16.01.1997

Glacier workers win

The 103 sacked workers at the Glacier Metals Glasgow plant at Polmadie have won. After occupying the factory for 55 days following their summary dismissal by management in November they have all been reinstated with only minor concessions by the workers.

The bosses attempted to intimidate them into accepting dangerous working practices and new terms and conditions of employment, all in the drive for greater profitability. Their disregard for negotiating procedure also indicated their desire to smash union organisation in the plant.

The workers’ response to their sackings was magnificent. The key factor in their victory was their immediate decision to occupy (much to the dismay of the AEEU officials). This prevented management from bringing in scabs to replace them and allowed the workers themselves to keep control of their dispute rather than be at the mercy of a trade union bureaucrat stitching up some deal.

After 47 days of refusing to speak to anyone - trade union officials, Acas, or the local MP - the company eventually acknowledged the situation. The outcome of the negotiations is a tribute to the determination, courage and solidarity of the ‘103’. They all returned to work on January 7 with no victimisation and full continuity of service (some had been there for over 20 years). A new bonus scheme is to be negotiated. The minor concessions the workers agreed to included getting paid monthly and smoking only during tea breaks.

In winning this dispute the workers defied many of the anti-trade union laws that are now in operation: through their occupation and mass pickets for a start. This must send a message to every other worker threatened by redundancy, closures or attacks on conditions of service. The most effective way to win is to defy these draconian laws. This struggle was not won by the negotiating skills of the trade union ‘suits’, but by the militant action of rank and file trade union members and financial solidarity from the working class movement.

Instead of trade union full-timers dictating how a dispute is run, the rank and file should be instructing these employees of the union what they want from them. Relying purely on churning out glossy publicity leaflets is not the best way to win such struggles: direct action and spreading solidarity action is.

The victory of the Glacier workers must act as an inspiration to other workers. They have shown the potential strength of militant working class struggle. It is a sweet taste after the many betrayals of disputes by various trade union ‘leaderships’, not wanting to break the anti-working class, anti-trade union laws.

Nick Clarke