Confusion rules in LT strike

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conterence for contro THE terms on which the London Underground chas returned to work are not clear as we go to press.

ASLEF last week called off their strike after London Transport postponed new schedules which mark the beginning of cuts in service imposed after the Law Lords' ruling against cheap fres.

Alternative

ASLEF agreed to discuss alternative savings. But the kick in the tail was that the return-to-work terms committed ASLEF to accepting LT's new schedules unless acceptable alternatives were found within four weeks.

The NUR then called a strike, which was ended by a unanimous decision of the NUR AGM on Tuesday. It seems that the NUR's return to work was based on postponement of the LT schedules but without the fourweek deadline for implementation: but it is not clear.

Early Wednesday morning (30th), LT however said they would post the new schedules immediately!

They backed off - but only for a week.

We do not know if the NUR or ASLEF will reimpose their strike.

Divisive

Two political points however clear.

1. The petty divisive tactics of the NUR and ASLEF leaders have given great comfort to London Transport.

2. The struggle nevertheless shows that the fare rises imposed by the Law Lords in March could have been beaten, if the GLC Labour Group had given a lead by defying the law and campaigning for industrial action.

And why isn't the GLC Labour Group making itself heard now in support of the tube workers?

rig THE conference last week of the steelworkers' union ISTC confirmed that the new blood pumped out by the 1980 strike is still working its way through the union's veins.

It voted 91 to 79 for future conferences to become the union's supreme policy-making body. At present ISTC conferences have no decision-making rights at all - all powers remain in the hands of the union executive. Indeed, until a few years ago the ISTC had no conferences at all.

Even the executive clearly sometimes has problems exerting any control over the ISTC's right wing general Silent: Ken Livingstone THE strike by 21 workers, sacked for supporting a victimised colleague at EDP is at a critical stage. Management have employed 11 scabs on a full time basis and another seven temporarily, in an attempt to continue business normally.

Thete is a danger that the bosses will now consider the dispute over, and continue operating as if there were no jobs and rights at stake.

A two-pronged attack is needed. The first is effective picketing to stop scabs from moving in and out. For this we need more support at both gates in the mornings and an exceptionally large mass picket next Tuesday morning at 7.30.

The second is to spread the fact that there is a dispute here - an attempt at blacking all goods is needed.

The West Yorkshire and Lynsey Regional Exam Board is a valued customer of EDP, estimated at £3 million over several years, on whom they rely for examination paper work and marking and they have already indicated unwillingness to continue the contract with EDP unless the dispute is settled favourably.

All union members onfere segretary, Bill Sirs. At the conference, Sirs opposed the motion on conference powers, and said he was speaking on behalf of the executive.

Intervene

Executive members had to intervene from the floor to point out that the EC had decided to take no position.

Catch 22 is that only the executive can decide whether the conference should have decision-making powers, but clearly the conference vote will exert heavy pressure.

The conference rejected motions calling for the election of national officials. Board to explore this seam. So in the meantime they intend to cut manpower down to 200 and stop producing coal.

This is an old NCB trick which has been tried on before (in certain South Yorkshire pits, for example). It usually means that the Board aren't interested and are meiely playing for time