5.3. No. 1 (Plain)
Special Report}

SUBJECT ..





Reference to Papers

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L.-- METRO POLITAN. .EOLI CE


SPECIAL BRANCH
01A 514?

1. On Mbnday, 11 July 1977, there is to be a demonstration

by the Trade Union Movement in support of the striking workers
at Grunwick. This report gives a Special Branch assessment of
the public order prospects for that day.

2. The initiative for the demonstration arose out of

a call by Arthur SCARGILL, the Yorkshire miners leader for a 
"day this call has receivec
widespread support by trade unionists and there can be no doubt

that considerable numbers will arrive in London to take part in

a demonstration.

3. Until yesterday there was no clear indication as to who
would organise the day of action or what general plan they would
adopt. It has now been established that the leaders of the APEX
Union are making themselves responsible for a march which is
designed to be a peaceful show of solidarity with the dismissed
Grunwick workers.

A. This development is one which is most welcome from a public
order point of View and quite clearly it is much in the interests
of police to assist the organisers of this demonstration with
encouragement and goodwill. The organisers of the march are:-



1

It is their intention to assemble supporters at 11 am on

Mbnday, 11 July 1977, at Dartmouth Road, NW2, and to lead them
past the gates of Grunwicks factory in Chapter Road to a meeting
in Roundwood Park, NW10. There is no intention by this group to
halt outside Grunwicks but merely to pass by. The overall

aim is to stage a peaceful march and to avoid any clashes with
police. To this end some 60?70 marshalls will be provided

by the organisers and although trade union banners will be
carried it is hoped to discourage the carrying of political
banners.

5. The organisers believe that they will be able to get some
10,000 persons to support this march. At this stage that looks

a somewhat optimistic estimate but such is the public interest in
.the Grunwicks issue that it is likely that something like that
number would be prepared to take part in the march.

6. From a public order viewpoint it is important to recognise
that APEX with its emphasis on moderation and good sense may not
be able to command all the elements which have so far shown an
interest in the Grunwicks situation. It is of course a matter
for APEX to canvas within the trade union movement for their own
point of view. But on any detached view it has to be conceded
that may not carry the Grunwicks strike committee with them

and this may give rise to a split within the ranks of the
demonstrators.

7. The position of the Grunwicks strike committee is that they
are rather hoping for a massive picket of Grunwicks factory on
July 11 of such a nature as to make it impossible for the worke
force to gain entry through the gates. It has been the pattern
in the events of the past few weeks for the strike committee to

be more militant in action ban the APEX union and there are
militant left?wing groups who have an.interest in seeing APEX
outflanked so to speak by the strike committee. 

Q-

8. The Strike Committee?is very much iniluenced by

of Brent Trades Council and he in turn follows ely
t-e ine which serves the interest of the Communist Party.
The has always regarded?APEX as being too right wing and it
is in the 0P interest to make trouble for the AP leadership.
Consequently the Strike Committee will offer an alternative
to the APEX march on 11 July.

9. The Strike Committee have called for a massive picket of
Grunwicks starting at 6 am. This is in addition to calling
for support for the 11 am march.

10. The early picket is likely to be well supported, and at
this stage it has to be envisaged as being about half as big
as the main march that is to say almost 6,000 strong. This
offers the most difficult part of the day of action.

11. Support for the early picket will come from the extreme
left?wing (Socialist Workers Tarty and Communists) as a matter
of course. It will also be supported by the more left?wing
elements among trade unionists, particularly the miners union.
Already it is known that EEK coaches are leaving'lales and
Yorkshire so as to be in London before 6 am on Kenday.

 

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12.
and militant.

upon the TUC generally to dissuade lar
But in view of the

from attending the picket.

call the chances are that the pic

In essence therefore matters stand therefore the pic
There is time, of course,

ket will be very large
for APEX to prevail

gs numbers of their members

Strike Committee
ket will attract all the militants.

day of action will consist of

two events - a potentially violent picket at about 7 am

this stage it is impossible to

It is hoped to make a

as they arise and to submit

and a main march at 11 am. At
assess the outcome of the pick

sting.

continuous assessment of developments

further reports on Thursday an

Friday 0

    

 I . 

Inspector

 

 

this week.