in Leicester remain confident of victory.
number of them has not led to a fascist menace The strikers at Imperial Typewriters The management's sacking of'a get more out. return to work they have over half the Asian workers supporting the strike, and confidently expect to is over.
They are also being supported by Asian shop stewards at other Leicester factories. Benny Bunsee, who is assisting the strikers, told the Leicester Mercury that: About 1,000 other T&GWU members from facto ries in Leicester are prepared to take industrial action in support of those STRIKERS' DEMANDS The strikers are demanding higher bonus payments, and an end to management cheating on the bonus scheme, an end to discrimination against Asians, a move lowards equal pay for women, and election of shop stewards.
The strikers insist that theirs is not a racial dispute, but a fight for trade union principles. They have rejected a proposed Race Relations Board enquicy atte the However, there is very little sapport tor the strike amoner white workerswho have benefitted from management discrunalen and there nas ceca a shameful attitude to the strike from the majority of the laboar movement in Leicester. The Descoster Trades Council. for instance, has refused on a tecticalis to hear a spokesman from the strike ROLE OF UNION Many people have consented on the stnko's similarities to that at Mansfield Hosiery Mills, and unfortunately the role of the Transport and General Workers® Union here has been very similar to that of the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers at Mansfield.
The T&G conference passed a splendid resolution apsinal racise: but the record of its local officiuls at Imperial stinks. The Discret Socretary Mr. George Bromley told the strikers that there was no question of making the strike officiat since they had not gone through the er disciplinary procedures. proper channels Bee he himsat has re fused to call i branch moeting until the atmospbone is cooler, i.c. weul the strike.
Rog Weaver, the convenior at Imperistwho has refused to accept nominations for Asians for shop steward post-told the Leicezter Mercury on 9 May that he woold be prepared to talk to anybody except Mr. N.C. Pacel, and Mr Hascukle Khetani [two of the strike leaders!, who he said had terminated their contracts and were no longer employed by the compuny Now that all the strikers hive boen snaked, Weever earl talk to them cilhi CALL FOR ENQUIRY When the strikers marched on the T&G offices on 17 May, Bromley advice was simple get bick to work. He told them that the vast majority made representations to the company but that there west be a consterabir mamber which the company will not pe engage under any circentanner SIE SHEISTES IT TONE BARISSI hureaucratic domination. At a special meeting of the 5/221 branch of tic T&G, called on 10 May despite Brocley's refusal to convene if officially, they decided that unless Bromicy and Weaver support their demands they will elect a comenttee al the nest branch meeting to enquire sate toe sabel The state of affairs in branch 5/221 mist be looked into by tho T&G, and 1010 003011311318131191 311 cect shop stewards must be goaranted. Other T&G branches must demand that this strike is mode allis and Car an coquiry be anached into the bebarjour of the local officials.
The strikers will be organising a lobby of Transpor: Fease in London, this Fuday (31 May) at 11 a.m, If the T&G does not act then the rewintion 1 passed at its last conference against racialism becomes a joke-and a joke in very had taste.
Andrew Jenkins Donations and mesiager of rup port to. Taperial Strike Conneltree, 42 Hunter Road, Leicester