been given a shot in the arm by three strikes over union rights in Chartham, Sandwich and Lydden. The first steps are now being taken to generalise support for these strikes and to build orginisations which can strengthen trade union solidarity throughout the area. At the Toyota factory in Lydden, 25 members of the Transport and General Workers Union have been on strike since 25th July over the sacking of a union militant for "inefficiency" They have all now been sacked. Management has succeeded in keeping the non-unionised work force inside by increasing the basic rate from £18 to L26, the same tactic as used at Fine Tubes. However, the dockers have agreed not to handle spare parts and supplies for Toyota, a move which has strengthened the determination of the strikers. At Pfizers pharmaceutical factory in Sandwich, 52 workers took strike action after u union representative was dismissed for mis conduct.". Management at first refused to negotiate, und told the representative to take his case to the NIRC. But the effectiveness of the pickets has now toroed them into negotiations.
At William Griffiths Concrete Works in Chartham, six members of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers struck over a wage dispute, They too have now been given the sack, but still working there are 30 or so members of the T&GWU. These workers, who have the general foreman as their shop steward, have refused even to hold a mecting to discuss the strike. The local T&GWU official bas preferred to talk to the management rather than fully explain the situation to his members.
This isolation s, however, being fought against. To a limited extent, the workers involved have helped to picket each other's factories, Mectings to build up support have also taken place in Canterbury, attended by representatives of the men involked and their supporters.
Kent Council of Action (set up to fight the "Industrial Relations Act) was much criti'cised at these meetings for failing to take a lead. It did finally call a meeting for 9th August, but the guest speaker from the Liason Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions simply made the usual points about the need for an emergency recall TUC and the need to support the day of action on 5th September. This attitude was vehemently attacked by one of the dockers present, who argued that the LCDTU had failed to provide the leadership and direction needed and that single days of action wete not enough to take the working class forward in this period of struggle. His speech was warmly applauded and many later speakers took a notably more militant line as a result, In particular, the inactivity of the Council of Action wis condemned and cast wee the enoco of the Support Committee to strengthen the local struggles going on There can be little doubt that the old guard' is beginning to get worried at these moves to challenge its complacency towards