curb, but free, general secretary, told Callaghan last week.
means by this in relation to the Ford strike.
Moss Evans was chairperson mittee during the 1971 Ford are not unreascmable This time round, Evansagain thinks that the Ford workers? claim is reasonable, because of the massive profits that the company has been making.
nine-week national Ford strike started, as management made an insulting offer, they will argue now, that Ford would be unable to compete if they granted the claim, 'Britain" would be the loser.
Evans' philosophy is simple. Shop-Noor reduce the risk of disputes, as he explained in 71: 1 believe in having the membership with Socialist Challenge Is ducing leaflets for distribution at Ford plants, and another leallet for the wider labour movement.
Order your leaflets today. f1 per 1,000 leaflets.
The Ford plants in Britain and North of Ireland Dagenham, with 24,500 work2,000; Southampion Swanses. 2,100; Entield. 1500: Divenir NE: Lesmington, 1,200; Belfast, 1,140;
1,000; 540; Avels. 380; Croydon, 320; Treforest 250. *THE COUNTRY does not need another tight pay socially responsible, bargaining, both in the private and public sectors." That's what Moss Evans, the Transport Union's RICH PALSER tries to understand what Evans me, so that 1 can say to an employer that a deal 1 make is a deal that will be kept, because l it on behalf of our membership.
In 1971, faced with anger and demands far action from the shop floor, this meant, as now, the The nest step is to clinch a In 1971. Mr Ford's impatjerice, when the strike went into its seventh week, Ted him to have words with the Prime Minister. and AGREEMENTS can Even the President of the Auro Warkers:
Lten, who favoured lang term" wage agreements. was pro- and Jones that a sellement was needed:
After talks with the Prime Minister, this dynamic duo had secret talke with Ford's management, and arrived at a deal.
In return for ans improved offer. Including future rises of ares E2 in December 1971 August 1972, they agreed on a settlement to last for two years, Management made only one union sign agreement.
In order to sell this to Ford workers, instead of the usual mass meetings and show of Hands, a secrel nostal bailor was arranged.
What militants should do THE FORD strike must win. This message must he collective official.
No chance to collectivel: diseuss what to de; whether it was possible to win more; or for opponeati of the deal to say why it should be rejected One worker at the time said: *After nine weeks on strike you read something in the paper. Perhaps you go round to your mates.
and Those are that the strike in the wages fight.
pleased for Labour to stay in office so long as they carry their number one role: policing the working cluss in the wages Eg chow ofhands"
was no hope.
WHEN Jim Callaghan announced that the date of the General Election was postponed, the Stock Exchange shot up. When the Ford workers took action for their claim into their own hands it plummeted.
the facts life for government. STEVE POTTER examines the line-up The City gents are only too struggle.
IS LEE MOSS EVANS 14th from left] with members of the Us Auto Horkers Einion in London during the 1971 strike.
'You travel into the plant. A few placards saying No hallot NO ONE LE talk to. Ah fuck it" you say.
Workers at Haleapod and Swansea refused to go back for a time. but after Moss Evans Jack Jones man, Callaghan's If they can't do that, then the sume bosses who heap Tulsonne BUTALIT praise on Callaghan today will he kickine him where it hurts birter in help them.
union is Ford is a special case only Reg Birch, the Engineering | Union's negotiator, went back COCHE ID tried to stop official endorseJent of theden. He attemnied to censure Scanion for his role Moes Evans ronk no such action against his hoss. He's a whit the labour Gosersmient means to really limit. And why they told a Lers that they would be getting even less than the five per cent, to take secount of "wage deit' But the Ford workers' action could change all that. Last year suw the firelighters eventually lose after a long and fight, betrayed by TEC leaders who did nothing In British Lesland, small groups of werhers have fosght bitterly: often against true bosses fronting for Michael Edwardes.
Only in one or two plants. like Cowles, have plant leaderships stuck to their guns and could unity Leviand workers against the parlicipation plans Evans supported the Social Contract but now wants a return to responsible collective bargaining When he says responsible, it should cacan responsible lo the membership Not responsible in the cyes of bosses and the Governput these plans into effect now If the NUPE leaders wont do it, then the action should be organised by wage action committees in the leculities. demanding hacking from their The Ford workers, by taking their final setlement date, have wul their neantarors on the spot. They can have no doabt what the wishes of the runk und SETTLEMENT The for the Conley claira, which nims to restore living standards to the level they were at in 1974 - the heginning of the Social ConTract — Is due on 1 November.
SHET will never he H stronger position to secure tleir Justified claim thun it ties take action now. Throughout the