Manchester striker: face sacking threat sacking

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ORGANISED!

110 strikers at Philips Rubber in Manchester have been threatened with the sack. Despite the threat, the five week-long strike for an increase on the £48 basic wage is continuing.

Last week, letters were sent out stating that the workers would be sacked if they did not return to work on Monday. The meeting of strikers on Friday 3 February was solid in its decision to stay out. On Monday only three non-union strikers decided to cross Threatening mass sackings is becoming an increasingly common tactic ușed by management in strikes. Only a few months ago the same tactic was used against the strikers at No doubt the threat of the sack will be repeated. The response of the Philips strikers in future must be to call mass pickets. This would show management that the strike is solid and would give the strikers a morale boost. It would also give the local labour movement a chance to show the growing support for the strike.

A delegation is going up to the company's sister factory in Stranraer this weekend. Workers in Stranraer have a pay claim coming up soon. Their demands must be brought forward and linked up with the struggle in manchester. United action by both plants would increase the power and strength of the workers in their fight for decent wages. The strikers are only receiving £12 a Get Name Address month minimum (20p unwaged) contribution from supporters.

I want to become a Socialist Organiser supporter/ I want more information.

Send to Socialist Organiser, 28 Middle Lane, London N8 8PL. the picket line and return to work.

Chlorides in Salford. week strike pay. Support is vital. has been partly the result of government policies. The government has abolished the Fair Wages Resolution and encouraged privatisation.

Government propaganda blaming 'high wage rates" for unemployment has also created a climate hostile to the poorest paid sections of the workforce.

The TUC's failure to fight back and sabotage of unions like the NGA which have tried to fight back, has combined with government policy to depress wages.

An official TUC conference on low pay is to be held later this year to discuss the objectives for a low pay campaign and ways in which the campaign can be best developed.

¡ Civil service unions' day of actio on union rights at GCHQ Tuesday February 28. CPSA is calling for branches to decide their own action: militants in the lunion are pressing for strikes. ¡ The Council of Civil Service ¡ Unions has also called a lobby of Parliament for February 23. 600 jobs are to go with the sudden announcement at the weekend of a further three stee plant closures in the West Mid lands — a move in effect signal ling the demise of the stee industry in the region.

The British Steel Corporation and Sheerness Steel are invol ved in the closure plans of the F.H. Lloyd and Brockhouse Group owned steel plant - John Bagnall & Sons of Wed nesbury, Lloyds of Dudley, anc District Steel of Smethwick -handling the compensation deal ings and taking over the order books.

Steel workers are expected tr meet this week to discuss possi. bilities of a fightback against the closure plans.

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test for left ¡CHQ Cheltenham John THE Chesterfield by-election is an event of tremendous importance for the labour movement. Not only because it could put Tuny Benn back in Parliament - but also because it is not

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