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From Socialist Worker, No. 127, 19 June 1969, p. 24.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
ENGINEERING workers at the Johnson Matthey metal works in Enfield, Middlesex, are on strike for trade union recognition. The management have refused to allow AEF stewards to represent their members.
In spite of approaches by the AEF district secretary, the management would not budge. When engineering workers downed tools, the firm’s chief engineer told them:
‘Get outside the gate and leave the premises. Don’t forget to clock out – by doing that you are breaking your contract and the company need not re-employ you.’
The men went out. Since then, Johnson Matthey have firmly denied that this is a lock-out.
The local paper has printed a company statement that is biased against the men. The company has called in police to supervise the pickets and has spread lies about them forcibly turning back lorries, threatening drivers and hiding in bushes to intimidate other workers.
Members of the British Iron Steel and Kindred Trades Association are still working and their stewards are not blacking AEF work now done by scabs. BISAKTA is the blue-eyed union in the firm and negotiates on behalf of AEF members.
The AEF district committee has declared the strike official and the Harlow division of the firm has organised a collection.
Donations to: J. Weaver, 112 Lea House, Long Croft Drive, Waltham Cross, Mddx.
Johnson and Matthey trading figures show an increased profit of 55 per cent so far this year. The company made a killing over devaluation and silver prices of more than £3½m. The company is paying a dividend of 11 per cent out of a total profit of £7.14m. Meanwhile skilled men start at 9s 2d an hour.
The chief engineer, whom the men say was hired through Exchange and Mart, has taken up welding during the dispute. His first attempt was unsuccessful – he set fire to his trousers and socks.
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Last updated on 16 January 2021