[SIX so-called secondary pickets were arrested at the…]

Scan page 15

SIX so-called secondary pickets were arrested at the mass picket of 20 December outside the Carousel factory in Glasgow's East End, scene of the long-running dispute for union recognition, re-instatement and better working conditions.

The arrests occurred when police waded in as pickets stopped a car carrying scabs into the factory. Badly dented, the car managed to get in, whilst the six pickets arrested during the clash were charged with breach of the peace and vandalism.

The mass picket, attended by about 100 trade unionists and unemployed, had been called by the East End Support Committee (consisting of the strikers, local trade unionists and Labour Party members). In the weeks leading up to the picket, strikers visited over 30 workplaces around Glasgow to appeal for support for the picket.

The low turnout for this mass picket is the result of the local TGWU officials' attitude to it: they did not openly oppose it, but they certainly did nothing to help build it. And not a single TGWU full-timer turned up to picket Carousel.

The appeal for support for the mass picket found only a limited response - only one union banner (NALGO) was on the picket line.

The failure of the local TGWU officials to work to mobilise support for the mass picket was only the logical extension of their overall attitude to the dispute: ditch it, as soon as this can be done with the minimum of recriminations.

The TGWU has already withdrawn the vacant shop used by the strikers as their headquarters, on the grounds that it cost too much (£17 a week) to run.

Another reflection of the scandalous indifference of TGWU officialdom to the fate of this dispute is to be found in the current issue of TGWU Record, the union's monthly newspaper. It carries a mere 27-word article on the strike, which does nothing to enlighten the reader as to the background and development of the strike.

The East End Support Committee is following up its work for the mass picket by calling for a West of Scotland shop stewards conference to be convened by the TGWU.

All trade unionists (not just those in the TGWU) and Labour Party members in the West of Scotland should be moving resolutions in their branches pledging them to support any such conference, convened by the TGWU and/or the Carousel strikers themselves.

If, as is 99% certain, the TG WU fails to call such a conference, the way would then be open for the strikers themselves to immediately call such a conference, knowing that branches which had passed a motion along the above lines would support it.

Donations and copies of any resolutions passed by union or Labour Party branches should be sent ot: Carol Rodger, 47 Cuthalton Terrace, Parkhead, Glasgow.