workers for union recognition and improved pay and conditions at Kigass works in Leamington brought excellent Lets ganised ay ase picket organised Coventry West District Committee the engineering union, AUEW supported by Was trade unionists including representatives of the Rolls Royce Joint Shop Stewards Committee and shop stewards trom the Talbot car factory. in Coventry.
display of solidarity caused the boss, to rush about taking a and tape recording of pickets trying to prevent about ten scab workers entering the plant.
During the week, trade union support has increased with blacking of Kigass products, workplace colechons and recua visits to the picket line. AUEW SIOU stewards Automotive Products Have decided to hold weekly collection which has already raised f400.
Total donations from the labour movement the strike fund now top £1000.
THE HIGH POINT of the Scottish TUC at its annual meeting last week was its decision to back solidarity with Solidarnosc, the independent Polish trade union, and reject right wing attempts to ban contacts with East European trade unions in protest against the military regime.
discussions on the fight against the Tebbit Bill, nuclear women's rights and the Scottish Assembly The STUC is different the British in that about 1.00 of the 580 delegates are elected from Trades Councils, who, being more closely in touch with the rank and file of the labour movement tend become minority conterence.
The leadership of the STUC continues to reflect the close political relationship between the Communist Party and the Labour Party left. The platform therefore generally gets its own way, using the block vote and getting remitted anything which it doesn't feel contident in winning.
Torv attacks the unions through the Tebbit Bill attracted the greatest number, of resolutions and followed STUC conference earlier in month of 2,200 shop stewards and onel ficials which launched campaign against the Bill.
Accordingly, the STUC went somewhat further than the TUC plan of (in) action adopted in early April. Thus, although it did not make any calls for action, it did all for the withdrawal of union representation from tripartite industrial bodies mand to withdraw from all DOCTO the government).
Miners' leader, Mick MiCiahey again warned the Coal Board that if they bring unionist into the industry that will be their full manand Warwick has support the local In response to this support Wardman has offered an extra f8 per week, still f9 less than the emplovers Federation standards rate. The strikers have responaed by demanding union recognition and living The Equal OpportCommission has now approached the after Hallasculicill LUll plaints of discrimination the women workers.
The women, who joined the AUEW in the last are now involved in their second strike within two months and this time they are determined to win. The AUEW has made the strike official and has attempted black the firm's products, which are made on sub-contract basis for Fords and Rolls Royce, amongst others.
The women have a list major callas cluding wages, health and and canteen salCly facilities. Current Take home pay ranges from £32 Polish In addition the STUC took major policy incomes policy, *agitation anu aggressive action'.
Bob Gillense of the print union, SOGAT, said that not everv union was as close knit as the Scottish milets. but Mr McGahey was right, that all should be getting ready to involve their members in industrial action against the legislation. One of the big let for next Labour government is the attitude of the unions incomes policy. The STUC left no doubt about its position.
The motion opposing all forms of incomes policy and supporting high wages was overwhelmingly supported with some vigorous right wing leaders.
They were slammed for 'audacity' "arrogance' and 'divisiveness' for trying to drag incomes policy back onto the labour movement's agenda.
Particularly attacked was Weighell of the railworkers union.
One delegate said: 'It is a disgrace that some peobie are Dosinvey pleading for unity are at the same time saddle us again with pay and when workers are suffering the worst onslaught they have ever faced. the Tories.
Mortimer, gerferal secretary. appealed for unity around a four point campaig! WIlICE could win the next general the firm member of the Engineering Employers' Federation it doesn't pay the Federa rate of £69 per week tion and is refusing give recognition rights to the None of the women had ever been on strike these two strikes and have background of union activities. They have quickly organised effective picketing during the day, a strike committee and strike fund.
significant in many ways: the owner nas record of anti-trade unloisi, Havine lousal d and bitter with members of ASTMS and TASS at another of his factories years ago. Secondly, it is very noticeable that the strikers are all women and every day about 12 skilled male workers cross the picket line, showing that women can be at the forefront of trade union fights, as has been shown at Lee Jeans and Plessey.
Messages support ano donations Mrs ₺ stan ford, Helens Road, Leamington Spa, Warks.
These were the alternative economic policy; the repeal of the Tebbit trade union rights; 'left the snackies Market's Treaty of Rome;
_lucical The National Union of Mineworkers remitted a motion criticising the current investigation of left groups within The motion had condemned 'witch-hunts' as a Europe, affiliation to the World Disarmament Campaign and backing scottish local authorities declaring nuclear-free It will oppose with 'utmost vigour a NATO base Stornoway, Isle OI Lewis.
The fight for was a key issue at the STUC, with an excellent policy statement on positive action proposed by NALGO being adopted.
Although the fight that had been going on for Many years get scals reserved for women on the general council was tinall successful this was undermined bythe machinations of the transport union and the general workers union chairperson of the Scottish Womens TUC, one of the most prominent and consistent fighters for women's rights All in all, the 1982 STUC reflected most of the key issues affecting the British labour movement international duestions o working class solidarity:
union rights; the need for women's rights; and the neea lor an answer nuclear madness.
----- pull-quotes -----
STRIAN None of the Kigass women have been on strike before
conference organised by Coventry Trades Council