Young Foyle's strikers close to victory®

VICTORY is in sight for the 70 strikers at loyle's London, who are now approaching the second their strike.

At a meeting on Tuesday between the management and the union, at the Ministry of Labour, Christina Foyle came forward with proposals which, though unacceptable, are a big comedown on her part. For two months she has struck rigidly to a 'no discussion' attitude.

The strikers are demanding a proper wage-for-age scale plus higher commission rates and a higher basic rate for office staff who cannot earn commission.

Foyle's are now offering fll at the age of 21 for men and f9 10s.

for women, a fl and fl 10s.

increase respectively. Christina Foyle said she would come forward with a scale for office staff at a further meeting at the Ministry on Thursday.

The strikers are still demanding increased pay, equal pay for men and women, a raise in commission, reinstatement and no victimisation.

Through their tenacity and unity the young strikers—many from overseas - have almost broken through to an important victory, not only for themselves, but for the many thousands of unorganised shop workers throughout Britain, who must to see that Royalty does have political opinions.

The Newsletter says: Well spoken, sir. We hope that you will bawl out your real opinions more frequently in the future. For our part we think it is a shameful disgrace that hirelings of the establishment should seek to gag you. After all, you have never hidden your sympathies with reaction, why should the idea be developed that you have in some way been progressive in your outlook.

As a member of a most outlived feudal institution, the British monarchy, which should have long ago been swept away, you cannot but think in the way that you do. The next step you should take, of course, is to join the Tory Party and declare that you stand, like all of these representatives of big business, four-square against the interests of the working class.

Better still, might it not be a good idea for you to persuade Elizabeth herself to declare her politics more openly. It would certainly purify the air and every worker would know, as a result, what to do in the coming struggles that lie ahead You, like Lord Home and his tribe, will then be dealt with similarly.

bookshop, month of now become organised in the trades unions and Young Socialists.

It is believed that Foyle's have made a heavy financial loss during the strike-estimated by some to a drop of over one-third —and the Foyle's book clubs have been paralysed by the support for the strike from postmen.

Christina Foyle has hung on grimly but has failed to crush this strike.

The likely victory has come about despite union officials, who have been pushed along by the strength of the strikers to make the wage demands, and flaunt the "paper' decision of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers conference to back George Brown's wage freeze. STOP PRESS:

Late on Thursday, Christina Foyle agreed in negotiations to take back all the strikers, including Marius Webb, the 22year-old strike leader. She offered a further 10s. to the top two age wage rates. She wil not grant any extra commission or pay scheme for office staff. The demonstration planned by the strikers for Thursday evening was called off by union organiser Callinan, because 'it might embarrass negotiations'. • The strikers were to meet on Friday morning to decide whether to accept Foyle's conditions.