"We are keeping our powder dry for the big battles", , said Jimmy Knapp when tending off the anger of AGM delegates at the abandonment of the S & T members. Mis powder appears lo have dried up altogether. Faced with a declaration of war by the BR management, the union leadership hoisted the white flag of surrender. Acceplance of the new machinery of negotiation represents one of the biggest sell-outs in the history of the union.
In accepting a structure based on the Businesses they have thrown away the national unity of the union. The membership has been completely divided along Business lines. Although there is a national bargaining Council (as a sop to the union officials) in reality the Businesses are free lo determine their own wages and conditions. The national Council cannot discuss issues relevant to a single business.
Sectional Councils disappear. There are Business Councils although these can only discuss issues relating to all staff.
The union has also accepted an individual grievance procedure' whereby instead of taking a problem to the LIC an individual has to raise it with his manager. A rep can be called in at the third stage but if they get no satisfaction the issue cannot be progressed through the various stages of
the machinery as in the past.
The division along business lines means in many areas that there are more reps positions, but we shall struggle to fill these positions under conditions where the management is able to get away with victimising reps who defend their members interests, as in the case of the Manchester Guards I.DC (see below).
The capitulation by the union leadership has weakened considerably the organisation on the ground.