MARGARET THATCHER is a proud mum so she obviously doesn't want people lo gel idea tal ner boy needec any help landing that LICe contract Oman. So when nosey MPs raised the matter she told them: "I bat for relaole evidence that Mark holds British passport there does not seem a conflict of interest Mind she forgot tell parliament that not only Cementation her Mark's outfit • wanted to play ball in Oman. Sat waiting pavilion Were Robert MatthewJohson Marshall Partners, James Cubitt and Partners along with Taylor Woodrow just dying to get in the game.
But Mark's firm grabbed the contract and OVER 300 workers at the Silent Night Mattress factory in Baroldswick, Lancs are striking to stop a wage cut and to defend the right to Join a union.
Last year there were than members. An organising anve Dy Furniture, imber and Allied Trades led to a membership. The comDanv hit back bi cutting piece rates by 20 per cent and refused negotiation or abitration with ACAS.
On 16 February when the cut implemented members walked oul and were loined bv a majority non-union members who then signed up in the union, despite pleas by managementro return to work. Since then there has been a 24-hour.
sevene ya on made li made the strike official within hours of the walk out. There is unlikely to be quick solution. The have put up with too much Management Is equally determined - they admitted to a local papel that the issue was about the right to loin a union As far as they are concerned the piece work rate is only secondary.
Messages of support and donations to: FTAT Anson Road, Victoria Park, M14 SDB.
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