Workers fight double-cross

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ment they had arrived at with management.

The deal involved a return to work at midnight on Sunday, followed by the immediate opening of discussions between management and local union representatives on a 21 point "survival plan" for the yard -cutbacks in the workforce and worse working conditions.

Rab Wilson, the shop stewards' convenor, stressed that the dispute was not necessarily yet at an end: "It's been a fifteenround fight so far, but there may, be a few more rounds to go yet.

To underline this point, the strike fund has been kept intact, for future use. 'WE HAVE been conned, but we'll stay out for a decent wage", said Peter Woods, the shop convenor at Quick's Garage.

60 workers have been on strike for three weeks at the depot in Old Trafford, Manchester. They came out when management broke a wage agreement 'settled' three months ago. After the new 'A' registration cars had been finished and delivered, the bosses announced that the deal was off.

They have since said that as early as July they intended not to honour the agreement.

The workforce reacted by walking out immediately. The strike is solid, and the depot is being picketed seven days a week.

Sales staff and office workers, who are also in the TGWU, have refused to support the strikers, despite likely redundancies soon in their sections.

Another Quick's depot Manchester has come out support, and the Bury depot on a work-to-rule.

Management want to bring in the government arbitration service ACAS, but the workers are unwilling to hand over control of the strike to the TGWU full-timers.

Although the strike has been made official, no strike pay has come through yet. Money is needed. Support is also needed especially from Ford: Quick's is one of their main dealers.

Donations and messages to: Peter Woods, 11 Hazel Bank Ave, Withington, Manchester 20.