Strikes are banned

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UNDER Scott Lithgow's new Yard Agreement, strikes are banned. 'In the event of any dispute . . . there shall be no stoppage of work, withdrawal of work, or industrial action of any kind." Instead, a long-drawn procedure is laid down to be followed, climax of dismissal.

The ot this twomonth long procedural maze is a conference of "representatives of the employer and the relevant national trade union official of the signatory unions". Management will have the right of veto over whether or not the yard convenor attends this meeting.

The number of shop stewards in the yard, at present about 50, will be cut so that they "will not normally exceed • twenty in number". A second yard convenor can be elected only if the number of workers' exceeds 2,000.

The agreement even limits the size of the shop stewards committee: "The full-time convenor(s) and one shop steward from each signatory union"

The agreement is also SOME 200 busworkers in Glasgow have decided to opt out of playing the political levy to the Labour Party in their union dues.

What media propaganda failed to do in years has been achieved in a matter of months by the determination of the Labour-conon the genuine and total acceptance of the principles of flexibility and interchangeability... there shall be no demarcation whatsoever...

"The employee will, at all times, show every willingness to unuclake vuc • wall dill wil at no tike, oth em worked to wall, for work ... From time to time the employer will introduce new machines or aids to production • .. total acceptance of such aids is a condition of this agreement."

Every section of the Yard Agreement is permeated with the stench of Managerial Absolutism with Heavy penalties for even the most minor infringements of Port Glasgow's new Penal Code.

Convenor Duncan McNeil secured acceptance of the takeover at a mass meeting by presenting a single-page document listing six points (covering pension rights, a £600 lump sum for accepting transfer to the new employer, etc) and giving the impression that no more was involved. McNeil's six points are a long way away from this 35page Yard Agreement. with the closures, due to with the closures, due to be implemented on May 13, and strike action in the event of any disciplinary action being taken against workers. BRITISH Leyland Cowley press shop workers voted last Friday, 6th, to reject management's demands for three shift working at Austin Rover factories, despite threats by the company that extra work to be brought to the factory would be taken elsewhere.

The existing two-shift system means that workers do either day shifts or night shifts (working four nights). The new scheme would mean a five-night week and a return to Friday night working, abandoned 18 years ago.

The workers were also told that if agreement was not forthcoming then the present night shift work might be ended at the Body Plant.