Officials Stab Strikers

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A new low was hit last week in the 66 weeks of bureaucratic betrayal in the Grunwick dispute.

Four strike committee members who had staged a hunger strike outside TUC headquarters demanding action to cut off essential services to the factory heard that the TUC General Council had yet again voted to ignore their appeal and to refuse any action in support of the strike.

Suspended Meanwhile, APEX leaders suspended the hunger strikers from the union for four weeks and stopped their strike pay for what APEX deputy general secretary branded:

"A self-defeating course of action designed to embarass This scandalous action by APEX bureaucrats was backed up by a series of insults from other TUC leaders.

Len Murray, assured the hunger strikers that no action would be taken, despite the iorm of words unanimously adopted at September's TUC He then asked why they did not clear off the TUC's steps and stage their hunger strike outside the Grunwick factory, where it would be "more appropriate" and where presumably. TUC leaders and Ward could each calmly watch the hunger strikers starve to death.

"We've done all we can" = lied Murray. 'We've done our best." admitted Stalinist Ken Gill.

Confrontation The fact is that the TUC have done their best to sabotage and derail the dispute, to isolate the strikers and to avoid the confrontation with the courts that is necessary to ensure blacking action to shut down the Grunwick operation.

A recent strike committee bulletin pointed out:

"After 65 weeks of historic struggle, we have been told that no official action will be taken to cut off essential services • . . our hunger strike was a desperate Last-minute appeal to those •ho hare the power to end this dispute to use it."

The TUC is the right tage: for the hunger strikers.

B:: as the vigil came to an =: * = astonishing and =*:: = rashake with _smeero st tha C.PN Murray arch-scab Len Murray there is a danger that the fight against these bureaucrats will be relaxed.

The TUC has the power to shut off supplies. They could mobilise millions of rank and file trade unionists to do the job.

These workers PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report alerted to the treachery of their leaders.

Mass lobby A mass lobby calling on all those thousands who regularly attend Grunwick mass pickets must be called to confront the TUC General Council early in the New Year. This would be of far more valuę than yet another mass picket.

This should centre round a national petition demanding the union leaders challenge the courts and black all services.

Every union leader, official, Trades Council delegate and shop steward should be approached and asked to sign. Lobbies of union committees should demand official support for the petition.

Pressed for Left talkers like Arthur wherever they go.

The strike committee has said that they will now "seek unofficial action" and:

"Call on trade unionists everywhere to protest against the savage act of censorship that was the suspension of the hunger strikers and two officials of the strike committee".

This fight must be stepped up in every union. As other sections of workers are coming into sharp conflict with the pay policy, the Grunwick betrayal 1s Just a part of TUC attacks on every worker.

Prominent on last Wednesday's 200-strong picket were Rolls Royce pay strikers from nearby Willesden.

Strikers from Grunwick, Rolls Royce and local fire stations should be fighting now to set up a local Council of Action, with a view to mobilising other sections of workers on their own claims.

Confidence

Such action can maintain the confidence of the strikers and where possible might achieve unofficial blacking action.

Full daytime picketing must be resumed in place of the current 2-3 hours each morning. TUC leaders must be made to see that the strikers are determined to win, despite 66 weeks of With only two days to go to the end of the month we are still £35.85 short of our £600 target. Every effort must be made not only to raise the outstanding amount but to go as much over the top as possible.

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