AS THE OCCUPATION at Crosfield Electronics in North London enters its third week, the workforce are dig ging in for a long, hard struggle. Information received from the Department of Industry mukes it clear that it is not just 350 jobs which are at stake but 800 to 900, as De La Rue. the owners since August 1974, intend to transfer ail production to Westwood Instruments, Peterborough.
With unemployment steadily rising the struggle at Crosfields could bee ome a test case for the unions involted. Already the AUEW has circulated all its branches in the UK and all conveniors in the Lonton area, and the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and the Electrical Trades Union have promised to do the same.
But the workers have also suffered two sethacks, The first was the decis ion by the majority of women sacked to accept redundancy pay — 4 lump sum paid across the board with a 50 per cent bonus. This carries serious warnings for jutare struggler.
Many of the women accepted the money because of family commitments. Unless the unions begin now to campaign for the provision of stateFinanced, community-controlled nursery facilities and other ways of deal ing with the domestic jobs usually defined as "women's work" (cooking. washing, etc), then the strugele of the whole working class - women and men against redundaricies will be seriously weakened. The present situation at Crosfield's where the women who have not accepted redundancy pay simply come in on a daytime basis to cook for the menwill only reproduce these problems inside the factory instead of overcoming them:
Kie Qua ZLONDON Of equal concern is the decision of the office staff, organised in TASS, to break the picket line from Monday 7 April. Although it is hoped that TASS officials may persuade them to change their minds, their condemnation of all the actions taken by the AUEW so far is a blow - particularly as TASS is the white collar soction of the AUEW. Militants in TASS should make it a priority to get through motions condemning this decision and УССПРАТОЙ or THIN KEET DO No PeTERSEO Kare dur CROS CRI PiECE JOBS IN JUSSIN LOWBBA ether with close still employed by the company, are determined to make a fight of it.
viewed Bill Hayward, Press Officer to the Joint Shop Stewards Commiittee, who indicated that they might have been willing to accept voluntary redundancies and shorl time working Photo: CHRIS DAVIES (Report)
the occupation?
hour basis.
«СЕР management?
TON OUT takeover of Crosfields? giving full support to the occupation.
But the occupying workers, log be defended.
Late last week Red Weckly inter How many workers are taking part in Devepartment of Industry told us dut it There are 30 Til-tine in the Sting shop. which has been clased, and this number is increased at night by voluntoor fores frum other shaps. We have an offical picker to cross your picket lines. What will covering the occupied buildings on a 24 Some shops are still in production are you withholding goods from the There is one machine that they want to get to an exhibition either in Europe-or the UK. It's a new machinie and we'ne obviously holding onto the parts as a bar gaining took to demand the re-instatement they are out of the people left who are still under natice. We have seen ahe congony's order book an know that they have orders for another 40 machines of the old ope bat bajivacat bra year's work We are demanding that this work goes to the 30 men sitting in in the fitting mos What was behind the De La Rue hE August of last your Crasfield hitisell rajidly, so if you are made redundant sold out lock, stock and barrel for £6.1 milion. He pane watton assurances to al work cis that this would be a sate of money guard for jobs as a bigger company sould provide greater stability. Hut within schit months they have alosed dowa and socLion cumpletely add made 350 people rodundant. The Junior Minister at the But it is only on the basis of rejecting the right of the bosses to sack anyone and putting the whole cost of the cognonic crisis un the backs of the capitalist cluss that jobs can Rather than accept sackings and short-time, we abould be demanding a shorter working week for ail workers and lower retirement ages with no loss of pay. Broad support could be won for these class-wide demands. AFFECTS ALL WORKERS The Crosfield Joint Shop Stewards Commitlee has issued an appral N.19 3BD. was the company's intention to shift ail production to Peterbrough-whee thes have offered us preciscty ten jobs! Members of TASS are now threatening you do about this?
We think this is a disaster for the isembers and organisation of TASS. A1 From Morav 7 April, we will not be forcibly stapping them going into the building bur we will collect their names and they will be formally branched at their union meetings The outcome of that is obvious they broke a picket tine and How do you see your struggle developing?
We see our situation as part of the process of thie do-industrialisation of London as a whole. We are among the first to put up a fight against this and occapy a factory to demand the right to work. The de industri alisation of London is proceeding very there is no chance of happing across the road to get a job paying the saine sort We know it's going to be a long and hard struggle. We have circulated many trade unionists and we hoge that they will eive us ory support beause Lis on is in their interests as well.
which should win the support of every worker.
The picket outside our building will continue in support of those inside; we ask all to come and join the picket line. This importunt fight, which affects all workers, needs the fullest financial support from all our fellow workers. With the wholehearted involvement of our class, we can and will win this fight.
Donations and resolutions of supp ort should be sent to Crosfield Joint Shop Stewards Fund, cio Bill Hayward, 34 Dresden Roud, London
----- pull-quotes -----
WORKER BORNERS FIGHT LONDON TOKEEP TO KEEP THEIR
Interview with Bill Hayward Press Officer to the Joint Shop Stewards Committee