28.11.1996

Factory occupied

On November 7 the entire Amalgamated Engineering Union membership of 103 engineers and auxiliary staff were dismissed from Glacier Metals, Polmadie, Glasgow for refusing to accept the imposition of new working practices, after management ignored agreed procedures in the factory. The workers’ response was to occupy the factory. Three weeks later they are still there, vowing to remain for as long as it takes to win their jobs back unconditionally.

The catalyst for this struggle was when management stated they intended to double a highly profitable output of £10 million while reducing manpower and hard won conditions. The changes they tried to impose included unsafe working practices, and the 103 sacked included employees absent due to illness and holidays at the time.

Nick Clarke