Women on picket linne shocked, angry

Press, 28 May 1988, Page 3

Women on picket linne shocked, angry

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL,

industrial reporter Women at the R. W. Saunders picket line yesterday were angry and shocked at the treatment they had received from the company, some after more than 15 years service. The 97 workers at the site were made redundant yesterday, and were told on Wednesday they would lose their jobs, with four weeks pay in lieu of notice. Workers were determined to stay on the picket line until the company agreed to negotiate a redundancy agreement with the Clothing Workers’ Union.

After negotiations last evening the dispute was settled. A package was offered by the company and accepted by the union. Neither side would say what was in the deal, but planned picketing has been called off and all load-out bans lifted. Mrs Joyce. Cooper, who worked for the firm for 15 years, said she did not know what she would do. “It is dreadful that all the years have just gone,” she said. The workers said the management had told them only three weeks ago that their jobs were safe and that there was plenty of work to do.