Since 21st March, 42 women shop floor workers have been out on strike at Sunvic Controls, Bellshill Road, Uddingston.

Their industrial action is officially sanctioned by AMICUS and TGWU. Management have attempted to impose a variation to their work contracts that would allow for long lay-off periods when they deem it necessary and only be paid for eight days should the lay-off last for a three month period.

The women now feel that their jobs are under direct threat as management have brought in temporary staff, paying them large bonuses to remain.

Lynn Sheridan and Denis Reilly (Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement) have made numerous visits to the picket and workers have informed them that the scab labour are not qualified to assemble intricate heating systems and controls. The training officer has been off sick for some time. There are obvious concerns for public safety involved. Two of the companies suppied by Sunvic Controls are Scottish Gas and B&Q. When Denis and Lynn made these companies aware of the safety concerns, B&Q stated that their ‘ethical policy’, insists that all factory workers involved in assembling such systems must be fully qualified. In response to B&Q's enquiries, Sunvic management have claimed their workers are fully qualified. The overwhelming evidence is to the contrary.

The women have now passed on to the Lanarkshire Solidarity branch the details of other companies in the UK supplied with heating controls from Sunvic. The issue of safety is continuing to be raised both these companies and the general public.

Some of these women have given long and faithful service to Sunvic and between them they have well over 1000 years service to that company.

More recently the workers have learned that management, with the collusion of South Lanarkshire Council, are planning to sell off the factory premises for private housing development. A Council brochure entitled ‘Future Plans for South Lanarkshire’ clearly demonstrates this collusion. This issue of private housing development in the Bothwell & Uddingston district has been an explosive one, mainly due to the lack of an adequate road network system.

The strikers telephoned a local Labour councillor who claimed he supported their strike action. When asked what he had specifically done, he replied he had tooted his horn each morning as he passed them in his car but declined to say why he or any other councillor has yet to visit the picket line. With this knowledge workers feel that attempts to alter their work contract was just a ruse by management and evidence of a clear attempt to wriggle out of honouring existing redundancy agreements.

Lynn Sheridan, sister of the Solidarity Party's co-chair, is standing as No.1 on the Solidarity List for Central Region in the Scottish

Parliament Election on May 3rd. Denis Reilly is standing as the Solidarity Candidate for the Bothwell & Uddingston Ward in the South Lanarkshire Council Election to be held on the same day.

Solidarity greetings and contributions should be sent to: Sunvic Workers Strike Fund

c/o E.Davies

97 Glasgow Rd.

Wishaw

ML2 7QJ.