THE 'CASUALS' THREAT

Dockers in LOr and Southampton IAN SOTTHAMP TON dockers fear that men on the supplementary register are being used to displace them and break down their militancy.

Meanwhile temporary dockers claim they are being subjected to hire-and-fire techniques and being denied normal trade union rights.

Dockers say the effect of the deal signed by Transport and General Workers' Union general secretary. Jack Jones and Port of London authority chairman Lord Aldington, which ended last year's dock strike, means that port shop stewards are powerless to put a stop to the changeover, even if they wanted to.

CUTTING BACK

One young temporary docker, Pete, spoke to Workers Press, but declined to reveal his identity for fear of reprisals.

He said: "The British Transport Board is cutting back on the regular work force. But the Board is afraid we are getting as militant as the permanent men and doesn't want that.

'There has been talk of all the temporaries being chucked out so that management can sort out who they want and who they don't want.

'Discipline against temporaries is a lot tougher than against permanent men. About 33 were sacked last Friday for misdemeanours.

'Generally the temporaries work harder than the lot. The management know you want to stay in the docks and they use it as a whip to keep you going.' Only a year ago there were about 1,700 permanent dockers and 700 unattached men at Southampton. Now the figure for permanent men has dropped to 1,300 and the number temporaries has risen to between 800 and 900.

STRONG HOLD

Said Pete: "Temporaries can be sacked for drinking, or being late or just getting a bad name with the foreman. The employers have got a much stronger hold on the temporary because he can . be sacked at a week's notice.

'Temporaries want to be made up to permanent status so that their jobs are secure. They want the supplementary register closed down.

"The fight against the supplementary register has got to be a fight all over the docks involving every port in Britain.

'Jones-Aldington was a complete fake. You had all the PLANS under preparation for the rationalization of work in London's Royal group of docks may mean the closure of at least 12 berths and the movement of up to 2,000 dockers into other jobs.

At the same time there are increasing fears among dockers' shop stewards that the employ. ers aim to force 'casual', supplementary labour into the port.

And at Chobham Farm, the east London depot which last year recruited dockers alongside Its existing labour force, moves are afoot to loosen the dockers' present_grip on container work.

The Port of London Authority yesterday tried desperately to play down reports about its rationalization plans, not yet seen by the unions.

According to 'The Times' Business News, the PLA Is "looking at the future' of berths 2-10 on the south side of King George Safeguards undermined "lefts" on the docks calling for votes of confidence and there were promises about finding jobs. But nothing has happened at all.

"The employers and the government want to use the temporaries as a scab force because of the effects of the economic crisis on the docks. It's obvious they are going to have a real go at the Dock Labour Scheme 'They will try and create a division. If the regulars are out on strike, they will try to make the temporaries work.

'If no one gives a lead on the docks, this could happen easily. The employers have got to protect their profits and keep wages down.

'Devlin hasn't turned out as they wanted. They're had to pay a high basic rate and tonnage has gone down. This is why they have got to have a go at the Scheme.

Temporaries are denied the same trade union rights accorded to permanent dockers. They are not issued a Bue Book' of port agreements and they are not allowed to vote for shop stewards.

Said Pete: 'We've got to unite with the permanent dockers and build unity between the groups on a real socialist platform. But how can we do that V docks and at berths 3, 5, 11 and 28 on the Royals' centre road.

'Behind the planned closures is the continuing decline in general cargo handled in the Royals as the world's merchant fleet goes over to containerization', the paper said.

Men put out of their immediate job by the closure would be found other work in the Royals or asked to transfer to container work at Tilbury. Under the Dock Labour Scheme, permanent registered dockers cannot be sacked.

The PLA says that It has no immediate plans to close down any more docks, but admits that berth closures are always on the cards as part of its continuing rationalization plans. unless the shop stewards fight for equal trade union rights.

'Any fight to get rid of the temporaries means a fight to get rid of the Tory government and the nationalization of the docks industry. No Tory government is going to give in on this.

•It will need at least a national dock strike so that the Tories would have to call a General Election.' What do permanent dockers at Southampton think about the increased use of temporaries?

Max, a docker for 23 years, told me the use of temporaries was an outright attack on the dockers' charter.

He said: 'If the employers are not going to add to the permanent register, ultimately you will have more temporary than permanent men.

In the meantime it will be chaos. There will be one section of the industry against another.

*I think there should be a national stoppage on this issue until we get some sense out of the Tories or they resign.

'The working class can't stand this nonsense trom the Tories much longer - wages. pegged, prices and profits soaring.

'The docker enjoys certain benefits through the Dock Labour Scheme, but if the employer had his way he'd have you working 24 hours a day.

PLA dockers stewards say that idea recruiting 'casuals' for the Royals was put to them at a meeting on May 17 with Stanley Jarvis, an assistant operating manager.

The labour shortage, stewards say, related to ships belonging to the South African conference. They say the alternative put to them was a cut in gang strength.

The PLA yesterday expressed Itself puzzled by the stewards' claims.

At Chobham Farm, a meeting of the board has agreed to continue financial support for the depot. But it was agreed to approach the unions to seek an easing of restrictions imposed when the dockers were recruited last year.

The shareholders of Chatham Farm include Overseas Containers, Cunard, T. Wallis Ltd and British Rall.

'They want the hire-and-fire system back vith a crowd of nen outside the dock gate to pick and choose from.

'I can't see why the union officials can't look further ahead.

As far as I'm concerned they are nothing but policemen for the employers.

*At this port the shop stewards don't even work on the dockside. They are not part of the rank and , file. They seem more a part of the management.

*The employers are trying hard to get away from the Dock Labour Scheme. They will knock it on the head somehow they can get more Rexibiliy that CRACK DOWN Another docker, Dan, said:

'This attack on the Dock Labour Scheme is part and parcel of Tory policies to crack down on the working class. They want to do away with the rights we've fought for over the last genera'They want more profit out of the docks. Obviously if they've got permanent dockers they have to employ them all winter and that costs more.

'Although I put my hand up for it, we were conned by Jones-Aldington. They are not going to make up any more registered dockers. They are phasing them out.'.

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE LECTURES MEETING TUC must break off talks must break off with Tories!

Build revolutionary party! revolutionary I Wednesday, May 30, idnesday, May 7.30 p.m.

Tudor Room Caxton Hall.

Caxton Street, SW1 (admission STAL WORKER MEETING reak off secret talks the Tories!

Force the Tories to resign! the Tories to Way, June 3, 10.30 a.m. Conway Small Hall, Red Lion Square, Diborn (admission 10p)

NEWSDESK 01-720 2000 Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Published by Workers Press, 186a Clapham High Street, Printed Plough Newsdesk: 01-628 7029.