by Pat Jordam
The sixeweck old Raleigh strike of tool-room workers is polarising the various class forces, The strike committee have stated their case in a most unequivocal leaflet entitled: “Why Strike Over 25 Men?" — - "Our case by the A.E.U.". In this, the strikers meet many of tho argu= ments which have been used against the strike. Because it contained some criticisms of other unions, the Nottingham District Secretary of the A..U. issued a public statoment disassociating tho District Commi-~ ttee from the leaflet. He éven went to the extent of placing an advert in the paper to this effect, on the grounds that the text had not been authorised by the District Committee. Subsequontly he stated to the press that the District Committee would not disagree with contents of the leaflet.
Meoting Saturday morning the 450 mop.deygiyed in the stoppage called for a national two-day stoppage, a ban on overtime, a national appeal for financial support, and went on to condemn the Government on its policy of not paying unemployment pay or national assistance when people are laid off because a dispute concerns members of other unions. They adopted a resolution which stated: "This meeting of that our disptte and fight is not with the workers and other workers at Raloigh, but with the Raleigh management and Tube Investmonts." Another resolution condemned the Engineering Employers! Federation for not paying the 34-hour guaranteed week to those laid off.
The local papers have been converted into anti-strike sheets and have spared no effort to confuse and distort the arguments of the strikers. The borrage of anti-strike propaganda (plus it is said by some not unremunerative support by the Raleigh management) has resulted in the appearance of two anti-strike movements, Some wives of men laid off (the press claim sixty but cortainly not more than half that number attended the meeting) h.ve formed an anti-strike league. In addition, a Noner, a person called Jack Beasley, has attempted to form an antistrike movement from the men laid off, He managed to scrape together some 30-odd people to picket the Saturday morning meeting, Thus the gloves are off and all socialists and militants in Nottingham and for that matter other parts of the country will be put to the test by what attitude they take to this struggle. The address of the Strike Fund
LABOUR PARTY MOVE ON RALEIGH STRIKE: At the February meeting of Clifton Yard Labour Party the issuo of workers not directly involed in the strike but laid off, not being able to sign on for dole was discussed. This issue aroused a great deal of feeling and tho meeting resolved: to call @ special meeting to discuss the strikes; to ask A. Greenwood to address the meeting; and to express disgust at the Tory legislation which stops workers fiom drawing the dole when laid off,