conference issued a national threatened closure.
The management letter The Bilton works, located wovcrnamploom Ine locally nationally DISASTER Locally, the closure would be disastrous. The Bilson Works that anemployment in Wolverheavily products, would be pushed well into double figures - at least 12% per cent.
Alter 15 company closures in rocent years, with the direct loss of 7,000 jobs, and at least 5,000 others lost through curbacks, there is now growing determinationto take a stand and fight.
The Trades Council, ingether with the Works Action of'action on 11 September, with a work stoppage from bam 1o 2pm, to begin a fight back against the closure of Buston Steel and the spiral of closures arca Bilston i We portant nation. ally particularly because it is the first of the plants threatened by the British Steel Corporation which was not earmarked for closure in the 1975 Beswick Report. Tis closure would be a precedent for many odiers, so it is vital to build national campaign around the struggle of Belston workers.
PROBLEMS Their struggle raises problems which socialists soust not only give answers to. but also Icarn from in order to develop our programme and erisure that it can provide a practical guide TO ALER Consaltation and particiredundancies long-standing strategy, and the LOUDE willing partner in the leadership of the Iron and Steel Trades Confoderation.
Neither the ISTC nor the TUC did anything whatsoever in support of Bilatoo until the issue was forced into the open BILSTON STEEL leapt into the headlines at the end of June when the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation strike which provoked unaccustomed militancy has now been withdrawn, but the steel bosses have not changed their plans to close the plant. BRUCE YOUNG, an executive member of Wolverhampton Trades Council, argues that a long and difficult struggle lies ahead of both local and national importance. He writes in a personal capacity.
at the ISTC and then Confederation Icadership strongly objected to was that the closure was being proposed without proper consultation!
In fact, Bill Sin, the general and secrelary of ISTC, informed of the Bilston closure At the Piancial Times (BSC) clearly feels that Mr Sirs respond to its invitation to talk steel somewhat disingenuous calling down a storm a month aher the proposals were pur before him.
TARGET It is hardly astounding that the ISTC was singled out in a recently: leaked Tory document as a particularly soft target in any confrontation. No doubt Eric Varley, mind with his present offer of Corporation's main board. that trade unions should light the interests of their members, instead 01 as a trade-bit for concessions which contradict The Steel Corporation was proposing to close Bilston hy the EMPLOYEES PROFIT in tonnes 26 STEEL PRODUCTION over its this conference last next March, the Icadership committed itself to oppose this The problem for the TUC Steel Committee is that it doe not have a clear policy on slee because bas had been whatsoever for the future of the industry:
NATIONAL July:
This being 80.
produce such a plan even agreement is made with BSC thousands - 260