possible for the T&G, but good enough for black Sean Geraghty (left) and other Times electricians. ocialist Challenge 14 January 1983 page 4.
tlement. workers? volved who had It ment Sandwell at 328 Upper St London N1 Hours - Mon, Tues, Sat 10-6; Wed 12-7; Thurs, Fri 11-7 and 137 Digbeth Birmingham B5 Hours - Mon-Sat 10-6 Closed Wed ON 4 JANUARY the first batch of 65 Raindi strikers returned to work. strike in Sandwell in the West Midlands had won union demands of the strikers and a minimum wage guarantee, but three victimised militants did return the rest.
The balance sheet of most of the militants inboth IWA members and the strikers themselves - was that this was the best deal that they could get from a ruthless employer such as Raindi, who was taken to court for HIC and garment union official this unionise this sweatshop.
was also the assessof members of the Tribune group who had consistently given support to the strikers on the picket line and through the local Labour Party.
The 12 week long led recognition, one of the central They were the whether or not the T&G did give the lead necessary to win this dispute right Line word go. Anc here we have to answer the negative. The problem with the T&G leadership in West Midlands, and was lustrated 1981 Ansell's strike, is that it consistently underestimates the militancy of its members when they move into action.
The advice given to this Asian workers' picket line was not to antagonise the police, ie. to He SCabs nto work. This inevitably after picketing to 30 of the WOrKER becoming demoralised and calling for a settlement as soon a possible.
The assumption was of the strikers, particularly strikers, would lead them to back away from any confrontation with the policy. But as of the solidest leaders COLIC the strike was SVIT Bashki Kaur, and everyone seems likely that a clearer even a decision to occupy the plant at an early in the dispute would have at the very least been given serious consideration by the strikers. But no such Testions came from the That the Asian comsplit right down the middle doubt. The entire compolarised. for and against Raindi or the strikers. Raindi sent OUI his relatives to fetch the scabs work. 100k adverts out in the local Never got shop keepers to reruse to serve labour councillors who supported the strike. and mobilised right-wing Halali Labour Part members to sign leaflets calling for a relurn to work.
Saw The packed strike com mittee clears saw that those who backed Raindi now had to be exposed the comwhole.
HILLY last meeting pledged to ensure that right-wing Asians would get their CUHC uppance in selection meetings in Dudley and Ladywood, where two of Raindi's friends hope to win support.
Such a polarisation called tor ar escalated militancy among strikers themselves precondition for forcing issue of Raindi's into the left/right divide in the labour movement whole. When Warley East Labour party was quested before Christmas to hold a demonstration in support the right-wing used the excuse that the strike committe should call for such an acLIOL first and then they would support it. The traditionally passive titude of the Labour Party to such disputes was made harder to challenge by the straight-jacket placed the pIcke by the
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sacrificial lambs who 'allowed' the rest, accor- ding to T&G official Don Marston, to get a set-