Boilermakers taken to the Pay Board

THE TORY Pay Board yesterday began examination of a claim for higher bonus ments by boilermakers at the Harland Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

A management team from Harland's travelled to London to get the government's opinion of the claim which has brought the giant shipyard near to closure.

If the Board's verdict goes against the men, the dispute, which affects the most skilled Protestant workers in the city, will take on an open political character.

So far the 2,300 boilermakers, who were sacked after a lengthy overtime ban, have insisted that the dispute does not violate the government Phase Two pay laws.

They are demanding bonus payments negotiated as far back as September 1971.

The firm says these should not be paid because productivity • targets have not been achieved. The men argue in reply that this has been caused by Harland's rebuilding programme and disputes beyond their control.

They add that contingency payments were agreed between their society and management last year.

Under Phase Two, bonus agreements signed before the pay laws came into affect on November last year stand. Harland's will: be arguing that the boilermakers current demands represent a change in the bonus agree1 an payand ment and therefore come under Phase Two.

The dispute is dwarfed by the particular political role of the Protestant working class in Belfast.

The British army and Tory government draw great strength from the belief of Protestants that union with Britain (in effect the British ruling class) bring privileges.

This' illusion may well be shattered by an attack by the Tories through the Pay Board.

Behind the bonus skirmish is a plan by management to double productivity in the Already agreement covering other trades has been reached within the scope of Phase Two.

These include new working methods and speed-up. The boilermakers, however, are insisting that the bonus issue is settled before negotiations on any longterm deal is negotiated.

Harland's management is pressing the Board for an early opinion on the dispute to avoid mas; lay-offs within other sectiors of the work trial a bit remote' A ROMAN Catholic priest and five other men accused of conspiring to cause explosions were remanded in custody again at Coventry yesterday until next Monday.

One defence solicitor, Mr William Wilson, MP, said the likelihood of them coming to trial before the long vacation was 'a bit remote' and they faced a considerable period of custody.

Magistrates refused bail for the seventh time.

The men, all from Coventry, are: the Rev Patrick Fell (32), assistant priest at All Souls Church, Earlsdon; Anthony Lynch (36), hitter, of Berkswell Road; Anthony McCormick (18), gineer, of Sycamore Road; Thomas Rush (26), electrician's mate, of Browett Road; Herbert Kelly (28), builder's_labourer, of Daimler Road; and Francis Stagg (31), driver, of Chetwode Close, Allesley Park.

All six are charged with conspiring with others to cause an explosion likely to endanger life; conspiring to damage or destroy property by fire; and conspiring to damage or destroy buildings without lawful excuse.

Lynch is also accused of possessing sodium chlorate, concentrated nitric acid, wax, balloons, an alarm clock and seven micro-switches, intending to use or allow them to be used to destroy or damage property.

Mr Peter Spencer, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the men were alleged be members of an organization whose aim was to cause explosions and do damage in Coventry and elsewhere.