The monotonous routine of the counter clerks at Willesden Labour Exchange erupted into chaos last Thursday when 200 workers from the Associated Automation factory staged an occupation in support of dure calm for unemployment benefit. The decision to occupy was taken at a muss meeting last week by 600 workers, mostly women, who have been locked out of the factory for a month now.
Despite repeated attempts to woefits, they have not recny. This is due to the ociated Automation, of the GEC empire, persuading : Department of Employment nazing, euse- that these workers are engaged in an industrial Espute and are therefore not eligible for benefit.
FACTS The facts of the matter are diffmit The minagement, annoyed that the production workforce had the anandy to work to rule in support of their claim for the 2 balace of a threshold payment witich management was withholding. out all the clock cards one stopping the employees from t in to work:
The Associated Automation plant has, in the past, been one of the poorest organised, in an area wiiere factories are thick on the ground and the local labour movement is Wrong However eighteen months ago the present convenor was elected and the fight began as the workers hit back against the GEC bosses who 19 December 1974 had exploited them for years.
So it was in militant mood that the workers converged on Harisden House Social Security offices bring ing with them miscellaneous children and dogs. After a few quick rounds of "Why are we waiting' and "We shall not be moved, the polic moved in. One or two of the police bully boys attempted to clear the occupation by trying to intimidate various individuals, Meanwhile a delegation of shop stewards demanded to see the Deparment of Employment manager who had rejected all claims for benenses. At turst, he refused to even meet the delegation. But after hours of persistence on the part of the shop stewards he was finally forced to listen to their demands. The best he could offer was a promise to reconsider their claim.
ANGER There was anger at the strikers mast meeling when it hecame apparent that the North London Distnet Committee of the AUEW was dragging its feet in this dispute. MeLaughlin, a leading full-time official of the union, did not even bother turing up at the mocting as promised, Angry questions were asked from the floor about why it had taken the District Committee a whole month to even begin thinking about instituting a district levy. "Well you see', explained a district official appingetically, "we have to get the permission of the Executive Commitee of the AUEW to hold a ballot for a lesy: and it's not their fault but they've had their hands full with this APEX thing at the headquarters, There positive action to be taken.
The Brent Trades Council has called for a demonstration on Friday 20 December in support of the workers in struggle at Hoovers, the were shouts from the Noor for more Sitting-in on the DHSS - locked-out workers from Associated Automation occupy Harlerden House.
neighbouring Rolls Royce workers who are in dispute, as well as the Associated Automation workers.
The Brent Working Womens Charter Campaign has put out a call to all Charter groups in London to support this demonstration, It will start from the Brent Trades Council Hall, 375 Willesden High Road. at 2.30pm.
Money and messages should be rushed to Brother A. Ford, 21 Star ley Park Drive, Wembley, Afiddx.
WITH MEN LIKE THIS TO RELY ON THE PATIENT