WITH victory in sight and water workers stepping up their action, the union leaders have devoted their energies to sitting around the arbitration and conciliation service (ACAS) headquarters. come of the 'independent inquiry' The independence of this farce was shown on Sunday, Michael Bett, relations board member for British Telecoms, changed his formula after making a phone call. They have been waiting for the outWho was that call to? Perhaps "independent' like government minister Tom King wn nas been pressing the Tory's pay policy since the beginning of the dispute One thing is sure, the outcome will be an insult to the struggle that the workers have waged ove the past 4 weeks.
The claim for comparability gas and electricity will drop out of sight, and the only extra cash offered will be tied to productivity. This can only mean more job losses in an industry which has already lost 15 per cent of its manual workers in the last s vears The full claim means an average increase of £21, and would cost the employers a fraction of the £300 million they have saved through productivity in the past 5 years.
The reply sell-out WORKOLO be 'No stand out for the full claim'!
The workers at Hampton in West London have shown how the claim needs to be fought, by building mass pickets stop scab contractors bringing in supplies. For the past 4 weeks management have been able to get coal in and keep the s the service running in But with the craft unions out and the problems cumulating they cannot keep it up for month.
The message is clear. The water workers can win there should be on the full claim.
When the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) meets, the union leaders have the power to call off the dispute. So far the officials have refused to give any undertaking that the membership will be allow. ed to vote on whether to accept or reject the deal.
doubt they will have the backing of Nor man 'secret ballot' Tebbit who will not be insisting on a two-thirds majority before a return to work. But the water workers must insist on no return without SUCCULES full ballot of the members.
nuclear die armaceptable to AT but it has the millions of Blocked The same trade union who are working friends against the Labour Party dissipated and stabbed in blocked workers on the Tories in industrial action.
Yet the miners showed in 1974 that exactly that kind of action could impose a bitter defeat on the government.
right-wing are plotting The left-wing must start organising Now is the time launch a massive paign to put unilateralism and other radical policie into the manifesto; block the witch-hunt by supporting BLES thai refuse to expell Militant: and to re-organise the left around socialist cam for tory.