recently by the Secretary of the Welsh TUC, George Wright, - is that import controls could be adopted to keep out foreign steel.
DIVISIVE Such a proposition - accepted by wide layers of the union leadership - is equally utopian. In the first place, it merely ties more strongly the interests of British steelworkers with that of the company instead of seeing that the only way they can really protect jobs is by fighting against it.
In the second place, it is divisive. Calling for 'import controls to protect steelworkers jobs is at the expense of workers in other countries. It merely exports unemployment. What this will lead to, in practice, is workers in different countries competing with each other instead of uniting in a common struggle against the steel barons.
Far from competing with each other, British steelworkers should be trying to find links with workers - particularly in Europe - to mount a common defence of jobs and wages in the period ahead. SHORTER-WORKWEEK The first step of such a defence must be an understanding that steelworkers did not create the present crisis and should not be made to pay for it. Why should steelworkers jobs be put on the line because of growing inter-capitalist competition as recession looms?
This does not mean that steelworkers are against the introduction of new plant and machinery. On the contrary, it is to be welcomed if it benefits the workforce -who produce all the wealth does not worsen working conditions and throw thousands out on the dole.
If machinery is to be brought in and plants 'rationalised', then the answer of steelworkers in Britian should be the same as steelworkers in France and Germany. Bring in the shorter work-week, share the work out among existing steelworkers without loss of pay! It is only by a consistent fight along these lines that jobs today will not be slashed tomorrow.
working people should shoulder the Socialist Action