THE 2-1 vote of BL workers for strike action against the derisory 6.8 per cent pay offer is challenge to management threat to everything the Tories stand for.
BL boss Michael Edwardes is one of the Tories' favourites. For two years under Edwardes, the car workers have had to suffer massive redundancy, cuts in real wages, and • alacks working Since last April, when management arbitrarily imposed its 92-page "slaves charter', there has been a sustained onslaught on traditional working practices and organisation Edwardes' stand has to be seen in the framework of the crisis of the Tory government. Thatcher's tinancial policies haven't worked. Now she is imposing a strict 10 per cent wage ceiling in the public sector, as well as demanding millions of pounds in extra cuts.
Private employers are falling into line. Many of them are offering wage rises of less than 10 per cent -Ford and Rolls Royce have made ofwell under this figure.
BL's offer shows everything that is wrong with Tory Britain again working people are being asked to pay for the crisis of the bosses' system. The response of the Leyland workers shows the way forward -mass action can throw the Tories back.
A general fightback is silenti needed and eminently possible. fightback on wages can be led by BL workers. Workers at Ford and other plants should co-ordinate ac tion on their claims with that of BL workers.
fightback on unemployment is being started by the occupation at the Gardener's engineering at Eccles near Manchester, and the huge demonstration ment to be held in Liverpool on 2! November.
A fightback on the cuts can be organised on the basis of the decisions of last Saturday's Labour movement conference cuts, which demanded that Labour councils should refuse to implement the cuts or sell council houses.
All these struggles need to be coordinated towards a fight to throw out this hated government. Another vear of the Tories will only mean 3m unemployed, more cuts, and everfalling living standards.
The best way to avoid that is to ensure maximum solidarity with all those who are fighting - especially the BL workers and the workers occupying the Gardner's factory.
The logical outcome of bringing these struggles together will be mass action, culminating in a general strike to throw out the Tories. Leyland workers vote to not just a Leyland - it is a conditions.
shopfloor thousands of - once Party against unemploy against une GET WHOEVER wins the current MPs-only election for a new Labour Party leader, the Labour left has got itself into hopeless tactical tangle.
Tony Benn, the autentic Having persuadea leader of the Labour left, not to stand . it is out all the stops to try ti Michael Foot. MPs .VOLE TOT Having just a couple of weeks fraud and a stitch up election as a LONCBRIDCE
AUSTIN
JOINT SHOP STEWARDS COMMITTEE UNITY VITISH LONCBRIDCE HUMB NUSMW..C.
T.G.W.U.
U.P.A LEYLAND.