Unions must fight Denning

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LONDON Transport unions are discussing a one-day total stoppage against the Law Lords' The Lords' decision is likely to mean a doub- Meanwhile Labour Party activists are contin ling of fares from March 21 (followed by a uing to press for the GLC to refuse to impl further hefty increase shortly afterwards); a ment the fare rises and service cuts. They as 15% cut in bus services; a 3% cut in tube also planning for a campaign among passenger services; and a loss of jobs as a result. A joint meeting of union leaders on Monday transport workers' union not to pay the increase, if a lead is given by th A joint meeting of union leaders on THE FORD deal pushed by TGWU negotiator Ron Todd is a rotten sell-out. The immediate strike action in both Halewood and Swansea showed the strength of support for a fight. Where a clear lead was given, the rejection was overwhelming -around 7 to 1 in Swansea. As we go to press, the final result is still unknown.

TGWU negotiator Ron Tridd told the press on Tuesday 5th: "If there is a majurity in favour of rejec then the național committee will meet again to decide on a course of action" • Bul a vote for rejection is clearly a mandate for immediately going ahead with the strike decision unilaterally suspended by Todd.

Ron Todd claimed that the offer represents a significant improvement.

Its certainly better than Ford's original insulting offer, but it's nowhere near THE ISSUES of product- IE ISSUES of productivity and sweeping changes ty and sweeping changes in working practices have working practices have come to a head in British me to a head in British Oil.

The British Rail Board The British Rail Board 15 A the claim. It is virtually the same deal that was overwhelmingly thrown out before Christmas.

* No. improvement on 7.4% offer on the basic. It is still well behind the rate of inflation (over 11%) before deductions and before the effects of the recent Tory budget (National Insurance surcharge; rent increases)

* No concessions on the company's five 'efficiency' points. Management has made these a condition of the deal, which is not surprising because they wil destroy shop floor rights and conditions, and lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.

There is also no change in the proposal that fulltime and national officials should jointly police the agreement with management, and do their dirty work. It's no wonder the ban on cheap fares. officials recommended eptance of the deal!

The two so-called improvements have been on the question of hours (bringing forward the 39 hour week to June 1st) and negotiations on pensions. But it's not much.

The pension deal is still not as good as Vauxhall. More importantly, the question of hours road haulier branches road haulier branches to is not only incomplete not only incomplete (it still does not include 3-shift workers), but hasn't agreed the basic issue. The question of whether the 39 hours is a real improvement, or something Ford workers will pay for in lost conditions, as at BL, has still to be negotiated.

And they want us to accept the deal!

Todd and the majority on the NJNC have argued that it's the best deal in the circumstances. That's rubbish.

The Ford bosses don't want a strike in one of the few areas they are still making large profits in, any more than the Tory government wants a strike that could link up with the ASLEF action, that could come together with the miners' wage claim (they are balloting for industrial action in 10 days time), that could provide a lead to other workers to rip up this government's wage cutting policies and actions.

which seeks to wipe out which seeks 4 January committees transport workers' union.

by John Bloxal If the vote goes for strike action then some points will be vital to victory. And the first one is not to leave control of the strike in the hands of the fulltime officials. Todd and the majority on the NJNC should be told:

* No more secret deals and rushed meetings. Mass meetings should make decisions on whether strike action should be called off.

* No selling of jobs; no Good (ASLEF) also suggested a joint campaig and a joint mass shop steward Lessons for Ford from BL: see centre page negotiations on 'efficien and no union participal in policing the meml ship.

* For the full cla £20 on the basic. An in ediate 39 hour week • no loss of pay or conditio It was the secret" of Ron Todd and d Whyman that led up path to the efficiency pr age. It was Ron Todd 1 said last week on indepe ent radio that he we accept the efficiency der return for improvement: wages, pensions hours.

They then recommen a sell out deal, after ing off the strike January 5. It was the 8 sort of people who sold the BL strike.

All the running decisions of the strike r be controlled by I meetings and elected s committees. They 1 organise the pickets shut down all Ford of tions; raise money approach other worker assistance and solidarit BL attacl WHEN the 39 hour was first introduced a

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