Mass Picket and Blacking Needed at Grunwick

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Not a finger has been lifted by the TUC in support of the Grunwick strike since the grand-sounding but empty resolution was passed • last month.

The strike committee nas responded by taking a belated but necessary step towards independence by issuing a call for mass picketing to resume from October 17.

In doing so they have thrown out the bid by APEX General Secretary Roy Grantham, who tried desperately to force strikers to rely on the 'good intentions' of the TUC There is little doubt that if Grantham fails to regain control over the strike committee he will again resort to the threat of withdrawal of strike pay in his efforts to restrict the dispute.

CONFLICT

It is not a question of "ignoring" these official union leaders, as the Sonalist Workers Party would have is betere Rate: SSE: Ir.W 123 c: 30.00 and cannot of itself win the dispute.

The strike committee must therefore struggle to enlist the HOTO: Andrel Jack Drome! active support of post office workers. electricians and water board workers both for directly imposing blacking and in the struggle to make such actions Silicia:

Iris means joit 2at1n3 mittees 330 SITICI "10: 592: demandag this autor.

Whila s' general correct, it woul ave r significance at this po only the event of an attempt Ward close the factory.

ABSTRACT

Taken on its own as an abstract slogan, the nationalisation demand, supported by strike committee spokesman Jack Dromey, of Brent Trades Council, can only be a diversion from the immediate fight for blacking action.

Indeed the Brent East CLP Labour conference resolution (endorsed by the strike committee though not discussed at conferences went further and actually conceded the argument of right wing union officials that blacking action is "illegal"

PROTEST

There is no point in bleating in protest to the Callaghan-Steel coalition government for socialist legislation.

The task now is twoioid: to mobilise full support for the mass picketing from October 17 and to mobilise blacking action and ensure full support for any section victimised by the law for such action as well as le be to breas the cent Lib-La: ces: arich On October , 700 people marched through Plaistow and East Ham in defence of Plaistow Maternity Hospital.

The rumour is now rife that the Area Health Authority plans to close the hospital by Christmasthough no official notice of a date has been given.

The work-in at the hospital continues and the workers' Action Committee is determined to keep the services provided functioning.

PICKETS

In the wake of the Hounslow aifair, a call is now going out for labour movement organisations in the area to provide pickets in the event of an attempt to remove equipment from the hospital.

A decision has also been taken to approach the unions of workers in the area who might well find themselves instructed to scab on the fight by taking away furniture and curting off supplies.

The fight now stands at the crossroads. The demonstratior ard other activities have shown ina: there is a wide basis oi support the Fast London Area where ruc hospitals have already been closed as 3 resuli oi the government's spending cuts.

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SOCIALIST PRESS. Heanesdas IS October 19"Page 1l production targets were reached.

*Pay parity for all 34 plants be achieved by November 1979 five stages, providing rises can financed by higher production.

This clearly means acceptance of corporate bargaining. But Lowr