Mailmen involved in Grunwick dispute

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 8

Mailmen involved in Grunwick dispute

NZPA-Reuter London About 40 postmen have been suspended for refusing to handle mail for Grunwick, a non-union London factory which has become a national target for Left-wingers.

The British authorities had feared for weeks that the dispute might spill over into the post office.

The Attorney-General (Mr Sam Silkin) has refused to invoke legal powers against the postmen, although it is illegal to hinder mail, because he feared it might provoke a postmen's strike.

However, with 66 sacks of Grunwick letters and packages piled up at Crickle-

I wood, the local sorting [office, the Post Office suspended the men without pay and said it had a responsibility to ensure postal services.

The men refused to leave the sorting office and a union official, Mr John Taylor, said other postmen might strike. Grunwick, a mail-order film-processing firm which is refusing to recognise a union, has been picketed by, thousands of Left-wingers and other sympathisers, and 250 have been arrested.

A court of inquiry ordered by the Prime Minister (Mr James Callaghan) has begun hearings.