[Striker Manuel Blanco speaks to Socialist Press A…]
Socialist Press1979 1979-06-06Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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Striker Manuel Blanco speaks to Socialist Press A LETTER FOR YOU O'FISHALL Why, in your view, did Strike Committee call off strike?
The Strike Committee was forced to call it off because of the total lack of support by the whole union leadership-especially the TGWU Region 1. Although Ron Todd was once supposed to be involved in the strike he only met us once and then nothing new came out.
The strike was called off because they refused even to give the kind of token support they've given, till now. They refused to do anything at all.
The strikers all signed a statement jointly calling off the strike with the officials. How do you see this now?
It was a mistake-they had the statement prepared for us to sign. They were bound to get the signatures of the majority of strikers who voted to end the strike.
But I opposed signing it-l asked for a clause to be inserted making it clear that a group of us were against. They said that this would be made clear in the minutes and then we all signed.
..THEY HELD SOLID WHEN WE KEPT THEM ON ONLY $6.00 PER WEEK STRIKE PAY...
THINK RES CRACKED LES!
WE BROWBEAT A BASTARDS EVER JESUS CHRIST-DON'T THESE GIVE UP?!!
They may well use this to claim that we jointly called off the strike. The statement talks about 'our' inability to keep the pickets going.
The strike, as I have said, was defeated by financial starvation and lack of support-the responsibility of the union What is the main lesson that you have learned?
When I came out on strike l knew very little-now I can see that there is no way that we can win strikes for basic rights with these leaders.
Workers still on strike at Sandersons and the Economist bookshop should draw lessons from our betrayal.
Since Grunwick the employers have seen that they can win because the union leaders are not " prepared to stand up and fight for the recognition of their members.
We must begin the building of a revolutionary leadership in the unions that can defend basic rights. This is particularly vital in the hotel and catering 'ONFERENC JUNE