[ca Strike action by GMWU workers closed North…]

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ca Strike action by GMWU workers closed North East London Polytechnic for an entire week from February 12.

It was planned by the union leadership as part of the programme of selective strikes and has been controlled by the full timers.

But many strikers have begun to feel the need for a democratically elected strike committee.

Many of them would like to stay out indefinitely and to make links with other disputes in the area such as East Memorial Hospital, the school. caretakers and the refuse tip workers.

A major obstacle is that there is no procedure in the GMWU rules for calling an emergency branch meeting, and many of the strikers have little experience of fighting their union officials.

Socialist Press interviewed Vera Cooper, refectory worker.

The strike has been very strong indeed. How has this developed?

We started off in a bit of confusion at the beginning of the week because many of us have never been on strike before.

We didn't know about it until we reached work on Monday morning. In different precincts we had to organise a rota for picketing.

By the end of he week we had all the prec ncts closed. Greengate House hid been open at first, but that was closed down.

And Waltham Forest-Ron Dalgarno, the shop steward, and Dave Harrington, the official, went over there early, about 5 a.m. and got that closed down on Thursday.

Yesterday we closeq I the public library next to West Ham because the heating is connected up.

We've had great cooperation from other unions-NATFHE, NALGO, ASTMS and the student union. I was amazed by the solidarity.

What has been the response from women members on strike for the first time?

We have found it a bit of an ordeal. But there's been a lot of support and they've turned up regularly for the picket.

We followed exactly what our full timer Dave Harrington said. We had a meeting before and had it explained and we all voted.

Have you discussed all out strike action and linking up with other disputes?

I'm not sure what will happen till we go to work on Monday. We won't have a meeting till next week.

I think it's a good idea for all the unions to act together, the big four.

We haven't had any meetings with other unions. I would have gone if l'a heard of one. How do you think the strike will be won?

It's so difficult when you've never been on strike before. In our refectory we have good relations with our manageress:

But this dispute is not just even in the canteen. It's against the management right up to the Speaking personally I don't think we should go back. think that now we've gọt this far we should stay out.

I think it would be a good idea to have a strike committee next time we come out and .! would put that idea to our official.

But I'd be guided by what he says. I don't know' the procedures.

In general it is ditticult to find people to be active. We're all married women with families.

The meetings are in the evenings at Barking. I don't èven know how to get there.

We don't have minutes or anything. We do in our tenant's association which I'm active :).

• It's difficult because we're so dispersed. There are six sites just round here so we never see the others.

'ence Sparbam, IFL Basnett