AFTER ALMOST two years the Silentnight strikers at Barnoldswick and Sutton in Lancashire have been kicked in the head by the national leadership of FTAT. The kick came just before Christmas when the general executive council under the leadership of the new General Secretary, Colin Christopher, declared the strike unofficial.
This is the same Colin Christopher stated From the beginning, our eneral executive council has supported our members in what is clearly a Just struggle And the same COll Christopher who stated, just last November ... the strikers are suffer. ing extreme hardship. It is essential. that the entire movement rally around and provide the maximum support.' The reasons for declaring the unofficial were given in a burst of cor. respondence to the strike committee in the week before Cherylicy The Silentnight 'drain' on the imances the union, it took up too much national meetings 'unwinnable'.
So for the first time due ing the whole dia nate the executive have written ties, trade unions and re. hundreds of Labow councils letting them know that the strike is officially off. Most of these bodies hadn't even been officially notified that the strike was even on.
attempt 'sweeten' the bad news, the Name Address Action for E MAtAraT AA & NeWBORDer WIL We rOoL UA Printed by East End Offset Ltd. (TV), London E2. general executive council had even released money from London that had been donated to the strike fund, but 'held up' for several By Paul These welcome gifts taste The remaining strikers were understandably sickened by the decision, but remain as committed as ever to carry on and to win.
As Trevor King Silentnight said we don't want a union that packs in when things get tough We have made sacrifices, not ourselves but for all trade unionists. People up and cowa mic country Have sup our icers drop us. want us to go away so they Calle on with business usual. asay. We will use all the in But won't fluence have made to launch an appeal reverse ecutive's decision. Once they sell out one group of workers it becomes much easier to sell out others, like at Hanger's or Morris's'.
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As another Silentnight striker said about disputes at Hanger's and Moris's our solidarity with these workers has started to acycop. the best thing we can do for them is to HICH know about the lessons we have learnt and trust the national JHUL leadership.
The strike committee at Silentnight will culating their own letter to Labour Parties and trade union bodies in the new year to counter the one of the general executive council. It will call on people to reaffirm their support for Task practical action.
One spontaneous move came from FIAT members at Bouyant Upholstery and G-Plan factories in Nelson, Lancashire who are holdins back monthly dues to FIAI show disgust the leadership's actions.
Practical actions for all trade unionists include the raising of funds, stopping the sale of Silentnight beds an increase of the picket lines at Barnoldswick and Sutton. The regional Labour Party conferences in tha spring must be used to full advantage by ensuring that emergency motions for support for the strikers are passed and acted upon.
• Silentnight strike fund, Street, Bar. noldswick, Colne, Lancs. Tel: 0282-816709.
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