On the eve of an all-out strike, the company backed off its refusal to discuss a wage raise November 29 and set a meeting with the union for December 9. The company also agreed to a one-time payment to workers before Christmas.

"We’re looking for a short-term fix to the issue,” knitwear machine operator John Clark said in an interview. “If the talks don’t go well, then the company knows we’ll ballot again for action.”

While the strike action is suspended, workers have decided to maintain an overtime ban until they win a settlement.

In addition to stopping production, the strikers' effective picketing impacted sales at an Edinburgh Woollen Mills retail outlet at the plant site. In October, the bosses failed to get a court to stop the picketing in front of the store. They also backed away from moves to discipline four workers for allegedly intimidating the six individuals who crossed the picket line.

“We’ve got a stronger union through all of this,” said Clark.
 
 
Related articles:
Goodyear strikers stand up against takeback demands
On the Picket Line  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home