The workers occupying the Strachan's Engineering factory at Eastlast Friday (19 April) by police acting in consultation with the management.
leave, no-one was allowed in. The by getting most of the next shift in However at 5.30 am on Friday morning the police broke through the canteen window, and entered the factory. the phones were cut off just before the police operstion, and that the development of support from local resistance much more difficule.
Barcroe, who shandoned their own workers. leigh near Southampton were evicted The police had cordoned off the area of the factory the previous day. and although they allowed people to workers were able to break this seige over the fence to relieve those inside.
LEFT PEACEFULLY* The occupying workers were outnumbered by police and bailiffs, and in line with an Occupetion Comnittee decision left peacefully. The fact that trade unionists had been slow, made policies.
As it was. the only support came from the workers at Marsball Richard packet line and joined the Strachan's All bough the eviction is a ser back, the fight is far from over. The men immediately sel up a 24hour picket outside the factory and have lost nose of their mehens TOTAL BLACKING It is not yet clear whether the managenient have sold the factory, or are preparing to move the equipment. and set up elsewhere. For the time being the place is in the hands of Burns International Security. If production does start again, only a total blacking of Strachan's products will give the pickets any chance of getting their jobs back The Jomt Union Committee is organising a national speaking tour to win the maximum support for mass picketing at che factory. One way to broaden support would be for May Day activities in the Southampton uren to centre on Strachan's. This would certainly be mote useful than to have some bureaucrat peddling the Labour Government's Support for the Strachan's workers is vital. This company has shown complete contempt for the livelihouds of 600 workers; and the police, assisted by the Special Branch, have tried forcefully to bring to an end Police move in on Friday morning outnumbered workers left peacefully their fight to save their jobs. The labour movement must show that it car meei such threats by building massive support for the workers on the picket lirie Fied Weekly 25 April 1974 Page 3
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