Grunwick Lines Harden
Socialist Press1977 1977-06-08Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 10 →
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The last fortnight has seen a hardening of battle lines Grunwick dispute.
On the side of the union bureaucracy, this involves the APEX Annual Delegate Conference's taking absolutely no move towards escalation of APEX's involvement in the strike, save a 10% levy of branch funds to support the strikers.
No resolution to strike in No condemnation of the TUC for refusing to bring its weight down on the UPW and other unions for pract cal support. No real action at all.
On the side of the management a campaign of harassment has been rekindled. One of the leaders of the strike, Mis. Desai, has been arrested and charged with threatening behaviour after one of the Directors drove a car into the picket line and levelled personal abuse and obscenities at those in his path.
In the eyes of the law any resistance to such attacks constitutes "threatening behaviour" especially if you're an Asian.
On the side of the strikers there is more determination than ever to win and to defeat not only the rotten management but also the impotent union bureaucrats whose "good ideas" are frequently nothing short of sabotage. With continuous labour moyement support on the picket line, and a growing awareness that winning depends on the initiative and independence of the strike committee itself the next month promises to bring real progress if not final victory. Even with the money of the NAFF behind them, Grunwick management had better not count on winning this one.
Mass picket, Monday June 13 at 7.00 a.m.