Steel workers will fight on

The Newsletter, vol. 7 no. 328, 11 January 1964 · scan pages 1, 2

Title, extent and credit checked against the scan (17 October 2026, from the scan: page 1, headline 'Steel workers will fight on', 'By Reg Perry' over column 2; the split had filed column 2 under the by-line and welded the foot of Labour Youth Plan Lobby on Jobs to column 3). The text is machine-read and not corrected: for anything you quote, read the scan.

The Newsletter expresses its solidarity with and support for the tremendous battle being waged by the workers at Port Talbot. The scene is set for one of the major industrial struggles seen in Britain. The SCOW management are setting the pace for the new-type of 'industrial relations'- lock-out and arbitration almost at gunpoint. We call upon workers throughout the country to prepare for action in " H attempt Steel company Wales to break back of the craft unions in its steel works at Port Talbot received a heavy blow this week.

At a mass meeting last Saturday, the 1,600 members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, who were locked out following the Christmas break, voted unanimously to continue their fight for higher wages and improved holiday arrangements.

At the same time, bricklayers, belonging to the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers, who are employed in the steel plant gave notice of their intention to take

The parity in Por Witl Corby Guest, strike action if their claim receives similar treatment to the AEU maintenance workers.

The bricklayers' claim will be submitted later this month.

The six other craft unions have also voted full support to the stand of the AEU members.

The management are still rigidly insisting that the strike notices must be withdrawn and the dispute submitted to arbitration, whereby wages at Port Talbot would be related to the rates paid in other steel works throughout Britain.

Morale high

union's claim is for with production workers Talbot itself. support coming from steelworkers and the Keen and Nettlefold

EWSLETTE

factory at Cardiff, morale Port Talbot is high.

George Seller, an AEU member said, 'I am not prepared to go back to work i intil I get a substantial increasi not the 8 shillings we have been offered so far.

I think this is the general opinion of all AEU members in the district.

Exploit The ominous silence of the largest union in the steel industry, the British Iron, Steel and Kindred Trades Association and the manoeuvres of the other general union, the TGWU, have this week reinforced the point made in last week's Newsletter that the SCOW is trying to exploit inter-union rivalries in order to take advantage of extensive automation by increased speed-up.