THE STRIKE of 270 women sewing machinists at workers are laid off and the company is losing £10 million worth of cars a day — on a strike it would only cost £1,800 a week to settle.
Al roro workcrs arc nart of a tive grade A to b wage structure, with most assemblv workers on grade B. Six times in the last sixteen years the women have gone through the grievance procedure acmanamg from B to C to bring them into ine with other ¡vi c skilled production workers. cach ume [hev have been knocked back.
This time they have decided enough is enough.
Lasl Monday mass meetings of the sewing machinists in both plants were unanimous in their determination to continue une suke oesole lic decision of national union negotiators to recommend acceptance of Ford's SCVCI N per cent wage ofler with the usual company condition of a freeze on all grading grievances.
This led to lively exchanges Thursday's meeting of all senior stewards which agreed to recommend the offer to muas HOCCune but committed Ron Todd to refusing to sign any deal until the women's grievance was resolved. A militant lobby of Dagenham machinists underlined the point.
Never teless me senlol stewards compliance is unfortunate. The company Is now going on the offensive saying the whole pay deal is questioned if the unions don't sign by 5 December ditch the The best way to deal Ciallll. with this blackmail would have been to have all Ford workers out on strike for better wages conditons ralner tan silling al home without pay.
The women themselves are rising to the challenge. Picketing has been stepped tion of scab trim into the assembly plant assurances being sought convenors that no material carried through a picket line will be touched Women at Dagenham have made it clear that they will stop Ford's internal truck fleet, and keep the plants closed Inat way, I any allempt Is made to restart production wiln scab Haltlal.
. Male workers are also being leafletted with of bulletins exIIC1C plaining the sewing machinists case when they pick up their tax rebates.
In 1968 striking sewing machinists at Ford's dic more than any to fight to estaDilsl the orinciple of equal pay for equal work. •ixtee veds laleı lucy alc fighting for recognition of pay for equal skill.
Ford workers
millions more outside have every interests in their vicFORDS 1968
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Dagenham and Halewood has shut down all Ford car production in Britain. Ten thousand production