Occupying to Stop Meccano Closure

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Frank Bloor with women stewards from Meccano What do you see as the next clasures, cuts in public expendistage in a campaign to raise the ture with the advent of the Tory As the struggle against closure continues in the occupied Meccano factory on Merseyside, Liverpool members. of the Workers Socialist League tape recorded the following interview at the factory with GMWU convenor Frank Bloor.

What is the up to date position?

We are trying to arrange a further meeting with Airfix to clarify the position on a number of points.

One of the major points is that there are two companies interested in taking over and we want to clarify how far the negotiations with these two companies have gone.

We are also insisting on our 90 day consultation. rights, which they are refusing. In tarms of blacking, what are the latest developments? • On Merseyside we're starting to expand now. This morning we are having a meeting with all our shop stewards to start our campaign, especially now the holiday period is over.

One of the main' things we will be doing will be forming flying pickets to get around all Airfix factories in the country and start to hit them at the right time.

Do you feel you're getting the maximum support from your union officials?

From some of the officials, yes. Especially from the GMWU, it's been 100%. APEX have also been involved, but the other unions, for one reason or another, have decided to stay in the background.

We've seen most of the officials but it must be said that G&M and APEX officials have been in the factory every day since we occupied.

Are you receiving any union benefits?

Well first, the Social Security have said what we are doing is illegal and therefore are not going to give us anything. So after the Xmas holiday pay runs out we'll be back to square one -the members will have nothing. temperature?

.As I say the formation of flying pickets-this is the big thing. Also we have to insist that these negotiatións with Airfix are not kept secret from us. We have to be informed fully. After all, the Airfix discussioris are with two entirely different companies. This seems to be our main hope, both of them are very interested.

Do you draw any conclusions from the enormous increase in unemployment, factory government?

Yes, as far as we can see it, alia abnes in manana- Inis Is a new stagt i matayement-worker relations, in terms of the Thatcher government, because they are trying a new stunt-no 90 day notices.

If this goes through and this company does close then everybody in this country, whether they are in unions or not will be wary of their jobs.

Mrs Thatcher has only paid lip service when she said in the House of Commons that it was wrong not to give us our 90 day let on an mad dea notice of redundancy.

We've seen one junior minister, and that's been this government's help so far.

MPs on Merseyside have been great, but as for this government they'll just let it go through because they are trying to get rid of the Acts brought in by Labour.

If this goes through every company in the land will use it as a weapon, they will just close you down 20 minutes before you finish on a Friday.

What percentage of the workforce are women?

I would say two-thirds~ some are part-time, some full time, and a small twilight' shift, with the men working the night shift. o the women will feel the inancial problems particulari acutely.

Yes, the only way a married woman could possibly receive any Social Security is if her husband is on the dole.

It really is hard. We have a lot of one-parent families, widows and divorcees and they are in a worse position, if you like, than a woman whose husband is working.

We've had many cases of women with one or two kius going to the SS for help but being turned away, and we've had to try and help them from the fund.

We have even had cases of the DHSS threatening to take away the children, you know"We can't look after you but we'll take your kids ințo care".

This is only to frighten, but it will not work-half the money we receive goes into a hardship fund, the rest is our fighting fund.

Have you approached the union officials for haip?

Yes, we've been as the National Officer.

And what did he say?

We're still waiting •for decision. All other uni ons are paying hardship money except the G&M.

How much is that? "accept redundancy" because it seems that this government just want three quarters of the workforce to be on the dole.

Yes, their policy is to attack the working class.

I agree, three-quarters on the dole "and the other quarter subsidised.

The other quarter on low wages!

Exactly! We're going back to the 1930s, back to the means test. There will be that many unemployed that trying to get money out of the government will be like winning the pools every 'week; you're just not going to get it.

I'd like to ask the senior female steward what particular problems the women workers face as housewives and occupiers of the factory?

AN: Well if you're married you just don't know where to begin.

We spend more time here now than when we were getting paid. You're trying to make time to do a bit of shopping, keep the home as comfortable as possible, and everybody fed and clothed, (you know, in clean clothes).

It takes its toll. Then you've got the worry of the money, because you don't half miss it. If our husbands were earning good wages we wouldn't have to work.

You are working for nocessitios?

AN: Yes, completely: Then again, when you're home you are worrying about the factory ... whether the other shift to occupy have turned up or something happened to them. It's taking its toll health-wisa. We are pretty lucky because we have our families standing by us. Frank, just to finalise, what do you think of this Tory government?

We haven't got a government -all we have is a group of people sitting in the Houses of Parliament smashing up the laws which relate to workers over the past few years.

What they're after is massive unemployment, the lowest pay for the rest, and no aggro.

That's their policy, and they will continue with that policy as long. as we, the working class, allow them to continue in office.

Frank, Socialist Press wishes you and your occupation forces maximum success.

Thank you very Inside the Meccano occupation