Sitoriat 0-359 8180/9. DistribUtion/ Aerising 07-309 Challenge, Public Employees' representing the local govenment manual workers, whose present basic pay is £42.80.
The National Union OT Public Employees set out its policy in a document passed at conference called *Union Wages Strategy 197879'. It outlines in detail the problem of low pay for NUPE members.
Since 1970 the gap between the average earnings for local authoritv manual workers and those of all workers has increased from £5.60 to £12.06.
The report points out that previous attempts to get rid of low pay through productivity schemes, particularly as champoined by the 1960s Prices and Incomes Board, has failed to Causs. principal cause of this low paid position is the existence of low basic rates' says the report, and concludes that the only solution is a decent basic minimum wage - ol t00 Secondly, it argues that a 35hour week, without loss of pay, is 'essential it the trend of losses in job opportunities in the public SCIVICCS be reversed'.
These two planks of NUPE's wages strategy have now been incorporated into a joint claim the and T&GWU.
Fourteen pages of detailed analysis are needed to arrive at this conclusion. Onlv on its final page does the report outline the campaign' This comes down to three One, building mass support. amongst NUPE's membership campaign, through leaflets, posters, and a series of mass meetings prior negotiations.
SUPPORT Two, building support in the wider labour movement, and getting motions to and Labour Party conterence doubtless consider RICH PALSER looks at the wages strategy of the Union, the major union in support of the campaign.
building support among pubnic anG linking the elimination of low Davto me arternalive cconome strategy supported by NUPE.
ACTION Anese steos are or course essential preparation But preparation for what? Having got the membership fully behind the claim, what are they being called upon to do? Having got through branches and stewards committees workers in other industries, what else are they being asked to do? When it comes to the crunch ane une governmen refuses to meet the claim, what This is not answered in the document, mainly because the union leadership hoped that it would never come to the crunch Carnivalcutnumberstolittlemorethanahundred. - that the government would persuaded to 'change Now that it is clear COUrSC they will the union leadership has asked area and divisional committees to draw up contingency plans.
So what should those plans contain?
Firstly, it's clear that the local authority manual workers' claim sets the pattern for ancillaries, nurses, Walel workers and the various other claims pending in the pudic sector.
United action bv all those workers the local authority claim is the best way to win a decent settlement for Secondly, it's clear that even Ford workers need the so learly or omner workers to win, and for the public sector that is doublv the case. hal support will not be won unless pubne sector workers are veng seen to be taking strike action on their own behalf.
SOLIDARITY But having taken that action, members need to go out in flying pickets win NUPE Low Pay Rally in London on 24 September was hardly built at all, and the clash of dates with th in the eyes of the millions of workers throughout the world. We are opposed to them and will offer full support to all those fighting for socialist democracy. solidarity action from other workers.
When the nurses last went on strike they were able to win solidarity action from -DOn caster busworkers, Liverpool ana Manchester dockers, Midlands engineering workers, and the South Wales miners.
Thirdly, the nurses were able to do this because they were organised so as to involve the whole of the rank membership during the strike.
ACHON •countees ing members of all the unions in one area were able to organise teams of flying pickets, and all ship was put to good effect in finding better tactics to win the strike.
Pay Action Committees are needed now in every area, made of all up of representalves workers affected by the claim.
Without these steps all the Pay Rallies turned into an aclIve fight against low pay and against the government. o not take up arms against the socialist state. The Stalinist models 'socialism" in the USSR and Eastern Europe have discredited socialism
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WHEN the government and the TUC get together for chummy little talks, they will deeply the 'problem' of the low paid.
Posters and all be waste becausethey willinot be
OEH JSSC Our socialism will be infinitely more democratic than what exists in