Rowntree
Socialist Organiser1984 1984-02-16Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 15 →
Transcribed from the scan of page 15 (26 Oct 2026) after a reader report: the machine split had run this unsigned report into 'Ranks must take over'.
Proofed text: read against the scan word by word; spelling, punctuation and wording are as printed.
Scan page 15
CRAFT unions at Rowntrees in York have now been on strike for a week over the loss of around 200 maintenance jobs. Management forestalled the dispute before Christmas by announcing the losses would be achieved through voluntary redundancy. However only 130 takers were found for the scheme so strike action is being taken to stop enforced redundancies.
The AUEW has now made the strike official and over 800 workers have already been laid off as the lines break down with no-one to fix them.
The strikers are still hopeful of winning the dispute, although members of the GMBATU on the production lines are still working.
Pickets believed that the strike would be won within a handful of days if they came out in support.
Messages of support and donations to: J. Ramsden, AUEW, Matmer House, Hull Road, York.