Edwardes' style blackmail onto union, ASLEF.
in calling strike action.
The drivers are furious that the demand that the 1919 eight-hour guaranteed day agreement should be sold for the 3 per cent increase, the BRB owe to drivers trom the August pay deal (held over short term cash flow pro- facilitate the Bord's blem).
New rosters for the York depots have been circulared and reiected Kings Cross drivers said, outrageous, * Ihev aI c they cannot absolutely be worked.
The rosters show that some drivers, in a three week period, would go 15 days without a rest day. As part of the 39 hour week over an eight week period, they would work anything between 48 hours and 30 nOTS.
During this period drivers would only be paid for 39 hours each week. These proposals would make drivers' social lives nearly non-existent.
Board's. press releases and full page dovens the tabloids have further angered drivers with their bare faced lies. BRB told the press last week that arivers nad an hour at the beginning of their shift to book on and read all publications and ANGER is growing among train drivers to the way the British Rail Board is trying to impose the drivers Reports from all over the country tell of unprecedented support for the union notices (tor example temporary speed restrictions) whereas all they have is ten minutes.
by far the most DUE despicable act has been the actions ot the executive oi the National Union of Railworkers in signing away their own members conditions and then saying they had gained vast improvements in conditions ana repealng ine nes contained in the personal let Cent to all drivers by th BRB as to the nature of the understanding reached during arbitration r.ugust.
The NUR executive is, however; coming unstuck as guards up and down the country threaten not to work to the new rosters and even to join the ASLEF strike.
meeting of drivers Stonebridge Park depor has decided along with Euston Watford and Kings Cross to impose a work to rule from onday 11 January to pu pressure to extend the acon ne ASLEF ecutive meeting the same day.
An all-out stribe now likely Board and puppet master. the lorv government, give in.
LIVILY Socialist workers. 35p plus 10p p&p. part of full page adverts appearing in (hese papers). the inevitable press onslaught against the train drivers.
PAMPHLET FOR RAILWORKERS What policies are needed to tackle productivity in the rail industry? Order now 'How to fight producChallenge pamphlet for railCheques/Postal orders to Cardinal Enterprises Ltd. Available from: Rail pamphlet, PO Box 50, Lon Don't rely on the Daily Mirror or the Star for your facts (left -Get Socialist Challenge pamphlet 1o arm yourse!f and your co-workers agains! GREG TUCKER NUR guaru on une soutnerr Reaion reports DuCK n Husus we ony cepted the pay on grounds that the productivity CsCusS/OI WUS (olals sevarate rom ine calke course some of us that in reality had probably beer struck Nevertheless, the extent of seni-Oll on productivity National Union Railwavmen guards are sayThe modemisation of the rail ay is in hand and flexible rosteung has an imporant part k play: Stripped of jargon, the senetis for tain crews are Da moncy as a 40-hour week; (2) a 79- nor WcLA li di arli.
immediately, and backdated to August 3rd, 1981 Also, flexible rostering will Hare Doso carcd HDIOre ment in working conditions: for example, morc occasions when rest days can be grouped together in give more 3 and t day breaks And a chance to achicye more Octa Sal aLICI!
• Rosters will he planned orer 8-w'eek periods. I hich ino if the train drivers cai fight these deals, why can't Solidarity between guards and drivers this time round is cune unacas aractonaly ine arvde ana rule racuc no KeDi arvers ona guards each others ihroats but not now.
Guards have been asking drivers into their mess rooms explain what's going or and what action ASLEF , the drivers union, is proposing t lunt. ve anow ertur ariy r out to manoeuvre imiocu orouud Are you still in the dark about flexible rostering?
means days off can be planned in alsance-and with contdence.
Somo necks will he 35 'hoürs; some 45 hours. Bus the average over S reck: will bo That, in very plain linglish. 3 %o increase on basic pas; effecive is what flexible rostering ir Britsh Rail means.
"So chats che problon:"
Redundancies? None will berequired by desible rostering Neither will there be split shilts exc rscc . c . etticient may to use the manbusel ellar read "economical.
"„Z:"
Because, as everyone knons;
tains doni run on rigid S'-hour shics, they run trom A to B. If the round bip takes a driver 6 hours and there are no 2-hour runs lor hinio pick up, uneand mone! -are wasied.
umi Sapa;
Socialist Chaltenge tivity discussions will be .os:
the drivers lose Loca negotiations very difficult when natior:
we rt being stabbed haCk somle Odu'y depots such as Streathan: -have been out on strike :..
week.
Railworkers usually ir:
keep servicesrunning wher. ":
weorner Comd VOlH .!d As one driver put it, hope it snows when we re o» Then we cure really bring :r country to a standstil!.
Tithenorking diy is varice herscen T and 9 hours product: i time will be increased, tus kerping costs conn This isthe only way che 3 pay avard aln butunded and the 39-hour weck implemunied. Withou tlesible rostering tere ült be no award, and no chango in working hours and working COKUl E Part of the train cres team the guards! has arendr actepred the nemr stsiem.
lisa good one Onethat nt genda CICIOnC le iz-uz-, "3E sape :
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HOW TO FIGHT 'PRODUCTIVITY' Socialist Challenge