At Brooke Cylinder (formerly Jarrow Tubes) on Tyneside, the workforce of 36 have won an important victory in the fight against unemployment, in an ands where 40 workers are chasing every available job.
When the closure of the facion wa announced on 28 February, the workers Immediately occupied the plant - which had been closed in December 1974 with 280 redundancies and re-opened only last month with the present staffing level.
Faced with quick militant action and the support the occupation received from the local inhour movement, including placed 1s banner on a go be bu ce upation, the management of this subsid iary of Tube Investments were forced to capitulate.
Occupations have a vital role to play in the flant aminst unempioyment. Thes can prevent the movement of valuable machinery, give acons to the company' books for trade union inspection (which the workers at Brooke Cylinders demanded), and provide a militant focus from which to campaign for solidarity action I DO DOUT MOCHAE The workers at Brooke Cylinden are remaining on their guard, though. "We are pleased that we have achieved what we set out to do in the short ternt.
at the works. "But naturally, he added, *we only see this as round one.'