Nothing short of complete reinstate ment without loss of pay is being demanded for 13 scaffolders sacked last week for alleged restriction of outpur' at the Imperial London Contractors" site in Bedford Way, Lon don.
A call for strike action was narrowly defeated af a mass meeting of all the men on the site last Thursday. Nevertheless the majority of them did not cross the picket line mounted by the scaffolders on Monday morning. But the 25 or so who did have since been treated with loving care by the site Managoment. Each morning they have 'assembled in Russell Square, just down the road to hear the bosses thank them for their loyalty and offer them full pay even if they don't work the hours.
They have also been recommended elect a new works committee and site convenor. In fact it is the extremely efficient and democratic self-orginisation of the men, in which the scaffolders have been prominent, that bes behind the management's attacks. 'If we take these men back, the site manager told a T&GWU official, "we'll have nothing but probblems until the hotels are finished." HIT WHERE IT HURTS MOST This fight will only be won if the employers are hit where it hurts them Mike Farrell and Tony Canavan, the two members of People's Democracy held in Crumlin Road Jail, Belfast, ate continuing their hunger strike, so fur the authorities have not responded to their demand for political status Mike and Tony are still being heid in a basement cell for 23 hours every day, and the abuse and threats from the loyalists goes on.
After representations made to him by the Anti-Internment League, Stan Crane MP look up the case with Whitelaw's office, This led to a letter from Whitelaw's Private Secretary, calming that, I understand that these two men are being held in a wing of Belfast Prison which is not occupied by "Loyalist" prisoners (emphasis in original). The facts ure father different. Farrell and Canavan are in 'D' Wing: and it was through the roof of D' Wing that loyalist prisoners broke on 12 July to demonstrate their allegiance to the Protes tant ascendancy before the television and press cameras of the world, If Mike and Tony have to continue their hunger strike for much longer, the position will become very serious Indeed, The campaign on their behalf must be stepped up. A special statement giving the facts of the case has boen issued by the Anti-Internment League and can be obtained from Robin MacGovern c/o Red Weekiy SUBSCRIBE! most. So far the men have effectively shut down the site (with the help of two men permanently stationed at the top of the cranes), and are now picketing the five completed botels owned by the same company. All the residents now have to come and go by bus, as the taxi drivers have agreed to a complete boy cott. In return, the building workers have pledged their support for the cabhies" efforts to do away with their own version of the "Jump'- mini-cabs.
Approaches have also been made by the strike committee to the International Workers Branch of the T&GWU to get support from the hotel workers themseives, who know the meaning of Victimisation only too well.
It is this kind of practical solidarity. discussed and organised by a deniocraticaily elected strike committee, which the management fear most, On the other hand, a defeat for the strike would mean not just the sacking of 13 men but the end of effective organisation on the site, paving the way for the return of the lump' and further victimisations, This would have repercussions well beyond just the ILC site. That is why it B so urgent to maintain and extend the fighting solidarity which has already been won.
Nick Adams Court last week marked a step for. ward in the defence campaign for the he reappearing at Shrewsbury Crown opens there, probably in October. The trial at Mold was in many waysa test case in the use of the criminal the major Shrewsbury case. Although there were some minor charges of them were found guilty and fined between E15 and E50, the efforts of the prosecution were concentrated on proving the charges of causing an altray and intimidation. These were NO GUARANTEE the big ones, with the prosecution alleging that only the vaguest evidence was necessary to prove the charges, For instance, it was claimed that on the charge ol causing an altray, the prosecution had only to show that the accused were "present. adding to the numbers and encourag ing a show of force.
SCEPTICAL But the jury were understandably sceptical'aboul all this. After all, even Mr Maurice Drake, QC, for the prosecution had to admit in his summing up that, one element in the affray may be missing. I deny this but you may think it so. The jury had to weigh against the 'evidence of the prosecution the claims of the building workers that they had been conEarly morning patrol of hotel dining room by striking building workers.
The acquittal of eight building wor tinually harassed by police, that once kers on charges of causing an affray arrested they had been kept in the and intimidation at Mold Crown police station until they agreed to sign statements, that it was the police who had worked out the contents of Shrewsbury 24, Five of the eight will some of the statements, and so on And it was not one of the aceused Court when the case against the 24 but a prosecution witness, who told the court that his interrogation by the police had been like being in front of the Gestapo during the war" law against pickets, in preparation for As some of the accused told the court earlier, it was trade unionism which was on trial in Mold Crown damage to property, on which five of Court, And, despite all the efforts of the prosecution, it was trade unionism-and particularly the right to picket which emerged triumphant at the end of the day.
However, a single battle won is no guarantee of final victory. At chis very moment a Further trial is taking place at Mold in which two mare building workers face charges or untimidation during last year's strike.
And there is still the major test of strength to come at Shrewsbury. when the prosecution will be tempting to prove conspiracy with the help of no less than 250 witnesses, in a trial that may last tor as long as live months.
The need to build and extend the defence campaign is theretort urgent as ever. A priority must be the establishment of local defence committees which can organise and coordinate the activities of local trade union militants on this issuc. Photo: Eara Nathon (Red Weekly)
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PD men still on hunger strike