Workers Revolutionary Party - We want action not words from TUC

The News Line: News Thursday, 15 September 2005 We want action not words from TUC

Gate Gourmet locked out workers on their successful lobby of the TUC last Monday morning

LOCKED-OUT Gate Gourmet workers, boosted by their successful intervention at the TUC in Brighton on Monday, are calling for immediate reinstatement or action to achieve it.

On the picket line at Heathrow yesterday, TGWU member Ali Karshe told News Line: ‘Gate Gourmet and the union are having a meeting this Friday.

‘We await the outcome.

‘But it must be reinstatement for all on our original terms and conditions, with no victimisation.
‘We have made this clear and said it over and over again.

‘We are very strong and proud that we have now got the unanimous support of the TUC and other union members and leaders.

‘So if further action is required it must be taken.’

Fellow picket Jaswinder Kumar said: ‘Monday was a very good day for us.

‘The first thing is we showed everyone what is going on with us.

‘Most of the people at the TUC had heard about us, but on Monday they saw us.

‘There was a big majority of us there and we were all shouting: “No redundancy, we want our jobs back’’.

‘We weren’t just calling for justice. For us, justice is our jobs.

‘All the union leaders put their hands up for us.

‘What we saw there showed that they are with us.

‘But now we want to know what action they are going to take to prove it.

‘We keep hearing that the union is talking to the company.

‘But it’s five weeks now.

‘The talks have gone on too long.

‘We have to take action to win.’