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Boilermakers at James Engineering, Sheffield, are still picketing the factory in a dispute that began on September 20 when management sacked three painters for refusing to work in dangerous fumes.

23 workers took strike action in defence of the by Boilermakers the claim official Nuttall that the strike is official, they are receiving no strike pay.

Nuttall claimed that this would mean they would lose Social Security money!

Meanwhile his main activity on the strike has been to rush around Sheffield seeking alternative jobs for the strikers-in a move that has cut the numbers still out to ten.

The fight for strike pay in this dispute must be taken up at once by local trade unionists. LOWER PAIT LONDON METRORO those still on strike at the Metropole who for six weeks have borne the brunt of the collective attacks of both union and management.

These workers must not be allowed to be crushed. The 1/524 and the 5/670 branches of the TGWU showed the way last week pledging not only full financial support and support for the picket line but also sending : a resolution to the Executive Committee demanding that official support be given to any section of the TGWU in the industry taking action in support of the £50 claim.

This lead must be followed by all TGWU and GMWU branches.

The right wing TGWU leadership of BLMC's Cowley Body Plant confronted problems at last week's Branch meeting for the biennial elections.

The leadership had managed to regain a certain amount of credibility by campaigning against the company's corporate bargaining proposals.

This had culminated in a mass meeting, reluctantly held, but utilised by the right wing in a bid to regain support.

Under these conditions it was not surprising that convenor Bill Roche JP was reelected with about 200 votes, against 45 votes for Tony Richardson.

Richardson had stood on a position of opposing "participation', , opposing corporate bargaining, and opposition to the leadership's abandonment of the branch's pay claim for £100 per week and a cost-of-living clause.

Howard Lloyd received votes against around 200 for Reverend T. Williamson in the fight for the chairman's position, and Charlie Train won 44 votes against 200 for Alec Morton JP as vice-chairman.

In the struggle for night shift senior steward a runoff election was held between the top contenders-Stalinist C. Syrett and opposer W. Hillier.

Hillier had refused to fight the policies of the leadership -in fact a number of his supporters voted for the right wing for other positions.

Nevertheless Hillier was seen as an opposition to the existing i leadership, and seemed to offer an easier option than voting for the principled candidates.

He won 129 votes against Syrett's 130.

As the demand for a recount was immediately made, the opportunist relationship between the Stalinists and the right wing was displayed. Worker-priest Williamson refused a recount, causing a storm of protest.

Hillier led many of his supporters out in disgust.

Cashing in on this, the right wing felt able propose the calling of a special meeting of TGWU senior stewards in Leyland and withdrawal from "participation'-knowing that the stewards would vote it down.

But they opposed a motion that the Body Plant branch itself withdraw from £1.10 $2.20 LS.50 10.00 issues. I enclose f.

ialist Press, 31, Dartmo London NW5 1HR

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