Bureaucracy sought deal place. The strength of the trade union movement is in its mililancy, embodied by the determination of the Timex strikers, not in tie apocasement tacacs or the likes of Gavin Laird. Timex workers means defying the Tory anti-trade union laws but a message has to be sent to the employers that they cannot get away with this sort of attack. If they do it will be a green light to other companies to force down wages and erode hard won rights at work.
Employers must not get away with pitting groups of employ. ecs agamst one anoter chincr within one country or interationally.
Using the economic recession as a threat and taking business to the developing world is a divisive tactic. Solidarity must be built with the strikers internationally.
Massive solidarity action is nooded to send a resounding no to Timex, other transnationals VAR I HOS By a tube driver FULL OF confidence after imposing their Company Plan, London Underground (LUL) management are continuing to put the boot in.
hey refused to negotiate over the annual pay round and have simply pald 1.5 per cent into wage packets. Despite the fact that this represents a pay cut, only the RMT balloted it's members for strike action.
Divide and rule being the name of the game. LUL have taken a lest out of British Rail's book and are threatening to stop RMT dues being deducted from the pay bill.
This is not only an attack but frightens the hell out of the union bureaucracy because it is a threat to their finances. sponse the union has sent out direct debit forms to all BR and LUL members.
Meanwhile the ballot result showed a poor sum out. Despite The NUJ ruling had been greeted with enthusiasm by union leaders who saw it as a boost to the campaign against the introduction of personal contracts and union derecognition.
But the swift action by the Torles to close the loophole is a lesson for the whole trade union movement. Employers can now effectively bribe union members to give up their a two to one vote for strike action, since two thirds of members failed to vote it will be tough Everybody is angry and bitter at having to work under the Company Plan and under the new style dictatorial management. But people are lacking in confidence. not helped by the attempt by other LUL unions to placate management As we said in November. bullding up the new shop steward type system of representation and taking on management at a local level is going to be important.
That will be one way of increasing confidence and turning the anger into action.
This week LUL are bringing in a trial of their Bio Brother random drink and drugs testing which will result in sackings.
For example if someone smoked a joint two months ago it would be detected and they would face the sack. It may be issues like this and local disputes which provoke a struggle. ATTEND UNION MEETINGS!