*E belleve that most active trade unionists would agree with your executive council that the 56 fat rate policy, Initiated by our Biennial Delegale Conference, was not only of importunce in restoring stability to the chaotie situation of mid-1975, but was In the circumstances the best possible deal for the vast majority of trade unionists... It secured the retention of the Labour Government in power and who would have fancied any of the Tory remedies in that situation?' So said Tad chairperson Stan tore of etate for wen Phasei would be discussed two days later.
Throughout the next two days delegates waited expectantly, as Jones tried in vain to get single mation which called for a retaro to free collective bargainting without specitying any date - which would have allowed the executive to keep Ponse 2 intac Bur for once the 'man who Tuns the country" couldat run the TaL. and 1ao main resolutions were put betore the conter ence on the Wednesday morning. The first called for a return to tree collective bargaining on tbe expiry of Phase 2', when differconsolidation of hasic rates, low pay and productivity dealing would be treated 1s priorities.
No mention of restoring the cuts in living standards over the last two years was made.
The second resolution called for la return ta unfettered collec ove bargaining trom 1 August 1977°, Time and time again the Pomberton beil lend to mas fe for all' massive unemployment cla ma cbc cover of the first resolution, and the ESCALATOR ence seriensis essent that the *Does anyone in the asked. Jack towards che end of the dehate tried to argue that agreed on a return to voluntary collective bargaining, problem is haw to get there', and chat all he was arking for that delegates stick to the twelve months agreed for Phase 2, *Do we catry out our barguin or de besome hothend:?* we repudiate But as Alan Thorner pointed out when moving a thind resolution calling for 'cost of living cocalator agréements to offser the Il amount of price inflation. additional to increases in hourly rate, at no time had thi Toll mennersain neen elsea ma chance to accept or reject Phase CONDITIONS Ta conten 19t hat conference conditions, none of which had restrmint been met, und that David Steel' for Labour was further wage curs.
And theb uma card: No action bf ou ould bring about the fall of of is sinking. We should not let the shipur us Danny Harris said in summing speaking apposed further traint, if the labour movement is and the ship will only sink if the only crew allow the capcuin to run it on tbe rocks* was With thar conference went to lea by two thirds to a third. Ter- vote, and great wages at the TAG conferDOCT Dearly tao million members it cilled the Social Contract IES continue?
the ake up th Leyland Longbridge -Hicte was Jones tract came he every man goes out when the ship the motion wage res that rejected Jones makers.
Representing ghost be allowed to of differentials carworkers take up the challenge CARWORKERS are the first to gauntlet of wages interesss in after Phase 2 cods. The first ste was at Vauxhall and Ford workSpur in for E15. These need to be hacked up by the demand that agreements organisarion in increases 1o protect the real value inflation. No matter what the TUC tries lo book up between now and September, the way to fight for the democratic decision of the union conferences is to pur la the cinims Anocher possible lead in the strugale against the Social Con- makers from the nacional mecline ni skilled workers in thi enginoting union which met in birmingham on 2 July. Chaired by Koy Fraser from Cowley thi abjective of the mecting was noe to discuss any so-called makers union" as certain officials In the AUEW bad scated with the bope of discrediring those inRather, the meeting was a first attempt to consolidate the mass emerged when the Executive Council of che scabhed on the Leyland toolcontrion theme that has united these at the meeting has neen what they see as tie croston Boer the past All orher major years, together with the failure of
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 14 July 1977