Victimised steward, Alan Thornett The fight to reinstate victimised shop steward Alan Thomett at BLMC Cowley continues. But it only hangs by a thread.
The press and TV have launched an unprecedented campaign against Thornett. Lies, slanders, and personal vilification have poured forth. The alm has been to provide a focus of anti-unionism for every right-winger, scab and hostile housewife.
Despite this barrage, the 150 drivers in the transport section have fought to defend their right to elect their own shop steward.
ISOLATION
Inevitably they are feeling their isolation, Each meeting shows a. decline in support for continuing the strike. The company, anxious to take advantage of this, opened the plantby using a handful of scab labour. This was aimed at increasing the drivers" isolation.
The tactics of the management are, however, proving very costly. Production has never reached 50 per cent. No new supplies are entering the plant, Now BLMC Is again threatening a lock-out, as from Tuesday. if the drivers do not return to work.
The most demoraling and treachcrous role of all has been played by 'How a storm ended in a teacup the T&GWU national and regional and clear cut case of victimisation that official support should have been granted immediately. The management would have been forced against the wall as the plant ground to a halt.
But the T&GWU regional office has deliberately stalled, This has put further pressure on the strikers, and increased both the sense of isolation and fears of more victimisations.
THE KNIFE No. 5 Region, has now moved to put in the knife. Banking on the fact that many workers hold Thornett personally responsible for their being laidoff without pay, he has pulled a 'clever' stroke.
Mathers has said that he will make the strike official. This is, however, conditional on the call for official backing coming from an emergency mass branch meeting. The meeting will be attended by all those laidoff, as well as the striking drivers.
Mathers clearly expects Thornett to be defeated, enabling him to use This would then give BIMC the chance to threaten drivers still striking with the sack, claiming that their dispute was unollicial. officials. Thornett's is such an obvious ed to Monday's meeting a return to work pending the outcome of the special branch meeting. If the vote for trade union organisation in the factory.
A vote in favour of Thornett means that the strike would go on with the workers expecting official recognition and there will be a real Brian Mathers, secretary of T&GWU alone in expecting a deteat, The com.
pany has now issued a "promise to protect any blackleg from intimidation". Encouraged by the union's atWing the right of the workers to elect that attuck against the closed shop.
to act decisively, there is a developing mood in the workforce for the defence of trade unionism. Mrs Miller's motley mob, even with the the vote as an excuse to end the fight. is rapidly losing support. An initsal two to three hundred bousewives. has dwindled to around 20.
At the same time a group of women trade unionists and Cowley As a result, Thomett recommendis lost this will constitute a big defeat chance of winning his reinstatement.
The T&GWU bureaucracy is not titude, management is not only attack-pany continues with its intention to their own stewards, but is extending MILITANT WOMEN shop Despite the company's increasing pressure and the failure of the union assistance of a plethors of publicity, faced silence. Scab cheer-leader, Mrs Miller wives have put out leaflets in defence of Thornett and the union.
There is every indication that they are gaining support, and women from London, including militant nurses, have rallied to their support. There is every chance that Mrs Miller could now be outvoted at one of her so-called housewives" meetings.
BIG VOTE Agrinst this background the comimpose massive speed-up. The fruits bi the workers brief but costly flirtation with management may soon be gathered. A defeat can lead to a sweat- himself, bur has never shown to any Some workers are beginning to realise what is happening. On Monday over two hundred turned up to the 5/55 branch meeting. Many of them had come to attack Thornett.
However, after hearing the facts of the case he was given an absolutely overwhelming vote of confidence.
The leaders of the anti-Thornett fusions campaign were forced into a shame-