Steel: spread the strike!

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would not have it", he declared strike is also stimulating workers in limbo, with an insulting put hoany u power or ine vovember pay review stil! nangs ruefully, calling instead for an in other industries to look 5% with strings company offer towards action on their own on the table, shop floor feeling Fryer addressing a mass meeting at Cowley Stalinistes althouck Bill Sirs A heavy blow was struck Two weeks into the steel strike it is obvious that steel workers are increasingly confident that they have the power to extract a substantial wage settlement out of British Steel management.

Such is the militancy from the ranks that even right wing ISTC leader Bill Sirs has had to admit that he can no longer hope to settle for an offer of around 13%. "Our members would not have it", he declared ruefully, calling instead for an offer around 20%. offer around 20%.

The fighting example set by The fighting example set by claims. the steel strikers, combined with the intransigence of BSC management now seem certain to result in the remaining steel unions joining the strike after the rejection of their pay demands.

Stimulating

And, under pressure, the ISTC also seems certain to call out its members in the private sector.

Rut alaado the naus Thousands of water and sewage workers seem headed for strike action to improve on a 13.1% wage offer.

A strike in this crucial area would almost at once disrupt supplies and services-and could create a huge confrontation if the Tories proceed with plans to use 15,000 army scabs.

Feeling for strike

And in BL, where the for a strike is building up.

Now is the time for action alongside the steel workers to defend living standards, and to confront the Tory offensive on jobs and social services.

Wherever possible the struggle must be taken up for the formation of councils of action, drawing delegates from all working class organisations, to coordinate, extend and strengthen the struggles now underway against the Tories, mobilise jointly to defend picketing rights, and create conditions to defeat and bring down the Thatcher government.

Steel: see back page repeatedly attempted to victimise Fryer along with other key Cowley militants.

Fryer and Thornett were bureaucratically removed from the plant leadership in 1974 by the TGWU Midlands Regional Committee.

But in 1977 they were Ieelected by shop floor ballotonly to be immediately faced with disciplinary action by the TGWU aimed at driving Fryer, Thornett and the Cowley 9' out of the union.

These moves were finally defeated last year. Fryer's reelection now demonstrates once again that a principled stand against bureaucracy and a struggle for the interests of the working class can rally mass support and inflict serious defeats on the right wing and their Stalinist allies.

Text of leaflet, p.11