Compare the following two statements: 'Our Labour Government's achievements on behalf of the working class justif les it expecting trade unionists to have reasonable regard to the Government's pay guidelines if we are to continue our attacks on inflation.
That was John 'Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam' Boyd, General Secretary of the Engineering Union, writing in the union's journal in November. Contrast it with:
*This National Committee instructs the Executive ConCHESTER MC SOETCESERIOI of Shipbuilding and Engineerine Unions to seek bs negotia lion a minimum time rate of E7D for skilled workers, E55 for labourers, the rate for semi-skilled workers to be in aco ordance with the existing for UNANIMOUS This resolution was passed UnanimOusiN by the nationa commitice of the Engineering Union on 14 November. The claim will mean an increase of 66 per cent in the minimum time rate, which currently stands at 642 a week.
Many engineering workers already roceive a similar weekly wage, but for the more poor ly paid sections of the induscry time rate will mean major in creases well above tbe Lovern ment's 10 per cent Jimit.
Nor will better paid workers simply benefit from increased overtime and shift allowances A victory over the Engineering Employers" Federation — who will resist any such increase in the minion Cathe FOLL would open the way for better pald workers to further increase their wages above the minimum.
NATIONAL ACTION in addition, the claim in cludes demands for a 35-hour week and 35 days holiday a year, which if won could go a long way to reducing unempl oyment in the industry. NeithCT EDe EEF Dor tbe Labou Government are going to readily concede the claim. National action will be required to win There are few signs of any preparation lor national light being made by the union leadership. Scanion, fresh from voting against supporting the firefighters at the TUC, is no more Hacy to leid a ten HE SALVAEME for the claim than la lobn Bord.
The same national committee meeting which decided on the claim also instructed the AUEW's district commition to call special beetings shop stewards to begin the process of mobilising the membership to win the full claim; these TEPH SHOULE SARC PHICC OC fore the National Committee is It said that the national committee should be recalled as soon as the EBF replied to the claim, to consider what action sbould be taken if the reply is not favourable should demand that these special shop stewards meerings take place, and argue within them for a nation al conterence of delegates elected front these meetings to plan the struggle OVEr claim. It is only by full rank and file control over negotiations aod action for the claim that a ched.
The recent Broad Left national conference called. for shop stewards and convenors national conference in the New Year. It is time the Broad Left came out of its long sleep and bezan to orpanise that confer ence, so that the Scanions and Boyds are not allowed to get away with treating their own members with the scorn they have shown for the firefight-