Viability British steelworkers.
leaders about their views on proposals.
Wyn Bevan is convenor of Port Taibot BSC electricians; Tom Lyons is secretary of the Talbot branch of the EETPU, the Electrician's Union; and Les Sexton was secretary of the strike committee and is now with TASS, the clerical section of the Engincering Union.
Tom Lyons: Of course disappointed. only shout the handreds jobs we are going to lose Port Talbot, but about thousands of jobs that going to be lost nationally. Il is not development and expansion, it is 40,000 jobs down the drain. That's what development Les Sexton: li is avers short-sighted plan. Varley say must wait antil market conditions improve. But when the economy does improve it will be too late.
The BSC giving technology and money develop steel-making іл Third World, And when stee demand increases, it is Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea that quality Merdeng the high will be Wyn Bevan: Well we pleased that we are to get the new continuous cast plant • Port Talbot, That's the sort o Investment we appreciale as it will mean about 100 new jobs.
oversil the report bs d terrible disappointment. •SHELVED Juring last year's strike th E835m development plan fo Port Talbot was shelved. Since then the clectricians have been blamed constantly for lois of Les Sexton: We were villuins of the piece. But they haven't even dared to mention us in the report.
Wyn Bevan: The electricians have been completely vindicaLEU, HEBERUE WE MISE DAL LASM in production bet they losing t500m this year. They can't explain that amount away by hiaming it on our strike.
The shelving of the big plan would heve gone on even il there had been no strike. In the 70s a lot of momey has been put inte Port long-term plan in the late 60%. That's been disebed.
Last pear, the Government offered (250m for u new strip mill. The BSC refused to pick it up. The mill sile is ready and u lot of the plant had been prepured by contractors. BSC Even the new Sinter plant which was at the heart of last year's nine week strike is srill inoperative. This week negonations broke down against berween the craft unions and the BSC.
Recognising defeat, the unions have agroed to operate the plant by present working conditions and planbing Jeveis. But BSC refused even this.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 30 March 1978 page l Almost a year to the day since the British Steel Corporation's Port Talbot electricians came out on strike over manning levels and pay at the new Sinter plant, Eric Varley, in the Government's White Paper - The British Steel Corporation: The Road to has whipped the carpet from under Socialist Challenge spoke with three of the strike the Government Management are secking a group-work agreement whereby craft workers have to carry out the work of other trades.
Apprentices are to be trained for all trades, thus bmiting specialist Sills ven on wages, she BSC ha insisted ироп conditions. To ger the pathetic 10 per ceat the been asked to reduce mannie, of accept work-sharing and agroe at a new disputes procedure the are status quo situation is to apply. (that is, no strikes).
And a national disputes committec of 30 per cent BSC and 50 per cent national union days. officers is to be brought in, The wages increase was due The next meeting is scheduled for 3 April. Also at Port Talbot, the crane drivers have been in dispute for two months.
Kather than settle, BSC has imported 40,000 tons of steel the and will import more.
No small part problem is the from and Steel Trades Confederation general secretary is Ball Sirs.
are he laviot tens of thousands of Having already production workers" during his reign, recently completed a five to seven pound increase on ECHEC OSES Before they pet the money, the produce extra tonnage and loose another 450 jobs.
Sinter plant, workers are to ger the chop Wyn Bevan; Even the new the /'m year's canteon dinner has Om ME continuons cast conditional on agreement on international manning lereb be no delays in commissioning anolher no strike clause.
This is straight blackmau. weakened. Production workers packet. And ine craft unions OCCI some of them like Port Talbot electricians, very strong support nationaliy.
The new concept in the White Paper consolidates another HALLCHEI Tin plate workers ar Velindre certain fature, evenir la to be Trostre have unions save with imported steel. are less inclined to rock the boat Les Sexton: BSC's long term predictions must be gium or they would invest now. They just not tellin British Leyland 30,000 workers are being axed. Now in steel, 40,000 more Tave albers mane have sacrifices for? They being deceitful. boping for an upturn sal be no means to met t but when it comes ther Compare building in the 50g of the Government ufda't invest and the industry got leR whose Callaghan is saying North Sea Oil is to be used for industrial development. Well after this report just what does he mean? agreed Tom Lyons: This thing jobs workers in other Those socialists who argue for plant is have beco BSC's So each "quality steel So they That not telling COTESLECC was being thing us. In The BSC building une go.
be E500m After are just are thes dumping.
WICH centralisation Ebbw Vale, sort of also has an effect on countries.
are heing besapposediy Our tee stressed the importance of a ne pal en Taired. report, Ignored.
The Select said information kept The and Marketing Service which fills predicted E250m loss. There Is going to Villers' announcement of disaster a few months ago there were no directives to price make savings. BSC blames the recession, the EEC, Comecon, счсв electricians. It ls poor plan kets. ning, poor management, over and DO WIat SEC ES ICLE TOT SUCCE workers: at East Moors, 3,100 Joos are to go nett monte g La slow death promised; at Shotton, well che stricken Shotton works do not A thousand workers are to Briton Ferry. Like Port Talbot big plans for Sbelton, Stoke on Trent, Hunterston, and Ravenseraig have all been shelved Between them, the BSC and tbe Government bave decided the British steel industry will never keep up with the world BSYCALIEICEI short planning they "Sack ine loi of them says Wyn Bevan, more steel workers. We have Bo control over world marA day of action is reported to be planned in Scorland, But would be a sick joke. Well what apput a nagonal saop stewards conference?
Wyn Bevan: It seemed the right shing to do when Monty Finneston announces Nutiomal Steelworkers' Action - LANCECE SO TENE CHOSURCS We got no union bucking and ended op leaving Shottoie to fight on its own. It's a bit depressite Things are bleak indeed Meanwhile BSC has set up a BSC (Indusiry) Lid. In the same week condemned the steelworkers, BSC took a full page in the press.
'Tous it's an ex-steel works To you it's a gold mine. BSC offered industrialists "highly flexible linsocial Induce"akilled SDE EUES serviced industrial sites' deserted works and thousands of jobs COTAT OIGNO CODE TIR steelworkers will be blamed for company being & lossmaker too,
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