hardship for the families. ГТОВ woman's point of view, my first reaction was one of fear knowing what was going to happen or how long it will go on for. But my attitude is that we sufffer a bit now to get what we wan, nor just give up as times are hard.
Once we've claimed off the DHSS we'll have £36.95 to live on, with three kids to care for.
But I don't think that the men should even consider striking unless they are going to stay out until they win.
My started over a year ago when the mcu al Lanzicy wercae or joined the picket line then, which was demanding 80 per cent lay off pay - that's still part of the current claim.
We set up the Ford Langley Action Committee, but we ran into trouble almost straight away.
The union said it would kick Chal out anyone who was in body that wasn't part of the COOKSON [Socialis union. And as Langley closed shop that would have meant the sack. So then we had to so unacreroune There was an incident on the picket line then. I was up there with one or two of the men and the shop steward said I had to leave as I wasn't a Ford worker.
I said that I was and when he laughed and asked me where in the plant I worked | just polnica out unal 1 work al home, cooking, cleaning and working reay Ford, in my opinion.
At that time they tried to say that wasn t really ine wile or anyone working at Ford. They Bur some or te orner wives up there with a leaflet saying: 'Beware of SInC univers ity" wives on the picket line' COMMITTEE Alex got up union meeting and said that 1 was his wile, which put a stoo to that.
They were really scared by having even one wife up there. If masses of us women came JULIE ALEXANDER is determined that the wives of Ford workers should be actively supporting the strike.
The car bosses and the press barons are fond of playing on the hardship strikes cause to families. Julie is quite clear who causes the hardship in her family.
Bingley really ally Is a out and marched to Downing for Street in support of the strike then they'd De terrified.
You see. Ford government are hoping that the men will be forced back to work by the wives - it's happened want to set up a wives committee. I approached the stewards about it, but all they say is wait until next week. But I'm not interested in next week - there'll be no money by then.
There's no money now.
My hardest job is through to the men. approach the wives directly; 1 Assembly Plant don't know where they are. All 1 know is that thev are there absolutely behind all the men.
In our leaflets we say that and une wives are invited. We hope that the men will leave the leaflets lying around at home and the women will see inat There aren't many wives on the picket line at Langley. But I know that many of them are enthusiastic and supportne strike. 1 gave up my job when the strike started so l could devote all my time tc getting supporting the strike.
One of the problems is tha many of the workers at Langley Her husband, Alex, has worked on the assembly line at Langley in Buckinghamshire for 2½ years. Both are active in the Ford [UK] Workers Combine.
Julie spoke to JUDE WOODWARD.
they are of thing.
want They've still good here either.
him.
person's oenencary ChesT week sick pay.
And no management tacted him are Asian. A friend of ours, a veron and right chind the millant person in the strike, when I suggested to him that his wife came along he was quite shocked and said No.
He's Asian and he thinks that year we went to Amsterdam and met a Ford family. They get better wages -- which go up al the time lay off pay, better holidays.
there, like health and safety which is very bad. But it's not The Alex has been nearly killed twice at work. Once when an enormous truck tonnled ove off the line —almost on top of Six thousands pounds that's the value they put on a Elle in there nothing, and you only get it if the man signs the bit of paper saying his wife should be the Lots of them don't because they feel that it's a bit jinxed.
Lots of the women are really concerned about and safety. Ford doesn't care at all.
Many of the young men get infections and the management doesn't even try ana nina out why I know a bloke who's worked for Ford for 20 years and he's been off now for nine months dying of cancer. He gets f12 a one from Ford has even congetting on. That's gratitude for sce now nec Aid. you after 20 years work It's hard work at Ford. They blackmail you. If you don't do overtime when they ask you -because your wife's just had a baby or something - then they . never ask you again.
PERMANENT Most of the men are on permanent shifts. One of the complaints | hear from the wives that I know - including myself - is that union the men sleep all evening.
Since the strike, at least Alex is awake in the evenings have conversations and argue aboul boles ourmars berte than him just going to sleep.
Pare suffering because of Ford. When the men come un que evenine mose o the wives get a battering. I think that's Ford's fault.
Many of the women don' women common. I know what it's all about. It's happened to Derore I'm involved in Women's Aid. I help run a refuge for battered wives in Slough. It opened six months ago. • MILITANT I've always been a very militant person, when there's something to fight about. I was militant at school. Once I even brought the school out on strike you gel older, being married, settled down and at have to go out and find others who think and feel the same as you do. That's what I've done now - at Ford and at Women's Finally, on the strike, I think that next week or the week after the unions are going to start talking again When this happens the women have really got to come out in force and show that they want their men lo slay ouL onsuKe They're depending on the work. But we'll show them that we're right behind the strike.
can't depend on the or the stewards stewards are right behind the strike as such.
l've said to the men on the picket line, "It's up to you, you're the ones who pay your dues every week. You I just represent you Socialist Chalienge 12 October 1978 Page 3
KAL Need this necessarily be the
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