1977: Home Secretary jeered on picket line

Home Secretary Merlyn Rees has appealed for calm following two weeks of violent clashes outside the Grunwick film processing factory in north London.

Mr Rees was visiting the factory in Willesden where between 500 and 600 pickets were gathered at the two entrance gates watched over by a similar number of police.

Inside the factory, Managing Director George Ward has admitted for the first time that the refusal of local postal workers to accept outgoing mail from the company is beginning to bite.

The pickets have complained of police violence and antagonism and say they have been prevented from speaking to workers being driven into the plant by bus.

They are demanding recognition for their union, APEX - the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staffs.

The protest began last August led by an Asian worker Jayaben Desai. Her son was claiming unfair dismissal from the factory and she had just walked out of her own job in a dispute with the management.

Mrs Desai took advice from Brent Trades Council, which encouraged her to fight for union recognition at the factory.

Mr Rees arrived at the main gate in Chapter Road to angry shouts of "police out" from the waiting crowd.

He insisted the heavy police presence was necessary.

"All the police want to do is provide the circumstances where this lady can talk to the people going in and if they don't want to listen, they have the right to go in. That's the law," he added.

Mr Rees said mediation was the only way forward.

Strike leaders have said they will reduce the pickets while talks take place between Mr Ward and Employment Secretary Albert Booth, but if common ground cannot be achieved, they will return to mass picketing.

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