NO ONE would argue with the assessment that the NUM ballot vote was a defeat for the miners and a set back for all the working class. editorial statements, and Pat Hickey's contribution (SC 270) go further.
miners' decision represents a turning point page of that nave ela media out o ries "have the miners out Neither the Labour Party nor he trade unions can progres an inch against Thatcher unless the eft organises an all out fight TY LELE traitors. Pat Hicker OS ICES the unions fighting the right' a "cross sectoral organisation"
This is a deeply pessimistic picture of the state of the antithat right leaders of the trade unions ar Cross Wing move an eh forward. Icast will not y Pat key (26 1 0 plained about the results of the 28th ballot.
Concerneone waited too long to start the campaign that linked the pay and closure issues their letter Dick Hall and Mark Hunter Se craw030c mine running and the Cxweren't just problems of adby because if we fought on when Pat argues 'Every miner knew the issues" he misses an Yorkshire told Challenge, the minere vores on wages not on clasures They either didn't believe the • ings pit surgery or weren't contident Socialist Challenge Howaver, the The editorial in SC 268 argues, 'Undoubtedly the The majority of miners were not ready to be an industrial battering ram to bring down the Tory Government.' to Ico argumenis tnal unprofitable pits are not viable.
For over twenty vears the NUM has been led thundreds of pits be closed dry investment. the NUM Icaderer Scargill shifted the of their campaign in the final stages to these issues, it was not chouga Line inree area: where the jobs campaign ALLe South the NCB have a hit list and the comens id South the defeat TENISL COSITO LIET O0 ne Turned around, without the left in the organisation to LECHSLUVE Clearly hallenge the witch-hunters i ELS TCHOCESE But pessimistic oy nal to assume this removal of the right wing is a pre-condition for Ice on the Tories What is important is that tendershin political issues involved the the on that ho m union challenge the NCB's claim that uneconomic CHORO COCE 1K8 accep and motivate based or not profit Scargill's for government as comCHISS as Ene Tories are to theirs* outlining a plan of action for 28 November 1982 ano organises an iniceraico nergy ponc 515 LOTEO CONTINE LA issues to the NUM in a 'secPat Hickey class.
suppor or ouer secuons o te class.
The trade union leadership is not an factor in that. As Ken put it, *If the TUC didn't back the train muse have would they back mus. in minds many miners. Tailed to CONVICE CICH Te DOVIOS CONTO WIn Exactly. by the (majority of the NUM Even the camp turn the situation around, and Tories. Celia's points on pit closures will not stand up She says 'either armeno taturafitable ThIs right veares dosures over awenty veerg have been an issue since '79 Sprit clostr *81 ne chimo down. MIL HISI WES SAOW! DCIOIE INC that a maiority of miners are warning that the ciass.
That is why we argued for the left organising all our against the Fory Government move an inch forward the right wing leaders of the trade unions are removed Dia This is, of course, the real point. The sacking of Alan Thornett was an immanage ment's plans for the Cowley mlant. Over the last few years BL has been moving concentrate production at Longbridge and Cowley.
The closures of Speke Canley and Rover were part of this plan. Cowley is an ideal plant for Eus kind or con body facilities side by side. It has a capacity of 750,000 cars a year.
Infortunately for BL also has militant history. It was the only plant in BL to reject the 2 pay pushed through carlier this mon th. And with more work coming into the plant and new workers being taken the likelihood of a ightback was growin To BL moved one of it top hatchetmen in Tom Grey who had introduced sweat shop conditions and vırtually chiminated the TOIC of shop stewards in the SD1 plant prior to its CIUSUTE Indeed a big factor in the workforce's accept redundanc inere the gruelling conditions on the tracks.
Since the miners' ballot there has been a continuing debate on the reasons why the miners voted no.
approach outline the kind of alternative Government Alan Thornett In Cowley the role of the shop stewards has been consistently undermined. Under the productivity agreements which the national officials foisted on the members, mutuality on manning leveis has been eliminated.
The workers are simply 'That's the job. If you can't hold it there's plenty the dole can Facilities for stewards Celia Pugh puts her opinion on this matter. have been progressively withdrawn, the stewards are subject to continual harassment and intimidation Despite all this the Cowley workers have fought hack. The weel before Alan was sacked there were walk-outs in the North Works against intimidation and there hav been over the months.
the editorial board. became necessary to ste tion.
This was all the more necessary because produc tion of the new range medium cars — the LM10 starts next week. Up to 1000 workers eris car. This will started for was bound to boost the confidence of the workforce BL intends to have the LM10 This means hard-ine menagement ano conditions Sacking Alan, the steward associated with a fighting La fighting opposition to BL was an essential part establishing the manage ment through fear" which Cowley workers havo suffered important defeat without a fight. But BE nas no war. The build-up of worl in the plant, crease in the work-forc will help create the conditions for a fight-back. It will inevitably increase the sell-contidence of workers, by improving their bargaining position There ahead. But BL would be wrong to feel complacent. Militants in Cowley must now take up the cudgels that Alan has been forced to drop.
whilst Pat Hickey in closing the debate, replies for