Grunwick violence again

Press, 19 October 1977, Page 9

Grunwick violence again

NZPA-Reuter London A large number of policemen massed outside a London factory yesterday, focusing attention again on one of Britain’s most bitter industrial disputes. Scuffling and shouting marked the start of the fresh round of large-scale demonstrations aimed at forcing Mr George Ward, the Anglo-Indian owner of the Grunwick photo-process-ing factory, to take back 97 workers sacked 14 months ago.

They lost their jobs after striking for trade-union recognition. The pickets came from all over Britain, including a 500-strong contingent of Yorkshire miners under their Left-wing leader, Mr Arthur Scargill. The strikers themselves, mainly of Indian origin, urged the resumption of mass picketing by supporters despite union advice against it. One of the strike leaders Mrs Jayaban Desai, said it v'as the only way the

strikers felt they could make Mr Ward accept a recent recommendation at a court of inquiry that the strikers be reinstated.

Police helmets went flying when pickets tried to break through a police cordon to prevent a bus carrying Grunwick workers from entering the factory. Six persons were arrested.

The strikers, who accuse trade-union leaders and Government officials of failing to help in their fight for union recognition, plan mass pickets every Monday.