UNIPART workers at Cowiey in Oxford were called to a meeting on October 4 and given six months notice of union derecognition and the introduction of 'new management techniques'.
This was what they called World Class Performance'. The document given to the workdarce is similar to the new Rover pian, except that it is actony withdraws union recogntion.
Workers were told that directors had been to the USA, and that US-style derecognition was the only way forward. They were shown a video of a non-unión American firm. to show 'how well it works'.
The withdrawal of recognition from one of the best organised pins in w count sassil would be a major biow to the trade union movement. it would show that nowhere is sate from union-busting. in recent years, trade union leader. ships have given in to almost every employer's demand. But they stil werent satisfied.
In March, the three senior stewards in the plant were sacked. Only two wooks ago, the appeals of They were sacked for 'undermining WE DONT MEED a team leader. All of this has greatly weakened the workorce. They are now being badgered to sign new "contracts of emplayment" that formalise the plant's non-union status.
Every employer in the car industry will be looking to see how the unions react. The trade union movement must now launch a counter-ollensive in delence or union rights. Conferences of shop stewards should be caled to map out a strategy for such a campaign. proceoding with its World Class policies. The Unipart document outlines what this means:
a) A 30% increase in af targets. and the abolition of industrial ES SCUs b) A wage review in November. after which these will end. Individuals wil be in a 'salary range' within which they can move. They wil be individually 'appraised" as 'average or 'above or below Threat in the post Management of Royal Mail Letters (RML) are following the union-bashing trail with an ultimatum to the The trigger for this latest attack is Development' and the drive towards Japanese ( style Teamleaders and TeamWoost Office chies have Post unilaterally decided that they no longer ( see the union structures ana taciines ax cement ar appropriate, and have announced that if a new agreement to their liking is not reached, they will scrap the existing arrangements in January (as soon as the Christmas rush is over).
Management aim to bypass the UCW's present branch and thei bargatal, an tobo cach the barganins into separate unit of staff, with any disagreements - taken divisional level. The UCW's 'divisional reps' (the RMl. are pushing for only one per average, on which any nc ease wil be based.
Who will make this appra:sa: s unclear, except that the operator will have daily meetings with the them weekly - 'At least every three months they plan to have a wide-ranging, two-way discussion with you' c) As for representation, the company wil have 'independent". elected forums. "After each Forum the outcomes will be reported to everybody through Team leaders and Area Team leaders.
So much for the independence.
Workers wil be able to use a forum member to represant tham in case of any grievance and this forum wil also deal with redundancies 'which become unavoidable.
it also makes it clear that all of redundancy, the management can keep temporary contract start, and dismiss any worker, regardiess of length of service.
Unipart's new offensive is the thin end of the Japansation wedge. The labour mavement must now go all out to defend union nights. The altemative is the kind of décimation of union organisation that we have seen in the USA. division) would have no accountability to local branches. RML wants them to be full timers acting as an ancillary arm or manasement freir most thy portant task would be resolve registered disagreement' RML'» threat Wilhdraw facilities if its new scheme is not accepted would lead to effective derecognition of Branch and Section officials, the loss of release time for lay officials, and the loss of union office facilities. This has successsational leadership. Fas from fighting these footh and nall, UC raptonal negotiators are already retreating on most of the key issues raised by RML The Welsh Regional Committee has written to UCW HQ challenging these CORE SOTS and opposing any deals which Ue mee at the expense of A useful circular spelling out the dangers has been sent out by the Cardiff (Uniform) Branch. Subscribe to the new Socialist Outlook 1 earls subsin(e:3 Si mons subsi12 iss: 273 Please return to Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU by Keith Sinclair TEACHERS will shortly be Tecer Nul Dalot Tols 100 the union's biennial elections. The left within the union is organising a strong challenge for all the available positions.
The leaderships of both TUCaffisated unions, the NUT and VAS/UWT, have in practice NUT ledership are resting their hopes on the election of a Labour goverment.
Obvicusly socialists support the election of a Labour novem ment, right wing as a Kinnock-led one would be. Nevertheless, it is tesorte u o to that this is the magic solution to the problems of under-funding of education.
The current leadership of the NUT has shown itself to be com plotely incapable of defending ds sues, such as pay, campagns ure restricted to glossy puticty in paigns do nothing to involve the membership. large sections of hotn- Who tn loi cocon thraugh their union dues - treat them with cynicism.
Un one key topcal ist0 - the appraisal of teachers - the NUT actually support its introduction! Members in schools are boing asked to beleve that appraisal is a wonderful opportunty for profesolonal development", rather than another weapon to be used 'to by management.
Given the curtent leadership's the number of voles for the slate of candidates supported by the hard eft Socialist Teachers Alanco (STA) . STA slate Vice-President Vote Carole Regan 1, Will Reese 2, Richard Reiser 3. Treasurer Vote lan Murch Examiner of accounts Vote Joan ivens 1, Dick North 2 Kolobneme tria be festifte y micklay, November 20. Copia i election statements for STA candidates can be obtained from Wal Reese on 0203 332320
elections - vote for a new leadership!