STRIKERS AT THE ROOTES MOTOR GROUP'S SUBSIDIARY FACTORY IN ACTON, LONDON, VOTED IN FAVOUR OF CONTINUING THEIR STRIKE, SEPT. 29, AT AN OPEN AIR MEETING WHERE THEY WERE ADDRESSED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STRIKE COMMITTEE, MR. HOOPER. THE STRIKE, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THE BACKING OF THE TRADE UNIONS, IS OVER MANAGEMENT REDUNDANCY POLICY. IT STARTED ON SEPT. 4.

PEACE PROPOSALS BY THE ROOTES GROUP SHOP STEWARDS HAVE BEEN REJECTED BY THE MANAGEMENT ON THE GROUNDS THAT ONLY THE UNIONS WERE EMPOWERED TO CARRY OUT NEGOTIATIONS. SO FAR THIS STRIKE, BY ABOUT A THOUSAND MEN WHO MAKE CAR BODIES, HAS PUT MORE THAN EIGHT THOUSAND MEN OUT OF WORK.

ON SEPT. 28, THE MANAGEMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT THAT IF THE MEN REFUSED TO RETURN TO WORK THEY WOULD BE DISMISSED. THE MEN REFUSED AFTER VOTING IN A SERIES OF STRIKE MEETINGS. THE MANAGEMENT NOW HOLD THE VIEW THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A STRIKE, BUT THAT THEY HAVE A THOUSAND VACANCIES. THE MEN SAY THE STRIKE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A LOCK-OUT.