Socialist Organiser

The weekly of the fused Workers Socialist League, July 1981 to April 1984

Cashing in on the recession

Socialist Organiser no. 67, 7 January 1982 · scan p. 7 · about 424 words

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are saying that Ford workers-a strong group of workers, in a wealthy company.. can expect no better pay rise than 7.4%, They say, more or less bluntly, that the their position and roll back concessions slump is a time for capitalists to improve The union leaders play on (and contrithey made in boom time. By doing so the depression. In combatting official sabo- bute to) workers feeling depressed by the capitalists can be better placed to make big tage, militants must be able to put forward AGAINST WAGE-CUTTING: the BL boasts of a 30% increase in produc- a clear political alternative to the bosses' increases, in line with a cost of living index demand for automatic monthly pay tivity in one year. Overall, British manu- AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT: work computed by working class committees, facturing productivity went up 9% in the should be shared out, under workers' employers to impose this speed-up. It has demands. And standing ready to be used also helped: them beat down wage Unemployment has allowed the control and with no loss of pay, on the basis of cutting the hours. Factory closures can be fought by occupying, retaining workers' control, and demanding national- the independence of the trade unions from the state. But this independence cannot be realised without democracy in the trade unions-regular election and right of recall AGAINST UNION-BASHING: fight for anti-union laws-Prior's Act and Tebbit's against workers who fight back are the and retraining at union rates, together with A major programme of public works rate as the members they represent, and control by elected committees and mass of officials, who should be paid the same reversal of the social spending cuts, could ularly shown by the miners when they It can be beaten, as was most spectac- That is the bosses' plan for the slump. end the dole queues' waste of resources. Money should be taken from the arms ise pickets to defend themselves against the DEFEND THE PICKET LINES: organlast February. But the top trade union defeated the Government over pit closures AGAINST SPEED-UP: fight for any pickets victimised under Tory law. police, organise strike action in support of leaders steer away from a fight. They say it CAPITALIST slump is never a shared sacrifice. Indeed, the Tories dropping even the pretence.

profits when trade recovers.

first nine months of 1981.

Bill. time of now are plan. at a time of 11% inflation. isation without compensation.

budget to start it. workers' control of production. can unify the labour movement.

meetings over all negotiations.

dup!

← Contents of Socialist Organiser no. 67

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