14% pay fight

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White collar workers at Shell Mex tanker depots sent on strike last week over a claim for a 14½% across-the-board increase.

iren non-unionised staff ¿ime out in a 100% response. Management had offered te ween 10% for the lower Eides and 18% for the bighest grade, but this had rs: succeeded in splitting the " aforce.

The tanker drivers' Committee met and that picket lines respected in spite of managen ent threats of • chancinn However, confusion reigned about whether the strike was to be made official. Of the two unions involved, ASTMS said it was official, but did nothing, while ACTSS said it was unofficial but made preliminary moves to arrange strike pay.

In that confused Situation some depots have returned to work whereas others are still on strike.

What is needed to win the dispute is above all an effective national rank and file leadership, politically equipped to counter the demoralisation and confusion spread by the full time affiriale the raising of strike pay to f36.

To this end they picketed the Regional Committee meeting on Tuesday 2 May with a leaflet demanding support for these policies.

The Garners strikers had a float on the May Day march within the Region 1 TGWU contingent. On last year's demonstration the Grunwick strikers had a similar float following the Region 1 Committee; by their fight to mobilise the TGWU membership around policies that can win the strike but that conflict with the interests of the bureaucracy, the Garners strikers demonstrate their determination not to follow the same path of hetraval as the Grinwick etrikerc

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SOCIALIST After an excellent start the Special Fund has fallen back this week with only f32.50 arriving in the office in the last seven days, PRESS If we are going to reach the £2,000 target by the end of July we need to raise an average of £100 a week over the next three Readers and supporters who have pledged money to this fund should therefore begin sending this money in as soon as possible making a total to date of £745.27.

months. and fundraising activities should be plar in each area to make sure the full ami is raised in good time.

All readers and supporters are invite help in the raising of this fund whic intended to lay a sound financial basis a series of publications over the cor months by sending a donation to:

WSL Special Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR-

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strike shuts down Cowle