In addition to the Petrol men's guerilla strikes which have recoived widespread publicity, other wages disputes include a strike by 400 workers at the Pirellie rubber firm at Burton and a dispute involving 1,500 1 on at Jiarls Court, London. A whole number of disputes over conditions, ctc,are in progress: Welders at Drakelow Power tdions site, Glaziers at Grimsby, 670 hosiery workers at Luton and Pottery workérs at Ifiddlewich.
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port pledged to fight against Beeching cuts from a London corrdspondent
A packed meeting of South Paddington Labour Party on Sept:mber 4 heard the N.U.R. case outlined by a member .of its National ixecutive, Bro. Frank Lane of London Transport. Brother Lane explained the full effect of the Beeching cut, both on railway workers and on the travelling public. A number of those present, including N.U.R. members, were sharply critical of the N.U.R. ixecutive for participating in the closure of branch lines and in discussions with the B.T.C. wher in torms of compensation of dismissed workers, rather than all-out opposition to redundancy and sackings, represented a line of rotreat.
The discussion wich followed Lane's address drow the lessons of the reil nationalisation experiences The nced to socialise all of the commanding heighis, to plan the economy in a unified wey, to minimise or even rofuse componsation to former owners and shareholders and to push towards workers' control.
liany speakers referred to the possibility of a transport strike as the best means of fighting back against the Tories on this issue. The local party pledged itself to use its resources to the full, under the instructions of the local strike committee, should such a struggle arise. The just fight of the railwaymen will be raised at a series of street corner meetings which the party is planning over the autumn months. Derby vrotest against cuts by R. (Derby )
At its last meeting the Chaddesden Labour Party passed the following resolutions
"This meeting of the Chaddesden Labour Party, is appalled at the inev— itable effect of the present Government's lack of a co-ordinated Transport policy. The closing of British Railway Branch Lines increases existing transport problems by forcing both passengers and freight on to the roads that are not adequate for the flow of present day traffic. A further effect created by the closing of these lines, is the large scale redundancy in Operating Deparimonts and Railway Vorkshops which could have a disastrous result in railway centres like Derby.
"Te therefore call on all local authorities and organisations to protest to the Ilinistry of Transport against the destruction of the Railway Industry, an industry which can, if adequately planned, play an important part in the social and economic life of the country." second one-day strike at G.u.C. ( with, Kent )
On Friday the 14th, September, the second one-day strike took place at the Brith factory of General “lectric Company when 1,600 downed tools to prevent dismissals, As part of a rationalisation scheme, 200 omployees from various parts of the plant were going to be declared redundant. In order to prevent this union officials asked the management to put all workers on to a 34-hour week and keep all staff. The management have decided that this is not ‘practical! and consequ—ently the workers have decided to strike each Friday until they get satisiaction, British Oxygen strikers gO back after concession
Workers at the British Oxygen Company in Udmonton, North West London agreed yesterday to return to work following a recommendation from their shop stewards. On Friday, jugust 10. 200 workers were given notice by the management, there had been no consultation with the unions and the 1,500 workers struck.
The men returned on Wednesday, september 5th to enable a works confererence to take place but cameout again when the management refused to withdraw the notices. The notices have nowbeen suspended until Suoptember the 21st and negotiations are now taking place. liore redundancies announced
During the last week the following redundancies, shut-downs, etc havs been announced: at Luton, already hard hit by the Blue Vater affair, 150 workers at the Zlectrolux factory have been given notice 3 at liclton Mowbray, Leics., the Stanton Ironworks blast furnaces have been closed down one month early because so many of the 230 workers declared redundant left to get other jobss; at Blyth, llorthumberland, it is expected that 300 men willilose their jobs when the Blyth Dry Docks and Shipbuilding firm completes the last ship it has on orders; at the Vlorkington Iron and Steel Company workers are going from a 12 shift per week to a nine shift pew. systems; at Nottingham, lieridian have announced tho closure of their women's hose departments; and at liountsorreel Rolls Royce, it has been anou~ need that inspectors, welders and shect metal workers will soon be redundant.