Ansells sell-out rejected

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Cuts Conference ed jointly by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movemen Saturday March 21 from 10.30 am. to 5.00 pm.

Islington Central Library, Holloway Road, London Details and credentials from: SO/CDLM Cuts Conference, Attempts are still being made by the TGWU officials and Allied Breweries management to force 600 Ansells workers to accept the closure of their brewery in Aston, Birmingham.

A section of the workers are being offered jobs in beer distribution instead.

This closure threat is a direct result of the way the economic crisis is affecting beer sales.

The brewery employers need to inflict a major defeat on one of the best organised breweries to force through wage cuts and speed up throughout the So far the 600 workers have stood firm. They rejected the latest management/union formula on alternative jobs and redundancy pay-conveyed in a management-run ballot-by a majority of 4-1.

A new attempt at a negotiated settlement is to be made on March 16.

Unfortunately the bargaining position of the brewery workers has been undermined by the limitations they have placed on their own action.

Following the practice of an old agreement, they have adopted a policy of not sending pickets to breweries outside Birmingham.

This has allowed Ansells to supply its pubs in Birmingham from a source in London and has prevented solidarity action at Burton on Trent which is Allied Breweries major Midlands production centre.

But the possibility of total victory remains. Many pub managers, the clerical and distribution staff and all major breweries are organised by the TGWU.

Only the union leadership and the unwillingness of Ansells workers to break from them lies between them and a victorious POLICIEȘ TO STOP THE CUTS the Campaign for Democracy in Socialist Organiser c/o 66 Brokesley Street, London E3. N7