Picketing at Doncaster: a basic right under threat Saltley Gate, the steelworkers' offer.
stewards have and mass meetings Calli look set to endorse it. The claim ULILOE hour r week.
However, the pressure for strike action comes not so much from the money offer but from the shopp. ing list of 'efficiency improvements attached to it. These were spelled out employee bulletin as follows: • employee mobility between jobs and pay grades smooth speedy introduction and effective operation of new technology and work system *avoidance inefficient demarcation and effective oDeTaOn technology work system * avoidance of inefficient demarcations between jobs. TTAOPS equipment, operations and shift * flexibility in overtime WOrKIC including the abandonmant of in, all in' empiloyees of avoidable * elimination lost time during working hours.
As well as bell to bell working, this prepares the ground for attacks times, line workers' relief times and tea brcaks.
All local (plant level) agreements the deem ito be in COLUCLY conflict with these points 'are terminated'. In Ford want adolen. panel of full time union ofpolice these points, and senior stewards to affirm theit agreement to them for ap plication in every plant' In plain terms, Ford is aiming for total control over line speeds and work practices slaughters jobs. company wants the trad union and shop steward organisation disarm itself in order to achieve this If this much is becoming clear to the shopfloor, a great deal more is not National negotiations have dragged on for seven weeks with virtually report backs to the shop floor, despite the fact that the main topic of discussion has been "efficiency"
At the final meeting management on Decem ber. union negotiators even submitted their own efficiency roposals Although ected by management these included concession on mobility of labour and other items Yet in September SULI Todd, pledeid to a. negotiator, Ron nationa meeting Ford shop stewards that there would be no discussions on efficiency before the wage claim was settled. Prolonged negotiations and talks have meant that the original claim for E20 and 35 hours has been lost sight of.
Some newspapers have suggested that the comwas told OreVELCa that 7% per cent would have been recommended if the strings had been dropped rearguard action on condiTONS But Ford workers need at least E20 to return living STATORTES their 1979 level. And a 35 hour week is the minimum needed to defend 100 agals Ln0 onslaught of technology. Hopelully, a decision to strike will brins thece demands back Io !n centre of discussion.
Alliance overturned existi
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By Mick Drake, Dagenham Assembly Plant ALL OUT strike action from 5 January is being recommended by national union negotiators to Ford's 54,000 manual workers in response to the company's 7.5 per cent with strings wage
Ron Todd preparation and clean up