Birmetals: 27 Week Job Fight

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300 workers from Birthrough Birmingham in the pouring rain to a rally at Digbeth Civic Hall.

The protest march was to gain support in the city and to publicise their case.

There were a number of trade union bodies representedparticularly TGWU, and a large collection was raised.

The latter was especially important in view of the significance of the conspiracy against the 900 Birmetals workers who since April 25 have been laid off and then sacked.

During this period they have received no unemployment benefit, no social security for dependents, no strike pay and no redundancy money.

In 27 weeks they have rely solely on donations.

Even after they won a test case for unemployment benefit, the Inspectors Offices tabled an appeal against the ruling-thus stopping payment!

The company, part of the Birmia Qualcast group, which has other factories in the Midlands, has got around the necessity to pay redundancy payments in the closure of the factory.

They have done this by provoking a dispute and then sacking everybody. The dispute was over the refusal of the company to negotiate a pay review.

Twelve workers went on strike, every other worker was then asked to fill their jobs. When they refused the other workers were first laid off, and then sacked.

The company has now applied to use the land for house building.

There were a number of speakers at the Digbeth rally including the local Labour MP Peter Archer who-forgetting the bitter disputes under Labour -said that this could only happen in the particular climate created by this Tory governmment.

But Archer suggested form of action.

Derek Robinson, whose own case most speakers said prepared the way for the Birmetals attack, also spoke.

He said that what was necessary was for the strike to be made official by all the unions, and that it should be escalated throughout Birmid Qualcast.

He also said that a delegation NION DUES from BL Longbridge was stopped from going on the demonstration-under the threat of the sack by management!

Bill Jordan, AUEW Divisional Organiser, announced from the platform that the action had now-after 27 weeks!-been made official by his union.

But the AUEW will only be paying money up to the point of a successful claim at the The unanimous decision of officials representing all 17 unions in the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions to accept a miserable 8% pay increase on behalf of 2 million workers is a major sell-out.

The decision has already given new heart to the Tories workers repare to drive down living standards still further this winter.

Though the vote was unanimous, the other 16 unions selected AUEW President Terry Duffy as the front man to publicise their betrayal.

AUEW members should lobby the next National Committee of their union which is due to endorse the dealdemanding it be rejected.

Department of Employment appeal-because of a "legal technicality"

He argued that the dispute was about the legal question: "We are looking at getting redundancy pay"

To look at getting the jobs back, he said is an "idle dream" called for support demonstration and Friday October factory gates.

He said we must "show are not going to accept Employment Bill"

Mick Brightman from the Gardners occupation brought the solidarity of that strike committee.

Throughout the meeting not a single speaker attacked the trade union leaderships.

That a strike can go on for six months before being made official, and that the only direction given to those workers by their officials is towards seeking redundancy pay, is a disgrace.

The AUEW leadership has scandalously accepted 8.2% increase for engineering workers at a time of 17% inflation, arguing that "the main question" is saving jobs!

But then they • help to sabotage the fight for jobs at a major plant!

Action must be organised both inside and outside Birmids against the management.

The TGWU for example, which has members sacked, has the power to bring this firm to a halt.

But the only real basis for getting those in work to support the struggle is around the defence of the threatened jobs.

The factory should be reopened-and all available work throughout the group shared on full pay.

The mass picket on Friday should be fully supported and all finance sent to:

BIo. J.A. Glasford, Secretary for Dispute Committee, 78, Longbridge Lane, Longbridge, Birmingham B31 2TW.

for a mass picket this 24 at the we the CAR INDUSTRY CRISIS Just hosting ence L Crisis'.

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metals Ltd and their suppor- ters last Friday marched

Des Morgan, the convenor, UT