Needed: general strike!

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"What we need is a and bloody quick, too!"

• These words from Mick Skelton, strike coordinator of the Corby strike committee, summed up the growing conviction of numbers of steel workers that their struggle is a vital test. of strength with the Tory Skelton was speaking at a public meeting in Leicester called by the Trades Council and Leicester South CLP to support the strike.

"This strike is about politics," he stressed, pointing ut that the steelworkers are ling used as a "dress rehearsal" fir the imposition of the Tories' ati-union laws.

And he firmly opposed any ncion of protest politics and piketing alone being sufficient tovin the struggle.

"In two weeks this will be the longest strike in history exopt for the miners in 1926. Ani that's in a moderate trade unin, so-called!

ow I'm making it quite clea that pickets on the Gruvick size are not going to win le war. Pickets and finance won win this war at all.

I only way we can fight back with the solidarity of the whole labour movement in action Skion went on to relate how, 's a member of the negoting committee, he met with IC leaders and moved a call fog General Strike-only to be rid 'out of order!

• At stake Yet stake is far more the steelrike itself.

"If Vare defeated, everyone is defeated," argued Skelton.

To throries, the manage. ment anthe most advanced militants, ais is self evident: to the Tubureaucracy -reluctant at a time to mobilise their menship in all out struggle-th prospect of a defeat of titeelworkers is less frightening tan the fear of being swel out of their privileged lership positions by a confit and forwardmoving work class.

That is wihe steelworkers have been lef far to fight the Tories alone.