Only f2 for 10 each 12 month inland Socialist Challenge we are offering a free copy Malcolm X Subscription rates:
Inland: 12 month £14.00; 6 month £7.00; 10 issues £2.00 Overseas: 12 months Surtace & Europe £17.00. Air Mail £24.00 (Delete as appropriate)
Name Address SPECIAL OFFER Please send me For multi-reader institutions double the above rules Send to Socialist Challenge. PO Box 50, London NI 2XP Reni tarad ar a newonader with the Post Office Publishad by •ordina. Enterorisos. PO Box su. London Ni. Printed By East End Offset (TU) Ltd, London E2.
SPECIAL OFFER
subscription to of Nicaragua: The Sandinist Revolution by Henri Weber (normal price f2.95) or Autobiography of By R Reid and R Brookes, NUR IN A dramatic confrontation the executive of the railway workers' union voted for all-out national strike on 28 June against the wishes of their general secretary Sid Weighell Weighell responded by appealing the Rail Board to up its offer of 3.1 per cent on the basic fale lo prevent ine strike and by saying that the executive decision didn't bar him cultaule negotiations.
But all the signs point to a ball that isn't going to stop rolling as ASLEF, the train drivers' union, joins the NUR and approaches are made to the TSSA as well as the steel and miners' unions who along with the NUR make up the Triple Alliance The executive's decision Was torced by the wide-ranging nature of the attacks being made on the jobs and living standards of railworkers. Rail's offer of five per cent frozen until September actually means a 3.1 per cent over the and amounts to a pay cut with an inflation rate of 10 pe " The 'offer' also included what amounts to a 'no strike' clause. The exCCULYC was aSO prepared to accept the productivity deals attached.
Although BR has made aletasorar retenerle closure of workshops swincon. Horwich and Shildon it is operation o goods and passenger trains, cuts in station staff, a restructuring of grades and other so-called efficiency measures all of which would result in thousands of jobs down the spout.
The executive's stand reflects the growing militancy of railworkers as demonstrated at their recent grades conferences which voted 229 votes to 29 against BR's offer.
While a decisive lead has been given which has Lic over wneiming suppor siderable NUR is sceptical about the executive's ability to carry it through. They are wary of a re-run of last year when the strike action was called off the minute and a pay deal accepted which had produc tivity strings.
Bul twice within
week the executive has slapped Sid Weighell down. Fifteen of Guardian newspaper condemning Weighell for his attack on Tony Benn and the left of the Labour ParLy.
The threat of taking on all rail unions together plus the miners ana ine power workers may be too much for the The ball rests with them.
Meanwhile railworkers and their supporters neec to prepare for actinis oF The District Council the NUR are meeting this weekchulo uraw uD sulak The NUI and ASLEF have agreed meet to co-ordinate ac tion. Joint strike committees involving all grades such as is already way East London should be set up.
Speakers should be organised to go to local labour movement bodies including other unions. Constituency Labour Parties and Trades Councils.
should brought onto the picket lines, , with mass delegations the Labour Parties and the trade unions. Labour MP and local councillors should be called on to ofter support and facilities to the rail workers The month of July promises to be a month of inshowaowil the Tories and the labour movement should organis to defend all workers at the sharp end of the struggle.
Socialist Challenge will be vital in telling the rall story, up your order now and set up your sales teams at the depots.
----- pull-quotes -----
still demanding acceptance of flexible rostering,