For raise the stakes. withdrawn Sunday working. This is intended to undermine the drivers in the NUR. But those who see the unity of the two unions having gone too far are calling for a total closure of the railways and for the Board to slog it out.
Sid Weighell, leader of the NUR, playlllg despicable role. But he is a desperate man. He knows that the longer the drivers continue to fight the more nkcly il ls tual lne guard: will in. Despite his agreement on the new flex. ible rostering, most guards are in revolt against them.
Stance Accordingly, he has stood with the Tories and T.ne Kall Boare agallis ASLEF. Writing in NUR said that 'the Board's decision IUL LU the 39-hour RIO CHICII week and not to pay the 3 Uci sull increase for Locomotive staff has been brought about entirely by Lne stance aaopica by ASLEF' But the widespread feeling amoncsl the ranks has even prompted UOVe This national ecutive LO gIve official backing the train drivers. At a meeting held Steve Forey - gagged by courts THIS WEEK things are coming to a crunch on British Rail. The failure to bludgeon ASLEF into submission leaves the Rail Board and their Tory backers with only two options: capitulate The Rail Board has growing support for the Monday January Weigell managed to head off the move, but it was stated that many members VI Lc excculve c uou! assistant genera secretaries feel that LilC ASLEF case is 'right and just'!
Meanwhile, the revolt spreading. Many Southern region depots including Cannon St, Slade Green and Plumpstead will be out Friday. Mean while meeting of depots in the North West met Tuesday to press for an end to the agreement on tlexible rostering.
Despite press reports, the traindrivers acuiull having a big effect on industry, particulary in relation to delivery of coal and steel. An strike would pose the question of invoking the Triple Alliance of rail, steel and mine workers. this regard, SCOLLISA miners General Secretary, Eric Cake seus memaers 'wholeheartedly support our colleagues in the triple alliance: We are completely benina tne decision or IF Sidney Weighell, about what they're after.
all Harn catroners m America last year by the larger and more moderate NUR .
be the worst of all possible worlds.' out fight with ASLEF.
the pocket of a ragbag of communists and othei left wingers)' practices' break with the eight-hour day'.
would be set for the real kıll pay settlements down to the level of those in the private sector.
sions: if ASLEF is defeated, the real winner will be none other than Margaret Thatcher.
ASLEF to take action to compel BR to carry out the LCIIlS (the) agreement'. general secretary railworkers' union, is to be believed then only minor issues are involved in the present rail Dul tne bosses nave olner cicar goais in mind Last week's Economist magazine, the journal of British capitalists, laid bare the hard, cold facts outcome of the current dispute would be the destruction of ASLEF, in much the same manner as President Reagan ... destroyed the 'An ASLEF in ruins could then be swept up To take on ASLEF and lose would The Economist places good odds on the knockAfter all, it argues, the drivers' union is small, 'bolshie (a weak leader in with supposedly 'absurd restrictive While the journal estimates only modest productivity improvements would result from the new rostering, its introduction would mark 'the critical Then the scene A BR victory would also bring the public sector While working people will be deadly opposed to these goals, few can disagree with the concluSupport ine Cannon St Guards Chris Francies (left) and Pete Oakley (right) St, explained that
----- pull-quotes -----
'Smash ASLEF' say bosses