Gate Gourmet workers win support for march

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Students joined lecturers’ picket line during their strike action earlier this month
Students joined lecturers’ picket line during their strike action earlier this month

GATE GOURMET locked-out workers are campaigning every day for their march through Hounslow on Saturday 25th March.

Lakhinder Saran told News Line yesterday: ‘I went to see Graham Fowler, the deputy general secretary of the BALPA airline pilots union, this morning. He was very friendly and sympathetic.

‘He said he thought the company had actually planned everything it did, bringing in cheap labour and creating a provocation to lock us out.’

Later yesterday, Kuldeep Hothi and Parmjeet Sidhu campaigned at Southall Royal Mail sorting office and Hammersmith Council.

At Southall, CWU member Steve said: ‘I know a lot of people who worked at Gate Gourmet. The union should take the workers’ side, not the management’s side.

‘It’s the same with us, the company has bought in this Teamworking. We used to have 51 walks, now we’ve got 42 and they want to cut it down to 33, that’s just more work for everyone.’

CWU member Y P Prashar said: ‘I’ll be there on the 25th. It’s been so long it should have been sorted out by now, it’s the same everywhere, workers being treated like rubbish when it’s them that get things done.’

At Hammersmith Town Hall, UNISON assistant branch secretary Jon Hextall said: ‘It’s disgraceful the way you are being treated. The union should be right behind you.

‘We came on your march through Southall with our banner in December and we will support your march in Hounslow.’

Kuldeep said: ‘Everyone was very friendly today. We want them all to come to our march. All trade unionists should support our struggle.’