Although in the long period of full employment the bosses have preferred to work through the right wing trade union leaders rather” ose trade unionism as such, from time to time certain capitalist firms show their true colours. There are now three strikes in process against such types.
The first is in Manchester. The long-established firm of Cohen and ‘mser was recently taken over by Rest Assured Ltd. The 100 workers, membes of the N.U.F.T.0. had been on short time for two years. Shortly after the take over, 14 of the workers were threatened with the sack, they included: all but one of the shop committee, former members o1 the committee and other militants, Declining the offei to pay the 'redundant' men £80 each compensation, the workers went on strike, June 27;
The two other strikes are both in the engineering trade. Shortly after 14 out of the 23 workers at Benton ing. Co., Harold Hill J3ssex joined the A.3.U.,a the shop steward they elected was sacked at a minutes notice. The workers most of them under 18 ,are now on official strike. Strictly speaking, in Letchworth we have a lock-out at the Letchyorth Plating & Printing Co., the firm,which employs 40 incl-uding many relatives of the managepent,called in the police to evict 27 union members who staged a sit-down demonstration after three shop stewards they had elected. were Given one hour's notice. The manager,who had put up a notice saying that under no circumstance would he recognise or negotiate with a union, threatened with immediate sack anyone who tried to persuade others to join a union.
These three cases are a foretaste of what is to come, as increasing com petition puts more and more pressure on the smaller firms. It also shows how even 3n theese kind of Ffirmatha wamlrana awn hawiuntn— t- 4-%- - 47°! . Le