The fate of the strike at Footprint either preparation for a district strike, Too in Sheffield, which began in June over the sacking of an AUEW steward, will probably be decided engineering shop stewards quarterly meeting this Thursday. As reported in last week's Red Weekly the turning point in the strike was a mass picket at which the AUEW District Secretary and the sacked steward, along with six others, were arrested. This provocation by the Police (with the help of the Special Patrol Group) was clearly intended to undermine the confidence of the strikers in the organised strength of the Union, and its ability to carry out effective picketing. A defcat ar Footprints will seriously weaken the chances of an effective offensive in the area over the engineering pay claim.
At James Neill, a factory where as many as 100 workers have been mobilised during work hours for the picket line at Footprints, the management have suspended 16 workers. with the result that two thirds of the factory is now on strike. This has important cacalation in support for Footprint.
DISTRICT STRIKE Two possibilities confront the Union, JIM WILSON Red Weekly 5 October 1973 Page B to unite the union and provide the forces for a picket capable of closing down the factory: or a de escalation of the struggle in defence of the Footprint strikers, and a face-saving mobilisation over the forthcoming trials. The District Committee seems to be mowng in the second direction. As publicity in preparation for the frial George Caborn the District Sec retary, has been trying to establish the respectability of the picketing. Al a mass picket held a week after the arrests, local dignitaries including the Watch Committee were invited to observe, and Cabor substituted for the police in ensuring a peaceful and ineffective picket.
The strike committee at Footprint, a number of union branches, and the the shop stewards at Bone Cravens (a leading factory in the area) have all come out in favour of a district STEEL At this Thursday's meeting D.C will advocate a one-off show of force centred on the trial, but whatever mobiliation is called, it must be organised as part of the preparation for a district strike, which alone can ensure the victory of the Footprint strikers, and give the union confidence for the coming battles.
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