LOCKED out Gate Gourmet workers are calling on the whole trade union movement to join them on their march through Southall on Sunday December 4th.
‘We want a big rally’ said Parminder. ‘We are really looking forward to our demonstration and rally in Southall.
‘We are going to tell all our friends to come along and we want to show that we are all united and fighting for everybody to return to their jobs, on their original wages and conditions.’
She went on : ‘It was written into the “Compromise Agreement” that if one person did not sign the compromise agreement then there would be no deal.
‘But when we went to London on Tuesday, Brendan Gold told us that they were not bothered whether everyone signs.
‘So they have scrapped their deal, and they are just trying to get everyone that they can to sign away their rights.
‘We won’t accept this and we will not sign the deal.’
Simi added: ‘The union leaders take our money every week but they want to sell us out.
‘They want to let the company get away with everything.’
Parmjit said: ‘Gold said that he wanted everybody to sign by December 6th, but that the union would fight the cases at the tribunal of those that would not sign.
‘He said that if the case goes to court and we don’t get anything “that’s your problem”.
‘Well I am going to the tribunal and I am not going to give into the company line as Gold has.
‘We have got a strong case. I am never going to sign.’
Liaqat said: ‘I am one of the 164 compulsory redundancies. The union officers are saying “sign” but I will not sign.
‘After they sacked me, they delivered a letter to my home the same night, saying that I had no right to appeal.
‘The union leaders want us to accept and sign away our jobs and rights. They are traitors. They must go.
‘I will never sign this compromise agreement. We are going to win, and we are all looking forward to our march through Southall.’
Kuldeep said: ‘I am angry. The company must be made to pay for my loss of earnings and must be made to pay enhanced redundancy.
‘It’s their fault. They threw us out. They will have to pay.’
Chanan Rattu told News Line that he had been to the union office in Hillingdon and had told the officers: ‘We want a proper shelter with heating so that we can picket throughout the winter.
‘They said that they would arrange it. We are going to make sure that they do. It is far too cold. Without heating people will get sick.
He added: ‘The rally is arranged and we want everybody to come on September 4th at 1.00 pm.’
