WHY ARE London bus conductors collecting the new increased fares? A good question, and one that will probably be used against us from different sides in the battle over the Law Lords' ruling on subsidised public transport. So let's get a few things straight.
fares we don't, believe the cheap fares policy was fantastic benefit to Londoners.
fend that policy. Our strike last week built up tremendous morale in showing that united action by all workers on London Transport can bring the city to a grinding halt.
But OI the organisers of the Can't Pay, Won't Pay campaign were to have a look round my bus garage, or flick through the Public Service Vehicle Regulations conductors and passengers, they eventually begin to see why we've opposed their sort of campaign, why we nave lo collect the new fares, and why being a bus conductor must be about the most miserable job in the world this week.
Our garage nas suddenly been plastered with directives, and notices from management informing us that we will be disciplined if we comply in any way with passengers It's NOT because we support the higher the vast majority of us It's NOT because we aren't prepared to deattempting to pay the old fares.
The concession by which you could offer your name and address in lieu of payment, intended to cover situations where passengers get their purses stolen or lose their travel permits, has now been withdrawn.
We are now expected to follow to the letter, the procedure in the rule book for dealing fares refusals.
Basically, this means that if a passenger refuses to pay ine lull fare or to leave the bus, we have to call the police.
Management has also let it be known that large numbers of inspectors and Ken Livingstone and Dave Wetzel plain clothes LT police will be keeping an eye on us.
The threat of job losses that already hangs over our heads means that people are frightened of being sacked because of this campaign.
When Councillor Valerie Wise and 'Can't Pay' organiser was interviewed on the radio news at the weekend, she said, 'Yes, we want passengers to travel illegally because sometimes the only way you can fight for what you want is to break the law.
sounds like real fighting talk. Unfortunately, the lack of a lead from the Labour GLC in defying the Law Lords' ruling has left the union leaders off the hook. should have been the ske Our day strike ing board for further inaction Instead, like the GLC councillors, our leaders want us to take individual heroic actions.
With 3,000 jobs up for grabs LONGOI Transport, it just is not good enough to say if any Were will be an aim out worker victimised All that does perpetuate isolated actions and that is not what trade unions should do. It is collective action that makes the union strong. Can't Pay, Won't Pay, whatever ts intentions only serves to weaken and divide us.
Islington Town Hall, Upper St, Islington, London N1 Sunday 28 March to Sunday 4 April to be opened by CLR James, author of will have over 70 publishers the Caribbean, Asia, STRIKE BULLETIN Lest we forget By Toni Gorton JOHN BOYD, engineers, father' ruling claims Phil Manchester.
gle against Laurence Snipe. ton and AUEW officials, how the union operated in the dispute AUEW has declared that all motions the membership many branches have sent in resolutions.
secretaries Bob Wright and Ken Brett.
their cronies.
of their democratic should have the right to be informed.
issue the April meeting.
fice, 110 Peckham Rd, Romiley, Cheshire. Donations to same address each from the above address. coverage IP presents week in and week out.
• On-the-scene reports from Nicaragua, Iran, Grenada, Cuba ers ike Devlin McAliskey, Hugo Blanco workers movements • Analysis and teatures on world events and issues developments in the Middle East general secretary of the is little more than a 'god. over a 'secret society' which is the AUEW national executive, La leader beleaguered Laurence Scott dispute in After 10 months of strike and bitter strug.
Scott boss Arthur Manchester's top cop James Ander. the union executive are determined to block the ability of AUEW members to have any say whatsoever about A report in the Financial Times of 15 March stated that the executive committee of the on Laurence Scott have been ruled out of order.
This is despite rule 14 of the AUEW con stitution which states that the executive can be removed from office by a ballot of the membership provided that such a ballot is demanded by ten per cent of the union's bran. ches and is agreed by at least two-thirds of What is impossible to find out is how correspondence goes directly to John Boyd himself and minutes are not distributed to relevant people such as Broad Left assistant The only people who know what goes on in the AUEW executive are Boyd, Duffy and It's time to call a halt to their 'secret society'. Branches must protest this muzzling rights. At least they All AUEW members should be protesting this high-handed treatment and it should be an committee Letters should be sent to the AUEW General OfLondon SE15 and a copy sent to the LSE Strike Committee, 20 Roundcroft The Laurence Scott Strike Bulletin is available at 5p No other magazine has the in-depth political reporting and news Poland. El Salvador, • Interviews with class-struggle fighters and revolutionary leadGrenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, Bernadette • Translations of key documents from the world revolutionary and - from the nuclear arms race, to liberation struggles in Southern Africa, to . Enclosed is [ £4.65 for three months of IP;
----- pull-quotes -----
backfair Black 3raWorld:
Save up to 25% on a subscription to Intercontinental Press.