[OFSOLIDARHN throughout Britain have they pushed through? from…]

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OFSOLIDARHN throughout Britain have they pushed through?

from Stoke. The firm only it. wanted 250 but over 1500 people are in at the factory.

shift working ariee?

duction will in fact be higher at threat. Stoke but with fewer workers.

department didn't , have the plant. economic weight to stop the A one day stoppage in support turned down a call for all-out The other workers did not feel As a result the workers were Published by i Socialist Forum for Southern Africa Solidarity.

Available (at 90p plus 20p post) c/o SO, 28 Middle Lane, London N8. 90p Bob Fine Group to do just that.

What happened then?

Management then gave noticé that they intended to introduce four-shift working into the main Lightweight Production Department. This is the key department. If that stops, eventually the plant stops. It is the most militant section.

The stewards this time have not called for support from other sections because these other sections not being involved could vote against plant action thus undermining the strike in the Lightweight Production Department.

July ll is the end of the management's 12 weeks' notice that they are introducing four-shift working. It is the first day back at work following the annual two weeks. holiday. Workers in the Lightweight Production Department will be out from then.

Management has responded by locking out the rest of the factory. They have undertaken no negotiations, they have just imposed their decision. They are obviously trying to divide the workforce through the lockout.

They have also gone in for another Michael Edwardes tactic of appealing direct to workers against the union, and using the union rule book. They have put up notices saying "Many employees have asked what they can do to stop the strike and work normally on 11 July." They have then quoted a section of the union rule book allowing members to call a special meeting.

Another leaflet tells workers "It is up to you, if you wish to A NEW Broad Left has now been born in the labour movement, pledged to act not simply as an electoral machine but to campaign on policies and union democracy.

Over 70 ASTMS militants from all but three of the union's divisions attended an inaugural ASTMS Broad Left meeting in Birmingham last weekend.

A disproportionately large turn-out by supporters of Militant made itself felt in votes which limited the Broad Left's policy to "positive action" rejecting positive discrimination for women in seats for the NEC.

And the Militant presence also gave their tendency a lion's share of the temporary steering committee elected to serve until Divisional-level meetings can elect their own representatives.

Provided serious work is now done to build & rank and file base for the Broad Left, this domination will probably prove to be only temporary.

Though discussion on nuclear disarmament ran out of time and was held over to the next conference, the Broad Left has now been launched on firm objectives and aims.

SO supporter Sue Lister was elected to the chair, Dave Jones, Militant supporter from Nottingham University is secretary, and Dave Cooke, from Leamington Spa Branch, treasurer.

Contact: D. Jones, 222 Charlbury Road, Nottingham NG8 INJ.

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