PUBLISH HUSSEY Ul SUNDRY NOT AT %.. Official's 'tactics threaten struggle for union rights

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struggle STL strikers will need to fight this decision and to to spell out to Eynan in words keep the creche open. of one syllable that they will They have formed an Action return to work only when their Committee comprised of was driven in by management accepted without question the and that they are not going to Trades Council women's sub- aLlInEID, Lyman zin endi on „cn three basic demands are met- parents and delegates from the and that they are not going to Trades Council women's subwith the number plates proposed cut in workforce- be browbeaten into defeat by committee as well as the Play- be browbeaten into defeat by committee as well as the Playconcealed. insisting only that with no more someone who is supposed to be group Association to discuss a someone who is supposed to be group Association to discuss a On - Wednesday ACAS than 11 scabs still working in their own official representative. programme of action. their own official representative. programme of action.

After the defeat of a rapid move by TGWU District Official Phil Eynan to force a return to work, the strike by 20 workers at Selected Toys Limited, Didcot remains solid.

Picketing has heen main- HE FURI tained, and support has been obtained from local unions.

The strikers walked out in defence of five victimised TGWU members and are demanding full reinstatement, union recognition and higher wages-present basic rates vary from 28p to 67p an hour.

Though management, lulled into a false sense of security by Eynan's determination to end the struggle, were plainly shocked to see the picket line outside the plant last Monday, they had obviously worked out contingency plans for supplies.

Plates concealed

That aftalnann an us a soner a dorma t nal atlernoon a private van DUILIO As the National Union of Railwaymen meets in conference this week it seems certain that a pay demand for a 30% increase officials met STL boss Young, and set up talks between Young and Eynan for Friday.

Realising that strikers would be anxious to see him before this meeting, Eynan arrived only 20 minutes before it was due to take place-and went in to spend two hours deep in conversation with Young in the presence of ACAS and Young's lawyer.

Brushed aside

Demands from the strikers that one of their representatives should be at this meeting were brushed aside by Eynan, who emerged to report that Young was now planning a 50% cut in workforce-from 32 to 16.

Clearly Young hopes that this would offer him the leeway to increase wages for the remaining staff while stepping up the effort of those employed.

In a pathetic effort to "trap" management into taking back enma of the strikare Funan the plant Young would need to take back five of those uo MOU the picket lines.

Even ACAS apparently objected to this line of argument, but Eynan continues to labour under the illusion that he is a great tactician.

He is certainly an arrogant bureaucrat. After the failure of his initial attempts to force the strikers back to work he complained that "men" would understand his tactical approach and moaned that the largely female strikers had not enough union experience to see his point of view.

But a sellout smells the same to all trade unionists, be they men, women or raw recruits to the union:

Basic demands In pressing ahead with their