Their management who 'ean tafford ecual pay' - are part of the Coates Paton textile giant. It wasthe annual returns of Coates Paton which caught their atten - from 236 million to 176 tillion. This is also the multisational firm which has Souch African investment and controls large sections of the British knitand Ladybird.
The Financial Editor of the Scotsman had something to say about the profits. He concluded that 'the omens are good'. The women on the 24-hour picket line hink otherwise. "good omens' they are interested in are ed about the demand they raised for equal pay as far back as December 1975. Since then they between skilled women's rates of puty inskilled At the Last week there were about 400 workers in East Kilbride who gave more than a passing glance to the financial pages of the daily paper. These were the strikers at Laird Portch, now out for five weeks to win equal pay.
factory. ma workersare pasd 2l over the minimum rate while women receive Il above it each The latest moves of management make full use of the loopholes and inadequacies of the Equal Pay Ighlaton, because men ano women do different jobs in the factory, no direct comparison can be made as in the Act. The job evaluation scheme — an option in the Act — which would place the women in a more skilled section of work. somerhing which would support their claim for at Tess cous may with the men The Company makes no attempt to deny that equal pay does not exist. In a letter sent out lo every striker on Wednesday 18 May, management states that while:".. it is true that there are one or two male workers whose pay is IN to £10 per week above the basic rates Jor ставіс орстися висас са have no opportunity to earn piece pay is below the earnings of women."
The false comparison of basic rates and overall earnings is compounded by the misleading assercannot be carried out under che current pay policy. The lette recently had lengthy discussions with equal pay experts from the Department of Empioyment. 1LS now absolutely clear to us that we cannot possibly pay any further increases under the pay policy. Equally, it would be impossible to give equal pay increase to hund. reds of women simely by comparing their jobs with one or two The strikers are particularly wulnerabletothiskindofattack by management because of the con rinune failure of the Governmichi to ensure that every worker is ambar with toe lerms or the legislation. The real reason management will not concede is that labour for years company has dock and dispute.
movement of goods.
Kilhride.
Intera mass The post-natal Bryant Ward of the Walr hospital.
eir cosy telations wish tai orkers' amon officinis ha enabled the whole knitwear industry to employ sweatshop female The rules of the NUTGW help this cosy relationship along. They state that before a strike is declared official, a two thirds majority of the workforce must be ballotted while work is still going an in the factory. Hur where there are large stockpiles of cut cloth -as there are in East Kilbride -the rosement time to shite to prepare lot a lon As it is, the mala reasor for a 24 hour picker is to stop With both the bosses and the union leaders to fight against, support is urgently needed if the strike is to be successful. Write to: Strike Committee, c/a Ellen Nicklin, 153 Leeward Circle, East • John Howard, one of the divisional ful-timers for lhe hacking the Laind Portch strikers, NICETIN workers on Monday thar the ride impport rolled in. He atated that the decision of management 10 STATURE TAUNTERERUTAE strikers was an indication char they were beginning to Jeer the pinch.
The meeting decided upon a mass meeting on Sarunday or the Town Holl. Local MPs will te Milne, Secretary of the Scarrish TUC, or the platform. The meeting will hear the results of two meetings scheduled this week. The Department of Employmen will be the trike committee, Und secon b. the management Solidarity and assistance is being vigorownly organised throughout Glagow by the women's mone ment, the SW'P and the SSL. Over 1200 was collected on the weekend through the orginisation of pickens or the fine's ouriers, Including Jaegers and Cownry Casuals. This is the kind of solidarity nha needs to be raken up throughout the country