[A letter from the secreta: G&MWU Branch gives…]

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A letter from the secreta:

G&MWU Branch gives us a recognition struggle.

Strike action continues into its eleventh week at the Aquatels Leisure Centre in Basildon, despite the solid refusal of G&MWU officials to give the slighest backing to the strikers.

Their position was summed up in the cynical reply • from the G&MWU recruiting officer, a Mr. Tilston, who when questioned by the Secretary of the London Hotels (3) Branch simply replied "I get them out on strike and clear off"

More action has been forthcomOfficer - the Comp. HEat least has contacted the strikers since the dispute began.

NO ASSISTANCE However his telephone call to the strike leader Bil Naylor was not to offer any assistance, but to tell him off for putting G&MWU members at the nearby Essex Centre Hotel "at risk" by asking them not to cross the picket line!

"You may lose me members" complained a worried Mr. Romp.

Strikers have also learned they nearly received a visit from Regional Secretary H. Robertson jp. He set out, they were told the had to turn back - because weather was bad"!

This was interesting news for the strikers, who have been manning a 15-hours-a-day picket since the dispute began.

Despite these officials there have been moves in support of the strikers from other G&MWU members. An attempt to smuggle beer into the Essex Centre Hotel via of the London Hotels (3) ickground information to one of the company's London hotels was countered, by the London steward, who instructed his members to refuse to handle it.

He stuck to this correct position despite an instruction from Romp that the Basildon strike was nothing to do with him, and that he should load the vans.

HELD BACK

While Basildon Trades Council has offered full support, this too has been held back by the position of the GMWU officials, who have made no approach to other unions for a full scale blacking action, or any attempt to broaden the strike with the company G. Bennett, Secretary, Hotels (3) GMWU OUR COMMENT.

The Aquateis dispute, like the notel struggles in Oxford and Sheffield, highlights the completely arrogant and reactionary attitude of the union bureaucracy, who simply regard new sections of workers entering the unions as intruders threatening to disrupt their own long-established cosy relations with local employers.

•The determination of these workers to fight is proved by the fact that they continue to defy all obstacles and press forward with their action.

We call on all workers in the London area to move for financial support, for assistance on the picket lines, and resolutions demanding the G&MWU leadership give full and active backing to this important dispute. Part of the 300-strong October wages conference