at last, after more than two months, given recognition to the strike of 83 Asian workers at Coventry Art Castings, Nuneaton. The management was informed on 2 February that the rest of the workers would be called out within seven days.
management attempts to break the union in the factory. The strike began on 10 December after a worker in the die-casting shop was sacked for not working fast enough. This shop was operating an overtime ban at the time, in pursuit of a wage claim, and the workers took the view that this was an attempt to intimidate Despite the lack of solidarity shown by other workers in the plant, support for the Asians has been growing steadily in the local I February the Art Castings workers were -Joined by striking workers from the Southall Textile factory, which has been out for ten weeks, representatives from the Stirling Metal Tactory, and Coventry busmen who are operating a work to rule over non-payment of The dispute is part of a long struggle spainst New Year's Day earnings.
TASS members in the Alvis factory in Coventry have succeeded in getting Art Castings products blacked, and now that the strike is official such action should be widely extended.
This outside solidarity worried the manageDeny, cocciany when suresuled in mass pickets heing formed. On 27 January a mass picket was attacked by police, and four members of the local trade union action committee were arrested. The four were, Jack Sprung, a unprovoked and violent attack. well-known local militant, his two sons, and Gwyn Jones, Coventry IMG and CATT member. Trade union officials present protested to the police at what they said was a quite This attack was only the tip of the iceberg. The Asians have suffered constant harassment, including demands to produce their passports, and threats of arrest as illegal immigrants.
There can he little doubt that without the solidarity of local militants, the combination of managemeat victimisation, police harassment, and delay by the foot-shuffling T&G bureaucracy would have broken this important struggle, which confirms the power of picketing.
It is the attack on this right which has put the Shrewsbury 3 in jail, and is the basis of the charges against the four Art Castings action Support committee in Haringey? Haringey Trades Council is to consider the setting up of a support committee for the miners, following a puhlic meeting on the strugale against the Twics Held by the Trades Council on 31 January. A resolution to this effect was moved by IMG member Val Graham, who is assistant secretary of Haringey NUT. and was en thesiastically supported by the one hundred trade unionists proscal.
Man Tattam, regional organier of UCATT, speaking on the Shiewsbury 3, said: "Take away the picker Eine and the strike is impotent, that's what the Shrews bary 3 is all about. Joe Burke, Kent NUM President, speaking on the witch hunt against the miners, said *When we go out on strike in Fobruary the miners wil be carrying a burden for the entire working class and we will never have beea prouder?
Police raid London squatters Early on Wednesday morning two houses in Elgin Avenue occupied by squatters were raided by police, The raid involved members of the Special Patrol Group, the Specinl Branch and CID. They claimed to be investigat