Wage cuts for US carworkers

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IN THE United States during January of this year, 50,000 carworkers were permanently laid off. 288,000 more were on indefinite lay off. One-third of all US car workers are out of work. • Yet Douglas Fraser, President of the United Auto Workers Union (UAW) announces a wage-cutting deal he's just made with Ford as a "historic breakthrough". At the end of February the UAW settled with Ford agreeing to 'concessions' which will save Ford a billion dollars by John O'Mahony (£550 million) over the next 2½ years.

The concessions mean ho annual wage increase for this year, deferment for nine months of cost of living agreements and the loss of six days paid leave. In effect a wage cut.

This was ratified by 43,683 votes to 15,933 by the union membership and Fraser hails it as a 'historic breakthrough, which leads to greater security for themselves and their families"

In return Ford is increasing lay off benefits slightly, guaranteeing an income for workers with more than 15 years seniority, offering a profit-sharing scheme. Plant closures will still go ahead.

So the union leaders' rationale for wage cuts -namely that they would then secure jobs - is But Ford have made it nonsense. quite clear that they won't guarantee johs. They insist on their right as capitalists to hire, fire and lay-off or recall as they see fit.

Price cuts

Even if the bosses passed on to the consumers some of the money they save through concessions from workers this wouldn't lower the price of their cars enough to increase sales, and therefore increase the number of cars produced.

Indeed, when the General Motors workers refused to accept a wage cut earlier this year.

demanded by the GM bosses so that they could lower the price of their cars. GM went ahead anyway and lowered their prices. So clearly that has nothing to do with saving lobs.

_UAW negotiations General Motors broke don at the end et end i/ January when the workers refused to accept the wage cuts demanded of them, but these are due to start again now that Ford have settled.

Campaign

But the UAW bureaucrats have not had it all their own way. Car workers at the giant Ford Rouge plant in Detroit weren't tooled. Several groups along with independent militants organised a United Front Caucus to campaign against job losses and the concessions. in the 24,000 member UAW local (branch) 600, they gathered 3,000 signatures demanding an emergency mass meeting of Local 600 members to plan a strategy to fight the concessions, layoffs and plant closures. They also organised to bring thousands of angry workers to the Dour Fraser: hasn't had it all his General Motors are continuing to organise against the wage 'concession" though obviously their fight has been made harder by the Ford settlement. Their strategy for a fightback is outlined in the United Front caucus programme. *We are threatened with plant closings. First the Engine Plant was threatened then Frame, and Michigan Casting Centre is next. The company does whatever it wants to do. It does not have to be this way!

"We need a sit-down strike of Local 600, authorised by the International UAW, built by elected strike committees and backed by an industry-wide strike. This is how the UAW was built."

That is how rank and file UAW members will be fighting Fraser's next attempt at a 'historic breakthrough". by the regime and failed to notice how this act and the propaganda coup it achieved for the government actually served to disarm the left.

The Tuden Party gave its clear backing to ayatollah Khomeini and the IRP in the struggle for control taking place within the government, and eventually the Fedayeen split in 1980 with the majority' throwing its support behind Khomeini as well.

Explicit

The Mojahedin, who emerged in 1981 as the major opposition force to Khomeini, for some time gave explicit support to him. Even when the severity of attacks on the opposition increased, the continued to appeal to the 'good nature' of Khomeini as if he was somehow separate from the government and unwittingly allowing the attacks to take place.

It seems their tactic was to buy time in order to rebuild for the eventual toppling of the regime. But in May 1981, when BaniSadr was removed as President, it became clear that the IRP had won the power struggle and that Khomeini was firmly behind them.

With this consolidation of power the way was now open for an onslaught on all opposition.

The Mojahedin joined forces with Bani-Sad:

and the Kurdish Demo cratic Party in the Nationa Council of Resistance.

But their expectations a quick victory have ni materialised. Althoug moral support is given the heroic militants of th Mojahedin, and lett groups, this support has not developed into mast action. It seems that people of Iran face anoti long struggle against despotic regime.

It is vital that the groups in Britain and about their solidarity and sup mavament to this struggle as we contributing to the dis sion which by lear from the experience the past paves the was stronger and more movement.

MANSUR HA