Laurence Scot workers sil fight

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prevent its closure.

A mass meeting of all seven unions on April 24 voted 3-2 to take over the factory and since then over 500 have taken part in the sit-in.

The company, which manufactures spark-free electric motors for use in mines and submarines, was taken over in October last year by Mining Supplies of Doncaster with an assurance that the Manchester factory would be kept open.

By early April the unions were told that closure would take place on July 10.

Kept secret

It later transpired that the decision to close LSE had been taken as early as February 10 as a result of the NCB's 30% cut in purchase of mining machinery but had been kept secret in order to claim six months of government subsidies.

Mining Supplies' owner, Arthur Snipe, in "personal" letter to each LSE worker, threatened that unless hormal working was resumed by May S, the workforce would be regarded as having broken their contract of employment and would receive no redundancy pay!

Meanwhile Snipe maintained his life-style at his estate at Barnby Manor near Newark, on his salary of €25,640 (up 33% last year!) plus €100,000 made from his shareholdings in 1980 more details about Name ..

Address.

Box 5277, out of Mining profits from the the Admiralty.

"Losses"

Arthur Snipe's more recent communications with the occupation have dwelt on the "losses" the factory had been making and the lack of orders, but it was clear from the accounts in the factory that his arguments were inconsistent and the stewards are sure that the factory was purposely run down prior to closure.

These suspicions would no doubt be confirmed if the stewards were to examine all of Arthur Snipe's accounts and show how much profit had been extracted from the NCB-the main purchaser of electric motors from LSE.

The workers have rejected Snipe's 10-point plan for keeping LSE Manchester open, which included a clause that only ten employees would be engaged to keep the factory open.

Pledge support

The workers in the other Laurence Scott factories in Norwich and Blantyre have pledged support, and are blacking work. previously destined for Manchester.

The NUM are blacking Laurence Scott motors, a member of the occupation committee is going to lies and IG Barnsley next week to meet Arthur Scargill and the Yorks NUM, and a substantial cheque has been received from South Wales miners.

The occupation is well organised with shifts of pickets manning the • padlocked gates and they are determined to win. They need donations and messages of support.

Please send to: JSSC. c/o George Fryer. 20 Rounderost, Romilly. Cheshire SK6 Asner Berl, ipnan im ip Mercand Why camapalzrs vero last d O'fa ior ches can to iTT. " = - 1·121 215 m Afte A WSL Pamprtar Price 27p including postage from WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIV 6XX pickets ide

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MERSEYSIDE FACTORY CLOSURES