Desoutters National Blacking Now!

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The slogans outside the gates of Desoutters engineering works on the Edgware Rd.

"Desoutters-another Grunwick"- "Act now not 1978"

For the 100 or so workers now in the 13th week of their strike for union recognition the slogans are a recognition of the task they have to accomplish within the layers of their own union.

Despite official backing: despite a few reassuring words from Hugh Scanlon, and despite some undoubted successes by the strikers in imposing limited blacking, the AUEW has shown itself totally unwilling to produce the action needed to bring a quick end to the dispute.

LOBBY

The demand-as at Grunwick and as in the Birmingham Night Out strike against Trust Houses Forte, is simple and straightforward -national blacking now!

To this end strikers and supporters took a lobby to the AUEW executive on Tuesday to demand action.

The demand made by the strikers is for blacking of new equipment being sent from the factory to the car firms-including British Leyland-and through Heathrow Airport and the docks to abroad.

The tools made by Desoutter are also in use by aircraft engineers at Heathrow and in wide use in other factories.

All new equipment and replacement parts must be blacked.

VICIOUS Instead of seeing these demands put into action the strikers have been forced to watch 100 members starved back to work and a vicious physical attack on their two convenors.

Despite this the determination of the strikers is undiminished and Tuesday's lobby demonstrates their readiness to take the fight back to the union bureaucrats.

It is clear to all the strikers that the union has the ability to win the dispute at will.

The AUEW convenor, the only striker so far sacked, told Socialist Press:

"We are calling for national blacking of Desoutters but the executive council has not endorsed the blacking.

We've written a lette i to our district committee urging the executive council to put this into effect."

VICTIM

Heathrow engineers-themselves recently a victim of the AUEW bureaucracy-meet this week to discuss blacking Desoutters.

So far the AUEW have refused to lift a finger to help.

On the day that the district secretary, Bill McLoughlin, was supposed to give the strikers a letter which they could take round factories, asking for blacking in the name of the district committee, he told them he was "too busy" to write it!

There have been previous attempts to introduce a union to the firm, all unsuccessful. But the drive for the right to a union this time quic ily attracted 235 workers, including many Asian workers in the firm.

VOTE

A unanimous vote to strike came after lengthy negotiations proved that Desoutter managements was refusing to reach a settlement.

The AUEW made the strike official but limited dispute pay to f9 a week.

Despite constant requests they refused to increase this to cover hardship cases. and they said they were everything they could do.

Last week we took out three more people from inside the factory. We know others are ready to come out, but they say yeu can't live on £9 a week."

The management have agreed to recognition but have refused to take back the convenor, Fred Hopper.

After four weeks of the strike the company sent him a letter saying he was sacked, alleging assault on a driver.

ALLEGATIONS

Pickets say that as Hoppe: placed his arm on the driver shoulder the scab said, "Just wha: I wanted" • A little later he appeared with sticking plaster and false allegations of an attack.

The management, fearful that they cannot do a George Ward and bar the union altogether are banking on allowing it in only if it is already broken through the sacking of the convenor.

In fact, the attacks have been on Hopper, not by him.

Ten days ago he went with the deputy convenor to collect some money for the union funds. While in the Surrey Arms, near the factory, scabs confronted them anc began throwing punches.

On leaving the pub the two were again attacked. Hopper said:

*I was knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly by three or four people. A bus stopped and a West Indian driver jumped out and drove them off."

Last week Hopper was agar: threatened in full view of police by one of the same four scabs while PHOTO: Chris Davies, Report.

Scanlo: he was crossing the picket.

The police-who had told Hopper he would have to take out : private summons for assaultlooked the other way.

All supporters of the Desoutte: strikers should ensure that a bi enough picket is maintained tc defend these workers.

The strikers and extremely shor of money. Cash or cheques shoul be sent to the treasurer of thi strike committee, Barry Maron!

27, Springfield Mount, Kingsbur;

London NW9. essoreller DESOUTTERSI ANOTHER GRUNWICK Аст Now Not 1978

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Kingsbury in London have an ominous ring to them-