THE article of N 'Ndabeni on 'South Africa's republic day' (11 June) was wrong to assert that the Rowntree WULACIS al chocolate factory 'near Port Elizabeth' are strike 'demanding pay increases and better conditions'.
There is a dispute at the Wilson Rowntree plant, which is in was n February nearly black of the South African Allied Workers' Union (SAAWU) were locked out. They have since been replaced newlyrecruited labour.
SAAWU began organas. Until then the only the factory Workers'as the Sweet Union, iated to the whitecontrolled Trades Union Council of South Africa (TUCSA). By SAAWU had enrolled 753 out of 1,140 black workers.
The lockout followed the refusal by workers the toffee department to They macullie. previously been given writwithout permission. When they were Sacked a caes sympathetic LOOK Diace.
Management claimed that the workers had dismissed themselves by walking of ine Job. reality it was a welcome chance one dosses lo ur rid themselves of Inal ilau Maggie Thatcher died one day and with her neck of brass she thought that through those pearly gates that she was bound to pass. St. Peter slammed the gates tight shut, and stopped her with a grin, 'Now if I open up for you the devil i let in. 'And heaven is the home for souls, good deeds and kindly things, and Maggie, you have never earned a harp or angel's wings. 'Look how you stopped the children's milk, but don't you seem well-fed a fitter corpse I never saw for one who should be dead.' Socialist Challenge 25 June 1981 begun to stand up for the maioritv ot the worktorce Rowntree's admitted much when they said that ycals of SWU orcamusalon thev never had a dispute, whereas in five months SAAWU had Decl stoppages responsible and 45 for other disputes! ent company here in York given full backing to local management. It also analost lie trend by increasing stake in the South African operation from 53 per cent Most DCI multinationals prefer minority shareholders: that way they can reap all the profits from management contracts, supply of technology, still disclaim any responsibility for the Rowntree's is the big. gest employer in York and COCO branch organised a picket of the shareholders AGM which attracted concoverage the local media. We are now issuing a challenge to Rowntree's management take part in a pudic debate on the question.
The local trades coun cil has given its backing to plans for a public meeting and we are actively I trying to build support among activists in the factory. The majority unions involved at the factorv have sent messages of support to SAAWU. TONY SOUTHALL, York Maggie meets her match By Freddy Anderson perform sexual acts' (Daily Star, 16 June).
Horrific, and the sentence seems a bit lenient by most people's standards. But wait for it... the judge told the man that he took 'into account the fact that you lived for over two years and | reduce the sentence substantially on that account.' Whether think with this Challenge Mary Jacobs, London long jail sentences norrendous attack on nerseur.
In fact, papers like the Daily Star were more concerned with pointing out that the stigma of the would mean that the man could never return to his home town.
good that Socialist reports these kind of cases but let's have more in-depth reporting as to why they happen. Write to: Letters, Socialist Challenge, 328 Upper St, Lon. don N1 2XP. (tel 01-359 8180/9) riguis demand Stale in