for the £20 across the board wage claim.
about.
The Combine is made up of and stewards from every major COmE BITE TE COLLE There are a couple of Labour Party LOUISIS party, IWA, SWP, IMG and Big Flame member. Butit's dominated by none o them, independents:
of the Combine last year's claim. Last year's claim was for an increase of only 15 per cent on basic rales — drawn up by the convenors and officials, without consulting ORGANISE When Ford offered between 11 and 14 percent for different workeis didn't feel anything It was clear that militants in Ford plant had to strike committee Yes. Workers are well aware that Ford puts is prices up every 90 days. They wonder why they can's have have higher wages in the same way:
Are they aware that they will have to take on the guverement" this Thay know tha. the govern sten: will do all in is power lo imposethe 5 percent.
the But do you think the present leadership or the were capable of against the government Fords? Do you think Fords is a special cuse?
No. All workers are a special case. The los:
Leyland is the fault of the Leyland management, not the workers, We will he fighting to get support for our strike through THE FORD [UK] Workers' Combine has played a major role in building support for the strikg and for "Socialist Challenge" talked to the secretary of the Combine, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation. He explained what the Combine is organise at a much earlier stage to make sure this year's cinim was worth fighting for.
Two groupings of militants — the Ford Workers' Group at and a lew Dagenhant and Langley Action Committee called a national meeting in April of this year.
OPPOSITION
Thai form the Combine and fight for pay a simple claim with three main points - E20 across the boand, five hours off the week, and no strings.
Weran up against opposition the shop Ted within the National Convenors Committee.
They wanted a claim that did not mention a definite ligure bur called for rise, to avoid confronting any worth The Combine organised a campaign. and warked for resolutions *We want an elected We want successtul picketing of the docks, flyins pickets and mass peacetul demos.
Oh: viously the present leader ship won't carry that through MUSt learn experience years, We will be fighting for the stewards initiative will be resolution to the first stewards inecting calling for the recall of the Covenry stewards conier ence, and getting an elected strike committee. strike and wal sou be calling for the Javolvement of the workers regular nass meetings?
profits cometopick up their wages and tax rebate on Thurstay. be callins for the holding of mass micetings.
throught the committees and branches shop stewards conference finalise mecting decided to the pushing, endorsed by people stewards contitlos:
CAMPAIGN substantial produced a of mass leafleting trom elle bast lew Take putting the vicinity nass of mass picketing.
we will happening, Wrough (UK)
But few Ford workers live in Ford workers shop stewards the union convenars A day before the national PLACARDS Coventry - called every yearto the The madge convenors committee met and struggle. night of the hadges.
The denis decided by 13 to 12 to support that we'd been which had SUCCO several shop 5 percent.
The nest job of the Combine was to laench a campaiga for the clalm among Ford workers.
series PICKET leaflers, which went into all the Britiah plants, and our badge. which is now being worn by one | stewards meeting last Tuesday.
began wearing hut has become something of a symbol of the When Halewood first Henry walked out workers on the shift produced large round placards with blow ups task of tbe copies Combine now is to preveat a sell-out through productivity The lines have been cut so much aiready that there's no for increased productivity. Thac's why one of our most important slogans has What's more, you can lose a productivity bonus if the line Deeaks down or if there 5 4 shortnee in suppies. That could happen a lot this winter with other struggles against the SITATE But our main arguments that it would mean harder work Dagenhan: shop THERE's a history of the union selling us down the restraint not only for ourselves for the whole of the working class, All sections of the class noed a big wage rise We don't go along with the idea that jus because nurses don't produce a prosit for Ford, they shouldn't get a wage rise. SUPPORT We've 15,000 explaining our case — showing how much wereally earn - and explaining that we're fightine There's a feeling Ford workers that they can do it on their own, because of their strength. Bat this in't just a nant winine company This is a fight with the government and the 5 per cent.
You can't take on Inc covernment as just one section of workers. no matter how This means the setting up of strike support committees.
It mucans pushing for workers with claims pending like Vauxhall's NUPF and so on — to launch struggles for their claims now and not to wait to see has ne