+ BER 2 _ 4, . _ 5 _ _ _ _ ' ‘ ' ' _ ._. in ,_,-' - . ' _ ,'- .1 : ¢- _- - - _1 __ _ ___ - *.-.§ ' _ . ....;..,, _ _, : -;', . .3?_ _ .2__ __ ’_1 I.V;_ _’-___:;;___-. ._ . ,. _ 2," _- - _ |_' 9‘ . _ 1_- -_ _ . _ _ _| - - < ‘ ‘t, ‘Q "1 _.._ . ‘-. <"_ _ ,_ - .?->1‘. >‘_| . .._. _ _, .- » _ " » .» - A . _.~ » . .‘ _ » . .' V ' _ Q ' _if’; '$~. - 1* ._ ' '.. ' ,.L-. 7 _ -A -_-_,- ' _. .- . - - _ _- 1: -1 - ’ . _ _ i . _ I‘ 1...: ’ » ' _;: - i . __ ,1 =._ . ‘Q __ , . J4‘ _ -_V . - __ . I ‘ ; . '-.- - ' H _- ' ' - ' - H. ' ‘ —' - » I,‘ " f ' ._ .-‘ _~ ‘ :1. _ .5 __ - _ I ‘I. Q P 1‘ . ' ' - ' I _ _* 3 . ' . " - - ' "L ' .¢ - _ - _ _ -_' . - . TILL The Contracts Ltd strikers are now in- to their fifth month of strike action over the company's refusal to recogni- se their union,the National Union of Tailor and Garment Workers. Since the last issue of the 'Synoica1ist' the strikers have taken a gigantic step forward in the form of rank and file organisation and action. The latest development of the strike has been the Managements rialence on a back to work deal negotiated through what they callra ‘works Committee’. This committee would be made up of ten workers representatives, two shop stewards and the management, the mana- gement would always hold a veto on the decisions of the committee. The management plan was to hold a bal- lot of strikers, scabs and management staff to elect the ten representatives Workers would have been given a blank sheet of paper and a one person one vote ballot taken. This would have the effect of taking any type of control of who was to sit on the workers side of the committee out of the hands of WORKERS ASSEMBLE FOR DAILY PICKET OUTSIDE CONTRACTS LTD the strikers. WHILE POLICE LOOK ON. Jane Kingsland, striking Shop Steward, said, "Why should we give a vote to the scabs they haven't got any grevances with the company". One of the major developments in the The Contracts Strike Committee called dispute was action taken by the strik- a mass meeting of all strikers on ers on January 16th when 5O strikers M CONTENTS January l th to discuss and take a OCCUPIED the Commercial Road factory. vote on whether to enter a ballot on Though the factory was only kept by CONTRACTS DISPUTE the Works Committee. Jane stated, "we had a secret ballot the workers for just over an hour, MINERS on whether to go for the ballot or to they were ejected after Management and MORRIS LOCK OUT carry on with strike action. We voted police smashed their way in, the acti- with a three to one majority to stay on had two main effects. 4 FIBRMAT STRIKE on strike and step up the action". Firstly the French Connection company 5 HEALTH SERVICE Since the vote on the l th the action had all thoughts that the strike was of the strikers has indeed been stepp- beginning to crack smashed and second- 6 HOUSING ed up and in the words of Jane has ly the strikers had their hopes of SILENTNIGHT UPDATE turned to that of ‘Guerrilla Warfare‘. victory greatly enhanced. Shops that sell French Connection Jane stated of the occupation, "we DUNNES DISPUTE goods such as Fenwicks and Lewis have are sick and tired of going through EDUCATION ACTION been picketted on a regular basis and the same old motions". many people turned away. One striker While the factory was occupied the LAW CENTRES said, "people shouldn't buy any strength of support for the strikers WHERE WE STAND French Connection goods so we obvious- was shown as word got out and the ly had to start picketting the shops". picket outside started to grow larger ii I with the presence of miners, unemploy- demonstration and rally in South ed, shipyard workers, trades council Sheilds. For more information on these delegates and many other workers. two events the strikers should be In conjunction with the stepping up of contacted as no date has of yet been EDITORIAL action by the strikers the fight has fixed. I been taken to the home ground of Pickets of the Contracts Ltd factory, and what it will Stephen Marks where at his offices in Commercial Road, South Sheilds, are bring, must surely London the strikers from South Sheilds mounted every morning from 7am onwards be a major concern have began to picket. support on these pickets is needed for all workers both employed Jane said, "if we got union recogniti- from all supporters. and unemployed. Over the next on and those sacked reinstated we Financial support to overcome the eleven months the working would be back tomorrow, but that isn't hardship and letters of support to people of this country face even on the managements agenda at the show the strikers they have not been moment". even more cut backs in Health, forgotten should be sent to:- Education and Social Security. The selling off of British Contracts Strike Committee, Gas and Water Authorities c/o N.U.S. Building, will mean yet a further 4, Coronation Street, I concentration of the wealth South Sheilds. of this country into the Tel: 2561428. hands of a minority. Plans for even more anti Trade Union Legislation and the new and oppresive Police CONTRACTS DISPUTE BLACKLIST Bill will be used to ensure that any real opposition to this governments policies NEWCASTLE (Eldon Square) are made a criminal act. The hierarchy of the Trade Mothercare. Union and labour movement Bainbridges. has shown itself to be Top Man. completely inaffective in Detroit. countering attacks such as Wallis. these on the working class. While the Labour Party has Lewis. Northumberland St. joined in the bickering JANE KINGSLAND: STRIKING SHOP STEWARD Fenwicks. about which group of rich Catalogue l. Clayton St. shareholders should control This fight is all about the basic Westland Helicopters the principle to belong to a trade union. House of Frazer (Binns) unemployment figures have Solidarity action is desperately requ- risen yet again and the ired of those that have any involveme- Middlesbrough. C.B.l. have this monthissued nt with the French Connection Company Hartlepool. a report predicting even or shops that sell French Connection .Darlington. more job losses in the goods. Sunderland. manufacturing industries. The National Union of Seamen blacked a South Shields. We now see hard won union shipment of clothes on January 14th Newcastle. rights, working conditions which were being imported from Taiwan and wa8e levels being but more widespread support is still If you know of any other outlets whittled away before out very needed. regionally and nationaly please eyes while bosses unions such Throughout the week, including on a let us know. as the E.E.P.T.U., A.U.E.W. Saturday, the strikers need support and the U.D.M. are allowed to on their pickets of shops that sell make sweetheart agreements French Connection goods, your help and no strike deals while the would be gratefully accepted! trade union movement looks on Two future plans of the strikers are The strikers have produced a in despair. It is quite clear to firstly hold mass pickets of two recognition cassette with 8 that many of these unions North East clothing companies who songs and is available for have the ultimate aim of have been taking on French Connection £1.50 from the address above. breaking away from the T.U.C goods and secondly to hold a mass and forming their own right wing trade union body. Only by organising at both rank and file and inter union grass root levels can we mount an effective opposition. The Teachers, Building workers and miners are now in the process of building such organisations. This must be extended throughout every industry and community. THE TIME TO ORGANISE IS NOW! P The 'Syndicalist' is produced on a shoestring. If you would like to see the continuation of this paper please send donations to; Tyneside Revolutionary Syndicalists, c/o D.O.H., 62, Thornton Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne. UNDE_ -riq, DIRECT MNAGElVIEN'f— -_ The U.K. could be reduced to a mere The Head of Industrial Relations 22 pits if the N.C.B. has its way. for the N.C.B. said that the U.D.M. had Only 22 pits are acceptable at present to get 60,000 members in order to be to the coal boards demand for product- financially andto make an impact on the at £38 per tonne. The rest, including Trade Union movement. the entire coalfields of Scotland, Dur- This is all in violation of the ham, Kent and South Wales, are regarded National Conciliation Scheme set up by the board as a "cancer in our midst". when the mines were nationalised. Some pits, like Bates in the Despite this conniving by the Blyth valley, are being used as "man- N.C.B. and the scabs to take control of power resevoirs" to supply the scab the mines, the T.U.C. finance and gen- claim that a third of the Yorkshire eral purposes committee has said that miners want to leave the N.U.M. stronghold A. of Nott's, as part of a pro cess of natural wastage. the T.U.C. must not support the N.U.M. But while the T.U.C. is taken in Other unacceptable pits will be in any campaign against the scab union. it is the N.C.B.