NATSOPA backs Sun sacking

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THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD! ideas about how best to smash union strength.

Since the beginning of May, News Group Newspapers have been trying to put some of these ideas into practice at the Sun in Fleet Street, On May 9 Mike Jones, supervisor of the Sun telephonists was called into the office of a Mr. J.A. Britton, a Labour Relations Executive.

He stated that from that time onwards £15 was to be deducted from each telephonist's wages and the position of supervisor was to be ended and the job to be done by a member of management.

Jones was also told that disciplinary action would be considered if any telephonist wasn't seen working hard enough.

The telephonists Foc, George Hall, then asked for permission to hold a NATSOPA Chapel meeting. This was refused and Hall was told that if a Chapel meeting was held he would be sacked.

Britton was, until recently the chairman of the 8,000 strong NATSOPA London RIRMA branch.

During his period of office he devoted himself to protecting the interests of the employ. ers-and has now been rewarded with a job a Labour Relations Executive.

At first the Sun telephonists tried to work normally and sought advice from NATSOPA.

But management insisted on sending people in and out of the switchboard department, constantly criticising work and making threats.

Two days later, May 11, the telephonists hold a mandatory Chapel meeting and went on strike.

Smash chapel Since then the NATSOPA bureaucracy have joined management in attempting to smash the strike and the union chapel.

The 15 strikers have all been sacked, although the employer has since said that everyone has been suspended apart from the FoC who has been sacked.

The strike may well have cost the Sun over £100,000 in lost advertising revenue, so the employers obviously see the smashing of this chapel as an important part of their plans to destroy union organisation.

The employer has been predictably helped in this task by NATSOPA full-time officials who have proposed a negotiated "peace formula' to the strikers.

This formula proposed return to work with the of the job of supervisor.

The £15 was still to be deducted from each worker's wage until a new productivity payment was negotiated.

Worst of all, the dismissal of Bro. Hall was to be converted to suspension for a maximum of 4 weeks.

If it was not "established" that he was wrongfully dismissed by the end of the 4 weeks, then he would be sacked, with the agreement of the chapel, union and management.

If the chapel were to strike over this dismissal then NATSOPA would provide scab staff!

The chapel unanimously rejected this scandalous "peace formula' and have called on the union to make the strike official.

Chapels should agree to weekly levies to support the strike, as has been done by the Usher Walker chapel Stratford, East London la recent victim of a NATSOPA "peace formula').

SERTUC

CONFERENCE "Care of the Under.

• Fives"

Saturday 30 June 1979 Congress House, Great Russell St, London WC!

Credentials (50p) from Jim Watson, 106 Mount View Road, London N4 Speakers:

Arthur Latham, Chairman, London Labour Reg Race, NUPE Margaret Cohen, National Campaign for Nursery Education Chair: Tess Gill, NCCL

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