The strikers at Grunwick in Willesden have been out for over five weeks. The overwhelming majority of workers [both inside and out] are now in the clerical workers' union, APEX. But still management refuse even to negotiate → never mind recognise the union, which is the strikers' basic demand.
Two weeks ago the treasurer of the strike committee, Mrs. Desai, received injuries to her foot after being run over by one of the directors. The police, who are present all the time, felt unable to take any action, although a week later they did feel up to arresting one of the strikers -Bhimji Patel — for obstruction. This has seen as a clear provocative act by DECI both the strikers and the whole labour movement in the area. A director has also told a number of strikers that they have been blacklisted.
But despite all these problems, morale remains high among the strikers, who are in the main Asian workers with little or no previous experience of trade union activity. Daily mass meetings; tightening up on gaps in the blacking; going round local factories collecting money; keeping the pickets going, sometimes until 10.30pm - all this and more has been learnt very quickly by the strikers. Indeed, a number of important lessons can already be drawn from this action:
1. Approximately half the strikers are - women, and it has been understood from the beginning that they must play - and indeed have played — as full a role as the men. There are still problems, of course, but what is important is that they are discussed on the strike committee and at 2. It is essential that this strike is not so sted Trom cine movement. Where sections of workers who are traditionally weak and unorganised are prepared to struggle, it is the responsibility of all trade unionists to give their utmost support to them. Otherwise employers continue to use these divisions to smash all attempts at organisation [this is the eighth attempt in ten years to form a union at Grunwick - the other seven were rapidly smashed].
3. The activity of Brent Trades Council is also a lesson for other trades councils. Iney nave given consistent support right from the beginning, both to the strikers directly and in organising solidarity with the local labour movement in the area. They have also co-ordinated between the strikers, APEX and the local factories.
This Friday, 1 October, the strikers are holding another demonstration. It starts at 12.30 from the Cobbold Road factory, rest of the labour