We're more determined than ever

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IT'S NOW going on for six weeks since the beginning of the occupation. Are you still finding support for it?

Yes, we're still getting overwhelming support - from the Scottish TUC, or from the AUEW National Committee last week, for example, where John Kydd (the deputy convenor) got a standing ovation, which has only ever happened two or three times before.

(Gavin) Laird and (Ken) Gill have made the dispute official, and Laird has taken a good line publicly, which has been a big boost for morale. We've also been sending speakers round the country.

There is not a union that hasn't pledged support. And in Dundee in particular we're obviously getting a lot of support. Council workers are operating a 50p per week levy, and other Timex factories £1 a week. Many other factories are holding weekly collections.

Workers in occupation have reacted differently when faced with a court injunction to end an occupation. At BL in Bathgate or Bestobell in Glasgow, they vacated the premises, but at Plesseys Bathgate they sat tight. If the Timex management gets an injunction, do you know what will happen then?

No, we will have to look at the situation after the court hearing. But even if we did get cleared out, then we'd keep up picketing on the gates, and nothing would move in or out of the factory.

How many workers are now involved?

It's complicated. Of the original 197 facing compulsory redundancy, 67 have gone for one reason or another, leaving 130. All these 130 have now been dismissed for involvement in the occupation, though obviously we don't accept the dismissals.

Another 200 have been servedf with dismissal notices, also for supporting the occupation. Management has also declared another 300 redundancies, blaming the occupation, but 200 of these 300 are the 200 who already had the dismissal notices.

There are 348 names mentioned in the legal proceedings to end the occupation. That's about one sixth of the Timex workHave you managed to maintain links with the French Timex workers?

There's been no contact of late, though we have had messages of support from them. It's a bit dodgy with the EEC inquiry situation.

Labour Campaign for Gay Rights, c/o 61A Bloom St, Manchester Stan Crooke spoke to members of the Time Occupation Committ on Thursday May 12, before the attempted settlement.

Don't you think that the call for an inquiry into whether the French Timex factory is receiving 'unfair subsidies' in terms of EEC regulations is problematic? Won't it weaken or prevent support from the French workers for the occupation?

The inquiry isn't something we really wanted. It's up to the government to get an inquiry into what another government is doing. The outcome isn't likely to affect our situation anyway.

The important thing about it is that the government has been forced to admit that work will be transferred from here to the French factory, and that management has therefore been lying all along.

What has been done to make it possible for women to get invol. ved in the occupation? There has been a report of a creche being set up.

We've got facilities here for children, and parents bring their children in if they want. We discussed the idea of a creche, but never set one up as such. But there aren't any problems for people bringing their children And we don't operate a hard and fast rota. People cover for each other if something crops up at home for someone. And people with children get the weekends free.

Timex has a large Labour Party branch. Has there been friction between the branch and the shop stewards' committee, or has it been an advantage to have the branch?

There's never been any problem in terms of relations between the branch and the shop stewards' committee, even betore the occupation. There is a lot of overlap anyway. About 70% of the shop stewards' committee are Labour Party members.

Because so many of the stewards are involved in the Labour Party, both inside and outside the factory, they are known in the Labour Party and have the contacts. It helps to do away with barriers and formalities when getting support.

The Labour-controlled Dundee City Council has been excellent. They gave us an initial £10,000 towards our expenses, which we are still using. They have also passed a resolution which means that we can have access to council facilities whenever we need them:

How do you see the dispute developing?

There is a determination to win. We've been through a lot, and a few have left, but you have to sympathise since everyone has their own breaking point. What's left now is the hard core. Morale is excellent and we're more determined than ever.

Timex must eventually realise that the occupation is not going to collapse. They have been through pages one to ten of the Michael Edwardes Book of Industrial Relations and got nowhere. So there's nothing left for them but to negotiate with us. 300г VO