the best hope for a united struggle.
The shutdown at Newspapers which beean last Thursday has had the beneficial effect of concentrating minds, such as those of the journalists on The Times who on that day unexpectedly voted to reject management's proposals.
So brazen has been the management plan to lock out its 4,300 employees until quarter of them agree to accept reduncancy. inal lenas not found wholehearted support сусп among us ricer succi neighbours.
Editorials in the Guardian and Daily questioned the value of such a confrontation.
But the virtual unanimity of the unions at Times Newspapers in opposing the plan has yet to be matched by any agreement on how to fight back. Indeed, none or me unons invovca nas so. far come up with has management's last-minute conallowing Point orkers to remand on par La fortnight and employees to 'work out their normal periods of notice.
SnIS policy haS hallmarks of divide-and-rule tacnes, and une largest umon involved, NATSOPA, has told its members that they should stay on unnenei various nonce expire, pan or tel pay to a lockout Times fund.
The divisions that this is likely create will be enhanced proposal to place locked out clerical staff in temporary jobs elsewhere in Fleet Street.
The National Association, whose members" jobs are most threatened by the introduction of new technology, raise a tS weekly levy from all its Fleet Street members, and is preparca to SAUL Thomson's But the union leadership has made it clear that it is willing to reach a compromise. insists that only NGA members should set copy, journalists or clerical workers, it accepts that this would still mean a large loss of job:
As Mr William Booroff, th NGA London regional secretary, expiams. our memoers are using the new technology at Mitror LOUD where Reveille is already being produced on the new equip ment, together other pages of the Daily Mirror.
'This has meant a third reduction In jobs composing room. A substantial loss of jobs isinvolved, but what we want is progress in a phased A numberof the Labour MPs and union leaders who spoke at contributing the 2,500 strong rally held by NATSOPA last out the implications of microelectronics for both newspapers further and industry as a whole: the NATSOPA's devastation of jobs.
Yet the newspaper have not raised the kind of demands which can ensure that Graphical technology improves workers' lives — the 35 hour week, for directly example, longer holidays, and earlier retirement; plans to mention higher pay.
Much was speakersal therally - betorethe audience was sent off to lobby MPs - about the lack of press freedom and the absence of any mass newspaper putting forward labour movement views.
While it They did advocate a and Times, which would be the most powertur means or contronung the lockout, building support or the unions. anorevcanne unc bosses' press freedom for what All of Fleet Street will gain if the printworkers"
Newspapers. defeated at Times Newspapers.
Stopping their presses now and producing a workers' paper for several the duration of the lockout would concentrate a great many minds.
In Inc The 2-0U provincial Degan inis week (see page 4) emphasises that need - and opportunity.
£100m. week spelled unions By. George Jerrom not to said by the fewer lobs however, chapels are payments are very high.
total job protection.
SYSICILIS CUICACE more free dimensions of the strike by degree journalists which 'If we industry fewer jobs THI SUNDAY THE FIRST (now late) Lord Thomson at the presses with the newspaper he purchased in 196l. He described his stake in TV as a licence to print money. The second Lord Thomson, who heads the lockout, is riding high on oil. Profits this year will be more than Executive member of the NGA As told to our Labour Staff. manner "The agreement at the Mirror Group Newspapers is being held up as magnificent, but while there's no compulsory redun- democracy, working new technology with freedom", Times Newspapers is putting a lot of money on the line to buy 220-30.050 to individual pria much press, subsidised by workers. And those who are being wooed don't need much wooing. They're aged over 60 sell or p
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The proposals of Times Newspapers management have met almost complete opposition from its workforce, but the shutdown of the presses still finds the unions on the defensive. Leaders of a major print union seek a compromise settlement, while a work-in remains Work-in would meet management's challenge