2. No agreement in advance to the findings of the inquiry, and no return to work until the members have voted on any new offer, 3. Full support for the crattworkers 11 the manual grades' dispute is settled before theirs.

Rob Dawber Cops drag away sit-down protesters men.

'Jobs not Bombs' and anti-

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peace protest