WALES 'THE negotiations nothing short of a farce. The union side should have walked out and refused to take part.
But the die was cast last year when the management offered the their trade union committees Llanwern and Port Talbot four opsmile softer option and took should nave said we don't accept any of your options'.
Although the workers Llanwern have accented redundan. by the relie i hans. the pot of The pot gold mey nave taken 1s only cepted to soften the blow.
The lack democracy Lanwern has been diabolical. We now have to division were agreeacagainst the present union officials who are responsible for what has happened.
To do this we have to have THIS week, union leaders in Llanwern follow Port Talbot counter-parts in selling 3,800 in jobs. Only the Llanwern NUB is left to sign the BSC 'slimline' agreement, but this is only a formality.
Supporters of the Llanwern bulletin Steel Sheet are determined to oppose this sell-out and lay plans for future restistance. Beginning with a lobby of the special one-day Labour conference on 31 May, they will pull this opposition together at a meeting called organisation. I'm not just talking OI organising on long term issues but the fight now. If we don't fight slimline, then we have lost the next Wales.
I'm not for 4 June. From this meeting they hope to oppose slimline and job loss, and to campaign for national trade union and Labour Party action to save jobs in Here RAY HILL, TASS representative on the Llanwern strike committee and secretary of the Monmouth Labour Party, tells Socialist Challenge why the 4 June meeting has been called.
battle on jobs before it starts.
Now is the time to fight. lave great faith in the minority. The pessimistic because I mood can change quickly. The majority can be swung back the other people are seen to be fighting back and prepared to lead a battle.
A minority has to organise itself what I'm talking about is an alternative leadership • LIC DCOOK will look to us when their need is great and they need a lead That is what we are trying to do with the 4 June meeung Some of us have been trying to isolate the right inside the Labou Party — if vou like. we are organis ing a minority there too. Trade unions must become political well - tey are too snallow at the moment We must also thrash out the realignment of the left. There is too much fragmentation at the moment and the only ones wno will gain arc those who are getting fat off our COrOSCS.
We have to get together to -strengthen our organisation and preparation.