Blackwells Strike for Recognition

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Fifty of the 100 T&GWU embers employed by lackwells, the Oxford boksellers, have been on rike since January 28th, manding union cognition and the instatement of a Branch emmittee member, Ted eslin, who was sacked for sisting on union presentation over his job. The sacking was the final pisode in a systematic campaign ried out by the company over ie last few months to weaken owing trade union organisation. : Union membership has grown tadily in the firm following the ampany's unsuccessful attempt i sack a leading union activist 18 ronths ago.

PROVOKED There is no doubt that nagement have provoked the sent confrontation in the l 1ope lat they can put an end to the nion for good and destroy any LE Pickets outside the Blackwell's office block.

effective opportion to their plans for further drastic speed-up and rationalisation which they • have begun to introduce during the last yeat.

Students from many of the local colleges have given help on the pickets which are being maintained from 7 a.m. to Sp.m. each day at several Blackwells premises, and the Oxford University Students Union have called on all students to stop using the firm.

Ruskin and Balliol Colleges have given over their JCR facities to the pickets and Ruskin have also organised a weekly levy of students for the strike fund.

Trade Union support has already been significant, with the Post Office and NUR blacking deliveries. Oxford Trades Council voted unanimously to support and the following branches have also passed resolutions of support and finance; T&G_ BLMC Service 5/55; T&G British Leyland Assembly 5/293; T&G Export Packing Services, Banbury 5/104; T&G Warwick 5/04; ASTMS Oxford NHS; ASTMS Publishing 516; NUJ Oxford Mail; NUJ Book Branch; NUPE Oxford University; ATTI Oxford; ACTS Dillons.

Blackwells have continually attempted to separate the question of union recognition from Ted Heslin's reinstatement, and are insisting on everything being dealt with by ACAS.

This has been unanimously rejected by the strikers, who regard arbitration as irrelevant, and are calling for the dispute to be given official union backing.

Resolutions of support and strike fund contributions should be sent to Dave Thompson, Branch Secretary 5/833, 8c Crick Road, Oxford. Picket Committee are aso requesting that copies of resolutions are sent to Bro. B. Mathers, Regional Secretary, Transport House, 211 Broad St., Birmingham.

A mass picket is being organised for next Saturday outside the Broad Street shop at midday. We urge all readers to