single union deals umans Boold take account of employers single maxes desires"
These moves, which are contrary to existing TUG policy, run alongside rhe contmuing relusal of the FUC To rake iny action against the PETPU over us scabbing mole in Wapping. Tast monrh the TUC France and genicral purposes committee put thic matter oft again. Now, ustcad of challenging Hammonds union, and trowing thet out the TEC as they desceve, they are preparing, behind the seches, tu case in to their policies:
All this may also account for: the dauble speak witch charactetises the TUC public stance on this issue. This came vut clearly when the rest ol tic unions in Ford Uk recendy ON NOVEMBEK 7/8 a trade union solidarity conterence was held in Leeds Galled by ex strikers from Silentnight, together with Oxtord and Tower Harlets dispures uppon cunnittees, the sinterence brought together 150 people interested in Icaring the political lessons of rercht disputes and struggles. in overcoming isolation and frustration, in sharing experiences and in discussing the way forward for solidarity action and campaigning activity.
Support came from exsrikers and victimised workers from Wapping, Hangars, the NuM and elscwhere; from the Campaign group of MPs: from forced a meeting with FUL general secretary Norman Willis on the attempte of the NU to socure a single union deal in the propchel new Ford plant in Dundee, designed to malacture hight-icch car cnicrumanent systems Ar that moccine Willis was prepared to accepr as good coin a cynical manneuvre exerted by: Communis Party member and AEl: excave council member Jinuuy Airlie and the nght-wing leadership of the WU in their attempts to secure the deal. several trades cuuncils, ution Franches, untuployed groups and disputes support Commutes.
Speakers included representatives From CCID unions and Coalville NUR. Terry French Kent NUM member, jailed in the mancis strike); and Dot Whitworth fran North Yorkshire women against put closures. Workshrips were held on a wide range of topes: including sarked and victised workers. building solidariti in the 1abour Parly and women in the utmons.
Discussion in the final session cenrred on building a solidarity network and on challenging the betrayal of the
TUC accepts single union deals
The NEL delegation cynicall said that they would drop thie deal proviting the nther unione m Ford cald perille bond managenient to du su. Buch Autie and ALL president Bill Jurdaa know very will that Lices is no chance that Ford managemen will drop such a deal when the second largest union in Ford LK sill simney agtees veilleut: and romains ready and willing to sign it
Take Tri Tammond ar Wasping. the art stanie al Dundee is an ant of direet trade union leaderships. Hull dockers gave the confercuce an clorious boost be pledging burcult action in support ol strikes being supported by the solidart network.
The confer men actred to support in every pessible was Terry French's call for a conterence of sacked miners (which is NUM policy) The conference also pledged to reconvene anonally and elected a 1b person steering committer to carry put work in thr meantime, The commince will produce a bimonthly bulletin op current disputes and struggles and solidarity activity: There will also De yunrterly open meetings:
The cunferenen met 4 basic
UPFRONT
collalkiation with a moansr emploverto underine and scakorenther made unions. Tr is thr dearest indication yot that the leadership of the ARD is macing towards the satne kind or business anonism which Hammond ren»
1e for the Contionis Party, its involvement in such a deal o a departure cum for a parts whose hands we wined with Flass collaboration and their recent permichas role me the rainers strike and at И appara ALAN THORNETT need and made an important beginnung. In the words ol lanet Seamour from Silentmelt: There are lots of lessons from our struggles, and they are parallel to a lot of other disprites. If we could get together with those who have been in and support dispures, we would Tied berseen un where the common things apply and what we could do to change thungs"
This conference lias given tie some hope for the firer time in a long which concluded Terry French. • For futiler information un te receire the Stret. Bornitoent Coln, Lames (bel 0262 5128012
WORKERS AT Ford 1K are heading for a possible major confrontation with management. On 7 January the Ford unions rejected management's respotise 10 their pay claim which ried a pay increase (of six and a half percent for the first year and increases equal to the rate of inflation for the second twe years to a series of new. mostly_Japanese-based, working practices which would create dangerous new precedents.
These include the introduction of short termu contracts; the ending of all demarcation and the introduction of complete flexibility, the introduction of 'group leaders, crcating a higher-paid force of company spicson the shop floor; and the creation ol 'zone circles another Tapanese idea.
These proposals provoked a scrics of spontaneous strikes in the carly stages of negotiatris which cost For 13.000 vehicles al a valuc of 1100 million. i The negotiators tried co defuse this anger by stretching negotiations out over a long period — meeting te management oncc a month and illowing the November review date to go by without action.
On the face of ir, the situation could lead to a strike. At the meeting on 7 January, however, the trade union side told management that thcy would be prepared to consider changes in working practices if management were prepared to. arcept a one ycat deal. Management rejected this out of band': but the signs are that a 'compromise seidetner on a two year basis is possible.
Such a seltlement would be a serious blow to car workers, who, alongside engincering. watkers. have suftered more than most from the prolonged ompiocrs" offensive of the past ren years. Their shop flour organisations have been weakened and they have been repcatedly betrayed by the trade union leaders.
There have also been disputes in Austin Kover (ARG), in particular over the new quality bonus which wat contained in the last wage review 14 months ayu. In the
Ford assembly plant at Dagenham main plants the quality honus produced only minimal payments. In Longüraige workers have reccived a maximum of 51:50 a weck and in Cowler workers have rocerved a rotal of t1.50 for the whole 14 month perind.
Some plants, such as
Swindon, are actually worse off than rhey were before the wage roview due to a fall in the production bonus. This has creared great resentment among the workforce who remember the deal being poshed through with tie strong recommendation of the national uninn leaders. TGWU chief negoriator Mick Murphy told the workers at the time that he was over the moon
Car