Strike Stops Bingo Hall

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employed as cleaners, kitchen workers and bingo callers came out on strike in Coventry on October 22nd, demanding trade union recognition, better rates of pay and improved working conditions.

They decided to join the T&GWU three months earlier, spurred on by their current pay rates of only So%p per hour, with an average of five hour shifts -while overtime is paid at a pittance of 12½p per hour!

The women are all employed by Orr Enterprises, who own all the major Bingo Halls and Casinos in Coventry and Leamington, and who have to date refused to recognise the T&GWU.

Instead, three months ago, the management of Orr Enterprises and Club One called in the officials of the National Association of Theatre Television and Kine Employees (NATTKE) and signed an agreement giving NATTKE sole negotiating rights.

This directly challenged the workers' right to organise in the trade union of their choice.

As the dispute broke out, an official from NATTKE attempted to placate the women by offering them 1971 rates of pay. This incensed them even more and they took strike action, contacting the T&GWU who immediately made the strike official.

To date, the women are winning massive support for their dispute, and with all the major delivery firms (with the exception of the Northampton Glass Co.) and the city refuse collectors all refusing to cross the picket line they have HORE brought the Bingo Hall to a closure.

This in turn is having the same effect on all the other Orr Enterprise clubs in the city, plus its cinema chain, with new deliveries of films being turned away.

Resolutions of support and donations to the strike fund should be sent to:

Sister Ann Cottey, • T&GWU Shop Steward, 42, Hamilton Road, Stoke, Coventry.

nGONICH SM IE The refusal of Hugh Scanlon and the leadership of the AUEW to take action against past High Court interference in the union has led To yet another astounding case.

The Darlington District Committee of the AUEW decided to withhold credentials from a shop steward who scabbed on a mass meeting decision for a 24-hour token strike.

Last week a High Court Judge, MI. Justice Oliver issued an order requiring the District Committee to meet the blackleg concerned within 14 days and to approve his election STEWARD!

This case highlights the trend towards Court interference in the unions over recent years.

What the state could not acheive through the Industrial Relations Act it is now setting out to achieve by gradually strengthening the role of the Courts in the affairs of the trade unions.

It is a dangerous development. While it was possible to pressure the trade union leadership into some form of action against the Act, now the Courts are being brought in by the back door the leaders feel able to sit back and let it happen.

Militant workers should take up within the trade union movement every case of Court interference as soon as it occurs. The independence of the trade marant

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FIGHT ALL SACKINGS, OCCUPY!....Cont'd from Page 1 •Pag

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PLEAS HIGH APPOINTS