BY ALAN JONES


MEN WHO “


In a zoo there are many types of animals. Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips, others are lions who can bite your head off. We are the lions, Mr Manager


Jayaben Desai Grunwick strike leader


compared her and her colleagues to “chattering monkeys”.


She famously replied, “What you are running here is not a factory, it is a zoo. But in a zoo there are many types of animals. Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips, others are lions who can bite your head off. We are the lions, Mr Manager.”


The Grunwick picket line swelled week by week, and eventually 20,000 people joined the protest to show their support. The workers had spoken of a climate of fear and control by managers, having to ask permission to go to the toilet.


Their huge banner, kept at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, bears the words, “Join us in the fight for workers’


conditions,


secretary, was struck by how the messages are still relevant today.


“Within Unite, women have been inspired by the powerful message from the Grunwick women who stood firm for what they believed in and were able to build support from across the movement,” she said.


The Grunwick management severely underestimated the resolve of the women, who continued protesting for two years.


Maureen Scott-Douglas,East Midlands Unite equalities officer, believes the dispute still has an impact on black and ethnic minority women today.


rights. Unfair working compulsory overtime,


discrimination, constant harassment, unfair sacking, no union.”


Diana Holland, Unite assistant general


“In Leicester there were a group of Asian Gujarati women complaining against some of the practices in their workplace. For years officers had tried to organise the women and although there was success in joining members, no one was interested in becoming a rep.


25 uniteWORKS Autumn 2016


“I called them into the union office to discuss the working conditions – and showed them a short video of the Grunwick strike. The women were very impressed that a woman of their background had led the strike.


”


“As a result, one of the women agreed to become a rep. From that, we arranged for her to report health and safety issues and accompany members to meetings,” she said.


Migrant workers worried about their future following the EU referendum, and facing constant attacks on their pay and conditions, will empathise with the Grunwick women.


Unite’s recent campaigns for restaurant staff to keep tips separate from their pay, and the scandal of working practices at retail giant Sports Direct, reminds everyone that workers are still being exploited, and need trade union support and protection just as much as 40 years ago.


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