Picket line on 14 January, photo Bradford Socialist Party

Picket line on 14 January, photo Bradford Socialist Party   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Iain Dalton, West Yorkshire Socialist Party organiser

Members of Unite the Union at the Westex Carpets factory in Cleckheaton, west Yorkshire, are about to reach the two month mark in their ongoing dispute over pay.

The strike began on 20 November after workers rejected a minimal pay rise which was then withdrawn by the company. It has since refused further dialogue.

Dave, shop steward at the factory told us: “The company are sourcing yarn from an outside company to bypass a large part of the production process, and have now started to employ staff to fill in the gaps left by the members on strike.

“This, however, has not diminished the resolve of the workers on strike and we remain resolute in our goal of seeking a fair and just pay increase.”

The wider trade union movement must be mobilised in support of the strikers. One way of increasing the profile of the dispute would be to organise a march and rally in support of them.

In the meantime, trade unionists should keep donations coming into the strike fund:

  • Account name: TGWU
  • Account number: 20175407
  • Sort code: 60/83/01
  • Reference: Westex Strike Fund