Bitter fight at sweet factory

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wing in the tradi- open mainly by the use of scab strike that this blacking PORAMRI+ lahour fram amar me:

SX A3 к1: S0930 dOLs JIS ITOP en2 :Brase # IA3YM to Socialist Press Please send me trial sub/six months/one year NEWES tion of recognition disputes among poorly paid workers comes a dispute at the Chix sweet factory in Slough.

After nearly 90% of the workforce, which is mainly Asian women, had joined the GMWU, they sought recognition from the employer Denis Rose.

His response echoed that of George Ward of Grunwick and Margolis of Garners when he refused to recognise the union.

After three months in membership, the workers issued an ultimatum-recognise or face industrial action.

Rose stood firm, and the strike is now in its fifth week.

The factory is being kept PHOTO: Mark Rusher.

**A* ah O3 CUT open mainly by the use of scab labour from agencies, who are being paid well over £2 per hour (before the strike workers got only 95p).

The strikers are maintaining a strong picket in the face of harassment from the police which has already resulted in seven arrests.

Mass pickets

Support on the picket has come from Fords, other GMWU branches and also local workers.

The strikers have a policy of calling a mass picket in order to publicise and build up support for their strike.

Some blacking has been implemented and it will be crucial to the outcome of the Grunwick pickets RATES:

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Address strike that this airtight.

The main ingredient in the product is sugar and the main supplier is Tate and Lyle, also organised into the GMWU.

Despite the fact that the factory was blacked a lorry load of sugar was delivered.

The officials claim that this was accidental and that they are looking into it.

But it is essential that no more gets through.

The strikers are also anxious to know who supplies starch to the factory, as well as some sweets that are sent there to be wrapped.

No strike pay One scandalous aspect of the strike is that despite the fact that it is official the strikers are receiving no strike pay as, according to rule they have not been members for long enough.

A fight must be taken up in the union to get the strike adequately funded and avoid any danger of it being lost for lack of money.

In the meantime donations should be sent to the address below.

Struggles like this give the lie to the argument that immigrant workers are prepared to undercut the wages and conditions of native workers. It is essential that sufficient support is mobilised to ensure that it is won.

Information from, and messages of support and donations to:

M. Anwar, 271 Goodman Park, Slough.

BE .. £1.75 .75 • £6.00 €11.00 • £6.50 . £8.00

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