Workers Press no. 204

Market entry means

WEDNESDAY JULY 8, 1970

PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY • NUMBER 204

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER

BRITAIN'S bid for entry into the Common Market is certain to set the stage for a major

BY PETER JEFFRIES

What world trade war. we This is now the opinion of leading businessmen thinl of the Nixon Administration and members Washington. A growing section of the Republican Party is pressing for stringent legislation to keep out Japanese and European goods trom the American market. Chairman of the House Ways and Means Com- mittee, and probably the most poweriul man in Congress, Mr Wilbur Mills, has decided to sponsor DAVID BARNES in TURIN a bill to restrict textile and tootwear imports to their 1967-1969 level, which would mean a 20 per cent saned today because at work today in tae were confusion k drop from current leaders figures. greater Able te lead will be tollowed by from sabilizing an extreme right wing line.

from declining paul compromine inter- moves to divered Tapanese exports.

all the fake simply anothe ers Prese Ponent in the lab common.

Threat THE LOSS of three Israeli aircraft in a week to trong toe night st a cares or taco. against anti-aircrait rockets in the suez canal zone Is in- and Britain's entry creasing pressure on Nixon to release nantom Jets The instability. to Israel. Israelis claim that 1 ne stage Soviet in operation. Over the alast seei note elo an operation are alsd ticulat will sutter market no, sir sine me ta get tition scrapati and basted mon eto get the Thehich eral threat Nixon's speech, the bounds oi pro leaked Loopholes what bone the as the of the spare government for the 9,000 little doubt main tine ot Rivalta plant in Turin. for a Middle Sis is ingely dependent announced its resignation.

They above all, increased the wor American économic been stimulated by the still

UPPORT

s growistrike aid Itallan Kent, capitalism. Softening • or his her ace. The Nixon administration, The final meetin district come ed for Monday, he tries have imenso easing tee dollar 3 auding Minister the talian anion leadershi section, giving good 'Floating' stammittee strike Washin Stalinis st don headquarters. obiet con Ten recently had increding the went craft de- all the that US After a alga serio will press delegation nd confident. Peat stes an atom of the befor the need for a trines, strengtaenea o said yeste formal , if success The BSC management was We maployers me ederation rationalize With the Witon DE bencials n, the cal or the of Bretton re realized the station and all men bias tied a just and lasting peace?.

Rumor cabinet erms of the have somee fussine et the workeressons cases, once as which we teles in should be e Prepared ovation e 1931 which fol strikers have This offer, with undisclosed financial tivown and the There is still no, direct Is the context of a de- ahead of Sovex workers.

PAGE FOUR COL. T

The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League PRICE 6d.

AS ULSTER COMPLAINTS

CENTRES OPEN

RANK-AND-FILE London telephonists at a 100-strong Union of Post Office Workers' branch meeting this week called on members to ban postal deliveries and telephone calls to British troops in NIreland. The union's executive later rejected this move.

The call follows widespread allegations about looting British Orange gun battle on Friday night. talk on The Army yesterday set Els Roadints centres on the parade plaints about the troops.

_com. Not surprisingly there was TORY Home Secretary Regi- no rush to register complaints Maudling The nald centres with four leaders jointly by the Army and of the hated Royal Ulster Constabu Order - the Ulster secret Protes as Army ary, is the power behind have already dropped broad Unionist Party- une

HALS

about arauns 'unjustified complaints'.

home once vesterday. hey were ernected to disCuSs

SILENT

the Orange parades due to be held in five days time.

An Army spokesman com- Office mented: sides meate MORE than 1,500 Co-opera- contribution What s really needed l tive Insurance agents from all the Orange Order can make actnts centre to which the soldier cord put their over britain marcned irom то персе 800 941211 case. We have - to put Lincoln's Inn Fields to the The area. with all sorts of things and Grand Master Cant wrence stay silent.' Embankment yesterday to Orr, the Tory the Order's titular head, - who demand an increase in their the soldiers 300 made clear what he have already arrested expense allowances. peace people in the Falls alone, shot normality people and when he The agents-members of the whole military comed the the area Union Shor Distributive curle w Allied Workers Falls Rd Catholic ghetto.

occupation no and of retaliation! been on official strike for The army. he The sheer arrogance of this trated in advance a danger the past four weeks ous conspiracy armed British nilitary wiseacre Their demand is, in fact, for rebellion against the Crown.

unbeatable. as all expe in their These talks followed a verbal Labour MP Republican Gerry Falls expenses are now payed who secretary hy them out of wadad Douglas Home the 1am 000. says has more secret visit of Eire External attested incidents MPs at the A Tairs Vinister Or Patrick House of Commons. or loone ana wanton damaz the Hillers Halls bv British troon: area.

USDAW

general Ireland James Alfred Allen i Chichester - Clark dossier on the British troops Congress general secre- Hillery trip as Feather at Lal y penaviour gress House todav to discuss Hillery, should have

• PAGE FOUR COL. 1

The dispute. referred to him first Hillery Tory meet Minister Anthony Harner it London today demand Arms: More the banning of the Orange Dockers' Chichester-Clark has said he remands would be "relieved' F: 'sheet Orange called parades were off, but would probably

THREE

of taking nart in one himself!

more men.

TWO

anchor' Hillery announced atter them trom Betast. were manded at trip that he was atraid the Pustody Army is no longer regarded London magistrates court as friend and yesterday charged with threatened the 'ordinary people' the contravene The people, he said, had re- other men were ré- • See page 4 ceived an unwarranted vIsi- manded on simiar chartes or Tation rom the minary Mondayl

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE AND YOUNG SOCIALISTS

JULY 25- AUGUST 8

Situated in pleasant sufouncines or the Essex coast.

THUMB JONA

there will At the camo. Complete form and send to: lectures any his. Summer Camp, 186a Clapham High St. SW4.

sion on philosophy, and tory omer sun ects Please send me details of Summer Camp.

which have Teatured Workers Press it vou ara intaracted and Name would like to attend tho Summer please Camn complete form below: Address

Market entry means

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER

What thinl The news behind the news

THE WORKERS PRESS

was acute stage. Over with the police. "ine attempt by bounds of pro Rivala plant in ThY a its announced its resignation.

above oamentary are preparing to send til working rins alo The work role. of the British workers press

PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY • NUMBER 204 •

WEDNESDAY JULY 8, 1970

U.S. feeling the pinch already new trade war BRITAIN'S bid for entry into the Common Market is certain to set the stage tor a major

BY PETER JEFFRIES

world trade war. This is now the opinion of leading businessmen Italian workers Administration members une Washington. A growing section of the Republican Party is pressing for stringent legisladon to keep our bitter over Japanese and European goods from the American market. Chairman of the House Ways and Means Com- strike call-off the most powerful man in mittee, and probably Congress, Mr Wilbur Mills, has decidea to sponsor a bill to restrict textile and footwear imports to their DAVID BARNES in TURIN 1967-1969 level, which would mean a 20 per cent MOST workers in Italy were drop from aders mod veloping trade confusion Cull Cit figures. of the threatened ead will be followed by de- the streme riter wing ine following by de- ilizing More secret moves to Mid-East deal Makct in the labour move Threat THE LOSS of three Israeli aircraft in a week to anti-aircraft rockets in the Suez Canal zone is in- Europe can reasser creasing pressure on Nixon to release Phantom Jets the European working class.

lo islael. disputed worr American farmers in par- Nixon's statement of last he co European st Loopholes that the state reduce their ax bills t Fast is is angely dependent run- r the cost of Ived Word by No BSC 'strings' wages. after much Following last week's AEF heater Rexibility at Corby th ared s,500 hre-week-old t° the denion to some of its weaker three-y factories all over British Steel Corps rivals. already Belling 3ose muted ection giving from 'Floating committee yesterday i Productivity s macation bro can a resenting all don headquarters. Rabin, strike whe sc more sador delegation ted to be reported real issues involved. productivity prograr out strings, case • 350 crete and raisie steel and A was tieds • lor all crafts men vas fixed them ince we of, is some Prom the call cran • prepared wadi one 1931 strikers have This offer, with undisclosed wick direct down and the strike In 1966 a productivity dea i the context of a de-

PAGE FOUR COL. I

The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League PRICE 6d.

AS ULSTER COMPLAINTS

CENTRES OPEN

RANK-AND-FILE London telephonists at a 100-strong Union of Post Office Workers' branch meeting this week called on members to ban postal deliveries and telephone calls to British troops in N Ireland. The union's executive later rejected this move.

The call follows widespread allegations about looting and brutality when Kritish troond Orange entered the Falls Rd Catholic ghetto in Belfast after a hour gun on night. talk on The Army yesterday set up two complaints centres on the parade Falls plaints' about the troops. surprisingly there Not no rush to register complaints.

TORY Home Secretary Regi- The manned Talks centred are with tour leaders ot the inintiv bu the Army and th.

hated Royal Ulster Constabul Protestant secret society have already which is the thome once yesterday. -at the action against 'unjustified complaints'.

They were expected to discuss

SILENT

Orange parades due to Tie he held in five davs time An Army spokesman com. spokesman Home mentedi said the meeting would also MORE than 1,500 Co-opera- 'What is really needed discuss 'what contribution tive Insurance agents from all the Orange Order complaints centre to and normality the soldier over Britain marched from peace come put thei up the area'. case have

DUT

Lincoln's Inn Fields to the and Grand Master Lawrence With acts at things. Capt Embankment stay silent." yesterday MP the Tory

OTTA

demand an increase in their titular As if the soldiers - who The utcet's heada what made clear heron. have arrested expense allowances. siders 'peace and people in the Falls alone, shot be five normality' when people and placed The agents- -members of the whole area under military Union Shop, the Distributive occupation - have no and Allied Workere rétaliation! The now been on official strike for ally. the past four weeks. The sheer arrogance of this tratee m advance a cancer British military wiseacre

OUS

conspiracy armed rehellion against the Crown unbeatable. Their demand is, in fact, for an increase in their basic pay These talks followed a verbal Republican as all expenses now payed diplomatic protest The Falls fist in who represents y them out of wages. Secretary Sir the House the Commons he has After the march the demon- Eire Affairs Minister Dr strators lobbied MPs at the Patrick wanton damage House of Commons Hillery une

USDAW.

general secretary The Citizen's Defence Com- James nremier Alfred Allen is to meet Trades mittee in has con- Chichester - clark Vitor eager at coe on the British troops Union ossier demned the Hillery trip as tary Victor Feather behaviour. *lacking courtesy' House today to discuss gress should have the dispute.

• PAGE FOUR COL. 1

him first Tory meet Minister Anthony Barber in LOnGOR demand Arms: More banning of the Orange Dockers' the naradac Chichester-Clark has said he remands would be 'relieved' if the 'sheet Он, Вы would taking part in one himself!

THREE

more men, anchor' Hillery Belfast, announced alter

BRIS

unem Trom were trin that he was atraid the manced CUSTOdV Army is no longer regarder

COIT

as friend and protector' yesterday charged with con- threatened the 'ordinary people' in the contravene the Falls. Firearms Act. other men The people, he said, had were • See page 4 'unwarranted visi manded on similar charges on an

CCIYCU

Monday. taton rom me mutary.

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE AND YOUNG SOCIALISTS

JULY 25- AUGUST 8

Situated in pleasant surroundings on the Essex coast. 43335V20 camp. 44 tha thora will Complete form and send to: be lectures and discus- Summer Camp, 186a Clapham High St. SW4.

sion and other which featured in Please send me details of Summer Camo nave workers rress If vou are interested and Name wold Jike to attend the Summar Camn. Address complete form below:

PAGE TWO

Does MDW mean full-time working and more secu- rity of employment? NO, THE employer will shut out as quickly in the you event of shortage of material etc. in a MDW factory as he will under piecework, and he will put you on short time or declare a redundancy just as quickly if he can't sell his commodities. No employer will give any of employment guarantees worth anything, he knows too much about the anarchy of his own system-the capital- ist mode of production. Under this system he does not know what he can sell from one week to the next.

He accepts this as necessary if production is to continue to take place for his own private profit, planning is out of the question under system, he just makes sure that work- ers suffer and not him. In some cases, manage- ments are introducing new work-study systoms like MTM into existing piecework systems. Why is this? days of IN THE early capitalism, piecework was a wholly to the system employers' advantage. On the one hand, the price-per-piece system forced the worker to labour at tremendous speed, driven on not by supervision, but by the need to earn enough for his very existence.

competition between workers for jobs-the fact that there always another worker was waiting on the doorstep will- ing to accept a lower rate- ensured that the piecerate could be kept to a minimum and revised downwards every time a new machine brought about an increase in produc- tion.

TRAP

With the growth of trade unionism and powerful fac- tory, site and docks organiza- the employer became tion, caught in a trap of his own making. As it was no longer an easy one worker matter to turn against another, his basis for piecework reductions was gone. But as the workers had been convinced that they were being paid according to out- put, they naturally expected production that when increased, then their pay would keep pace. The growth of science and technology, a constant stream of machinery, new methods which allowed more produats to be turned out in a given time, put the onus, not so much on the worker to increase piecerates, but on the employer to try and find an alternative method of hold- ing down payments. Even in Marx's time this г- - 1 I would like inform Fill in the form below and se

SECRETARY, SOCIALIST LA

186A CLAPHAM HIGH ST, LO

Name Address difficulty for existed the employers. Marx explains how in certain cases they attempted to get round the problem: '... where a particular rate of piecework has for a long time been fixed by tradition, and its lowering therefore presented especial difficulties, the masters in such excep- tional cases, sometimes bad recourse to its compulsory transformation into time wages.' In the present time, piece- work in many industries has become a powerful method of keeping up with the rising cost of living.

CAREFULLY

In • very strongly-organized factories, where high wages are based on piecework earn- ings, the employers have to tread carefully extremely indeed when attempting to eliminate this system and replace it with one that gives them complete control. In these cases it is no easy mater to effect 'its compulsory transformation into time wages. The introduction of the new system has to be made very gradually, phased over a long period. In this situation the first step is to break down the existing piecework system and to implement aspects of pro- ductivity bargaining step by step. The Prices and • Incomes Board has produced a special handbook on this titled 'Pay- ment - By - Results Systems' (PBR) (report No 65. May

1968, HMSO

7s 9d) which explains the dangers to the employers of 'wage drift' and of a 'decayed' piecework sys- tem. The the of the piecework system by the replacement of the old methods of rate fixing with work-study methods. Later, this can lead to the introduction pre-deter- mined - motion - time systems and 'synthetics' Also advised is that work standards in PBR systems should be expressed in terms of 'allowed' or 'standard times' rather than as piecework prices. The report also notes that workers, fed up with the con- stant struggle needed with maintain

PBR

systems to price-rates, may be induced to 'trade off' this system in return for 'alternative advantages'.

Finally, onslaught an on mutuality is regarded as essen- tial. The system by which fore- man or ratefixer and worker argue out the price per piece , 'equal' on the shop floor on terms and by 'mutual' agree- ment has, in fact, been a key to the production worker's maintaining success in real wage levels. The worker, although he ----- 7 e information about below and send to NATIONAL

LABOUR LEAGUE,

HIGH ST, LONDON, SW4.

BY

BERNARD

FRANKS

argues individually, has behind him all the power of a united shop of workers who are not climbing at the expense of other workers, but with their direct support. Within piecework systems it is, above all else, mutuality which the government, employers and consultants aim to destroy. They want to replace it with a system like Measured-Day Work, which seeks to dictate a speed of working that must be adhered to every minute of the day between official breaks. How do the new work- studied incentive bonus schemes operate ? WITH THESE systems, work to be done in a ixed time is allotted by a work-study man. The work actually done by the worker is measured against a rating performance scale on which work allotted or the 'work specification' represents a standard performance level.

Payment begins at a cer- tain point on the scale and rises until full bonus (usually 33g per cent of the basic) is paid out at standard perform- ance. This system is often used where operatives cannot be watched and controlled all the time, for example, on building sites, or with much craft work, where some incentive is needed to encour- age the workers to hold them- selves to the levels of working demanded. Also, it is regarded by the expert to be sufficiently close to piecework to be claimed as a 'viable alternative'. There are a number of scales in use to measure rating and performance. These are: The 0/100 (where 'O' corre- sponds to no activity, and '100' is the standard rate of work- ing. This is the scale recom- mended by the British Stand- ards Institute and is known as the BSI scale). The 60/80 scale (Bedaux's original scale). The 75/100 and the 100/133 scales. Bonus payments started at the lower levels-60 on the 60/80, 75 on the 75/100, with the BSI scale payments often at 45 or 50.

BONUS

Standard bonus (33$ per cent, etc.) is paid out at standard performance level, though payments may also be made beyond this, depending on the scheme being operated and on the policy of the con- sultants. Just what the consultants mean by standard performance and standard rating can be seen from the definition of standard rating given by the British Standards Institution.

It can be seen that this entire concept is totally unscientific, resting purely on the opinion of the observer as to what is 'average rate' and what is 'appropriate relaxation' etc.: Standard Rating is : "The rating conresponding to the average rate at which qualified workers will naturally work at a job, provided they adhere to the specified method and provided they are moti- vated to apply themselves to their work. If the standard rating is maintained . and the approximate relaxation is taken, a worker will achieve standard performance over the working day or shift.' (BSI emphasis.)

WORKERS PRESS

cies made will prevent drift, and not just job evalua-

OUF

tion itself.' 8 of pay to be asso are then expected with MDW perform- clatea ince levels Productivity deals some- times have a policy allow- The at t included. What ance and exactly is this? nore out leve ately to ensure being earned through might be the face-saving name ziven lo adn macast wowy and above uue workers over anything allowed by the officia agreement.

POLICY

A ' The first pay seen from given andards Institution. sch This as follows: (their emphasis.) allow

'POLICY ALLOWANCE.

Often, times with work-studied where estimators find rating 'An increment than other dificult (b) B incentive bonus schemes bonus increment applied CYCu The required some operatives ale WOrKeI IS cunes ame their make own recora eacn operaton ana 1s pala Ior work suluchl pai b the proportion of time saved.

sheets, 01109 N celals or work provide a conten) SaLis- done, delays, ,etc. and bonuses The of this essence paru• Tactory lever or earnings roi a out from this sustem is that the nav. cular specined level ot pertormance ment curve eventually reaches under exceptional circum- made either rayments are beyond for effort or be extra money What ls the "learning individual GrouD oasts. the perform- nowever curvé'? bonuses are baic ro workers ance is increased imdicidial bone THIS IS the representation on very aeny they employers separate

ONE-THIRD

Wide will increase new vorkers from eact other com. plethe consultantsf ine is quite more i ne consultants

THE HALSEY SYSTEM

many star clear on this. R. M. Currie, a Based on the leading work-study expert pays one-third the to ger une loo done ass advises in his book: saved. îis îd cae cé bé one o zoe cur 'Schemes wherever factors contributing to wage shoud (c) Bs possible, applied to indi- drift because bonus targets he

THE WEIR SYSTEM

Where during the days of thinn one-half practicable the the eventually easily Pays time confined smallest attainable as the workers con- to the saved.

DUSSIDI

Locall WOrKeIS cernea 1 . ecome more emeienl

THE RUCKER PLAN

entaced On a sell-contained

ACCL

experts readilv definable task'

SCANLON PLAN

('Financial Incentives Based Work Measurement' pagr Both American fromems, st 15.) these workers curve Gn Of course, standards ithe employers related to consideration bonus learn the set for new jobs all times wish to return to the are being vuupul dilu Iclt al rates situation where it is every man state of the firm in question newi workers. wnen unel final empl

WORK

that

-STUDIED

SCALES

the Walk

INCENTIVE

133. 0550

BONUS

M.P.H

Cols

NO WORK

scnel part

MEASURED DAY WORK

very siow overa- 50 tive nalt asieep. no interest in job. unhurried 60 :100 75.* deliber-

COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT WAGE SYSTEMS.

ately wasting time A combination of cost-of-living rises and regular comb neaotiated pasic-rate Increases associateo witn staneare benorm- meln fractional increases won at site and tactory level 100 : 133 | 100 ance brisk. husi. Can over and above the nationally negotiated figure ness-like, good amou offer the greatest scope for keeping somewhere fiden Very fast, high 120 150 | 167 125 days dearee assut- devis introduction management system similar to piecework. However, it falls 04 ance and Ex dexterity. rapidiv as une learnine curve. re-umine ano ios: hel

WITH

THEIR

WORKING

HAIING

ot credits culs it oown.

RATE

DESCRIPTIONS

EQUIVALENT

MDW starts higher than the oiner systems, l.e. 18 introduced with a fairly large payment. But, The rating scales' depend on the opinion of the can be seen, this falls rapidly, relative to the A M rising cost of living consultanis as to now ine descriptons givel ucer -negotiates further levels of verv siow. operauve nair asieeo. elc.)

relate paym to walking speeds. Payments are related after some time but these new levels become these scales for bonus purposes or simply this

MDW.

the standard performance level for lo cain une waip-and. labor report on PBR The are being revised for old jobs.

La™ NrD S systems explains. main ne experts

TOT

to 'st wel as luc cinyel ways ol uvlls Ll often toldut by bonus (a) By une cuesuon desire Posit til increase fixing a he ht timd very that workers wno are induce workers keeping with rate of these systems are paid accord- DICo 101 Chadses

WOIK

WOIKIE

expericu will raise the organization wolch when worker concerned passible the and to put overall elciency, has mastered the techniques.

requi group interests indi- Of course, this means that betore 'chas This in the early days he earn bonus, work never earn any money all; mal what "joint productivity" or happens that more compucated

TASK

WiTn 'share of production" commit allowance special made many run over dinculties. Lees. woen the loD ıs asu started the time specified and earn down which pays the operative the These two nothing?

SYSUCLLS

al c An full 100 performance payment apoucu ona pian-wide basis he consultants' answer to uimne only. this is that home What is the relationship and overt

ALLOWANCE

working, type between job evaluation work 'problem' jobs 10ssts and productivity systems This allowance st weeks press Will made up Iess falls over a number of payment ? troublesome jobs. and during this time overt In this fact, nonl- worker is expected to be Th JOB EVALUATION and grad- allowance for comolc nons- cuts more oroncient inevitably occur ing are play which must home TaSK. The allowance with every kind of work-that leading ceases altogether and he yments to be ordered can 'on his own while quantidownt work enormous The advantage of this system t0 hc The PIB's special report on aic cune. employers is to There are a number of varia- the subject regarded the sys- ing the first few weeks of the £22 i step

TONS ON

upe work-suvoiee 10- LemO 1mDOT0 large PaYS extra new melnoa very All are 'wage drift' centive bonus theme ducti ments are guarantee.. aimed at stopping 'wage drift' and way for anDwpreparing the gives management the eliminating the opportunity to 'prove' that the ment s the report explains scheme is high paying and does posal work systems. They are usually job-evaluation structure effort not require press named their after reduces oreimalors. alsims Also, during this it is mean small groups at ine main systems are. by that a short trial period moti Illa yi workplace or enterprise level, Th

THE ROWAN PLAN

Operated Wti a mra vote add im derai dis full acceptance imposes a alscronne upon taken tor This is a premium bonus on pay scheme aimed at holding down managers and supervisors. But home 'excessive carnings' it is the wage and salary poli- not have

A LEARNING CURVE

WEEKS

gets more exper vorker weeks

STANDARD

VEEK

JMBER

ALLOWANCE

inıllal stages management eonnection his has rate-cutting. With ment to iated with learning leaving "untixed um ber number has value assigned earnings at this e are nat too restricted.

the worker temporary IIxed tnel are quite dellberate anı r ine systen

VARIATIONS

ations natons can be expected. these to fust big tens con- Unle trick accept- "OveS exploitation ctly how are wages down by these ems? olding ndard- worker thiat level particular take explained study systemns nours hours, so cutting etting pay of f16 a week but earning a further , migre be oftered making under a par t intall e 4k be com modern Wednesday July 8, 1970 worse off, although he is turn- ing out exactly the same quantity of work as previously.

Is it really worth fighting for more wages when all it does is to chase up prices? WE SHOULD scotch this story of wages chasing prices are in no way dependant on how much is paid in wages to those who make them. We have already explained that thé value of a commodity rests on the amount of labour that has gone into its production, and this, under capitalism, always works out at a far greater amount than is paid to the worker for his labour power. The fact that workers put in for a rise means they are simply demanding a greater share of the surplus value that the employer has taken for himself. Karl Marx exposed the fallacy that the price of com- modities is determined by the price of labour power, and gave many examples of rising wages taking place at a time of falling prices. For example, in the period a rise of 40 of 1849-1859, per cent in the wages of agri- cultural workers took place.

In the same period, the price of wheat fell by 16 per cent.

In our own time, workers will know that no slow-down.

on rising prices has occurred at any time during the wage freeze. It is purely a one-way ticket, wages chasing prices.

Not to put in for an increase for any reason means an actual cut in real wages, rela- tive to continuously rocketing prices. As Marx explains in his pamphlet Wages, Price and Profit': ... the very development of modern industry must pro- gressively turn the scale in favour of the capitalist against the working man, and that consequently the general tendency of capitalistic pro- duction is not to raise, but to sink the average standard of wages or to push the value of labour more or less to its minimum limit. 'Such being the tendency of -things in this system, is this saying that the working class ought to renounce their resist- against the ance encroach- ments of capital, and abandon their attempts at making the best of the occasional chances for their temporary improve- ment? If they did, they would be degraded to one level mass of broken wretches past salvation.' What should we do about these attacks on piece- work and about the intro- duction of productivity payment systems? THE METHOD by which workers have enforced reason- able payments by ensuring that they are not left behind rising prices must be com- pletely defended. The revision of piecework payment systems, the change- over to time study's special brand of rating as the criterion, as opposed to mutu- ality, is aimed at eliminating a piecework system which workers have built into a method of producing regular increases in wages. Piecework and its mutuality system should be defended at all times against MDW and the new systems of payment. In the context wage freeze and productivity deals wages become a wholly politi- cal question. It is vital now for every worker to see this and not to regard wages as simply a question of negotia- tion and bargaining points.

To do this leaves the worker in a position where the selling of his conditions, his protec- tive practices and eventually, even his wages, is not a ques- tion of principle but simply of price.

WAGE CLAIM

Wholly different is the use of a wage claim in a thoroughly political way. The demand for a fixed pay- ment without strings and out in line worked with the past period over which prices have risen and the estimates of the rise needed to cover the future period; also taking into consideration the intro- duction new. machinery, of automation, etc., acts as a for- midable whether weapon MDW systems are being pro- posed or are already in opera- tion. Examples of this kind are seen with the Liverpool dock- ers' demand for £60 a week with no strings and the rail- men's claim for a 25 per cent increase. Put this way, and linked with the demand for a shorter working day, shorter working week and longer holidays, they play an important role in the political struggle against the attacks of the employers, the government, and in the fight against the systems of exploi- tation; in particular the pro- ductivity deal. Continued next Wednesday.

Wednesday July 8, 1970 NOTHING exposes idealist illusions more ruthlessly than the concrete. In the face of reality they appear like moths the fluttering of insubstantial wings in an act of taith.

locumentar drama All the material in it is based on tacts, events, verbalm reports government dramatic in the something very pastides projected projected onto a screen 1 or evens and act tics whạt thể

SOUTH AFRICA '70

Irected b! to a bac African his how

TOMLINSON

and

PAUL

curtall subjected aways designed denne пОИ

SPRING

Jntil at the

JNITY

black Reviewed by worker … to ine

BRIAN MOORE

S African workers await trans- capitalisin reduces black workers exists where portation to the mines. Identity tags Shipment oil bodie level wage shipment They are shunte worker savery i call labour force. meaning. The information in ea neaning se of the and chane inge into re mormiss masses first act spells this out eloquently all- rentures. Democracy olack ane walte capitalsu tragic voice one the evolutionary movement in the whole circus of who peck itself patheticalv at the against problem like gnats. tor it is ar unashamed mouth piece

ANC)

the play contradictions. do me eloquently sta African masses an out ot the mouth of Nel of faith hope charte and For all the protests about the the piece concludes dignity states his task clearly. hat battle is fought out elan lllan, where. 'ALL THE WAY UP' is a film version of David Turner's By Brian Moore play 'Semi-detached' slace and the changed title gives the key to the Carry-on style double entendre that follows.

ambition, of status, hypocrisy and Familv and social life is domin.

Betder than appear coke deing the desire to In better this resDeCt the content their door minor promises sharp neighbour, two silent observers sometning an( marvelous eati but at critical; in realization it becomes eye for next aoor. the a family romp. One daughter has been married pretensions of the lower middle Warren Mitchell plays the part off to the heir of a local buttor and though some of that father who actory, the other one is bidins the has i man. reapness for detail bas been oeuvred himself into the position er time of head of the Starlight insurance appears brans with poison pen stea branen slandering ns earner comedy Ine result ls a pateny married sid to someone rich and farce replaces réa. Thé move into semi- where the decides to get Daway of the two up social observation. detached bet out owner two down of earlier origins rep- logetner they choose the An he War petty stage of the the button factory, who falls resents only

ITSI

trumonant for her in a big way. step up the ladder of status.

getune on.

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TV ввс 1 Onen aolf chamnionship and Gillette Gun cricket. 1.30 10.55 a.m. London 00 News Watch with mother. 1.45-1.53 News, weather 155.220 Ar aol change Industrial and the church. 420 P 3.00 Golf and 0. 0 on. 793 EDi school. ackanory. 'The Magic Puzzle' Czechoslovakia. 5.20 Tom Tom.

Costello. 5.44 Abbott and Film from new and wee 6.00

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FROM THE

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6.45

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COMEDY PLAYHOUSE. 'Mind Your Own Business'. With Hilda Bird, Tony Selby and Derek Griffiths. colour channel 61 as 8.00

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

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channel 41 as Frost with Sammy Davis Jr 11.5 did 1205 tr ahar. 9.10

FROST

OVER

AMERICA. David (Wales) 10 00 HS WHORES Place savond me'. A Czech who spent solitary confinement and under constant in- nina monthe black and white 10.30 24 Hourn tells his story.

11.05 THE FIFTIES. Recollections. 11.20 Weather.

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Midas today: Look 600- 2e Mer hal: 10.00 London South-West, weather. 11% News, wea Ser: Heddiw. ввс 2 11.00-11.20 a.m. PLAY SCHOOL. 4.20-6.30 p.m. GOLF.

ALIVE. Borstal part one. "The Sentence":

VANYAC

. rersonal renections on daintines

OF THE WEEK.

Mantovani and his concert orchestra 10.00 GoL- Open Chamnionchin 7970 RUSSELL'. Portrait of the painter.

10 20

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1.30400 ro. 8 4.5 Any Nag mad a 10. 5,20 Freed Tele 550 4.30 Crossroads. .20 Freewheelers. 5.50

I DREAM OF JEANNIE

Messe 6.30

7.30 CORONATION STREET.

OF DAVE

8.00

HAND

Dave AllAn with sob SCOTTISH 00.100 10Pons. Todd Michael Sharvell-Martin, Nicole Shelby and the Lady- hirde 9.00 TALES OF EDGAR WALLACE. 'Death Trap'.

10.00 hot sol.

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10.30

NEAREST AND DEAREST.

WRESTLING. From the Town Hall, Wembley.

11.00 v Albert Wall and Robby Baron v Joe Murphy. ozaKads 130 London d 12 mldnlaht. Post mortem International.

Gootrev Hodason talke about hal. 10. London the civl riohts movement in the linited CatAcl

WORKERS PRESS

The news of their forthcoming marriage upsets though the rest of the family's aspirations, for the factory owner's nephew falls out of line of inheritance if there is a child, and there threatens to be one. The film concerns itself with the farcical manipulations of this which are at times situation, quite funny. Mitchell's. pretensions and de- viousness are amusing, particu- larly the posh accent he adopts.

But all the time there are merely broad hints at the poten- tial subject matter, the real ten- sions involved in social climbing, the apeing of the middle class, the mean-minded ambition which human response makes all real subservient to its needs, the re- duction of everything to a com- modity. It is a world where appearance predominates over reality.

Yet the film fails to communi- cate a real world. The settings are familiar enough, the family fami- liar enough, but they are mere caricatures, in the end just actors giving comic performances. There is no real social sharpness.

The French, the Italians and the Czechs are able to make social comedies, because they define their world with a great eye for detail and a simplicity of exposition. * The comedy derives from an understood reality, flows from the situation. All great comedy does from Shakespeare through to Chaplin. But 'All the Way Up' leans too heavily on extraneous tricks, on gimmicks, on milk boiling over in kettles, or motor cars boiling or simply funny faces. It up, bears all the imprint of what is vulgarly considered commercial.

MacTaggart's This is James first venture into film. He is a man responsible either indirectly for real directly or innovations in television drama.

He was the first producér of the Wednesday Play and has many distinguished credits in his record. But he is yet to make the transition into film which bears the stamp of his own creative personality. Warren Mitchell In this he shares the fate of many directors who are forced to fall foul of the capitalist film industry, where the pressures are enormous and talent is often stifled-the clock and the budget are always on your back. And the pattern becomes even more ominous. * Simply, capital is being with- drawn from the film industry, close, men are made studios redundant. Those few films that are made are placed more and more at the mercy of the requirements of profit and quick turnover.

It never was and it certainly isn't now any way to run an industry. These tensions flash out with every cut in 'All the Way Up'.

ALL THE WAY UP

starring

WARREN MITCHELL

directed by IAMES MacTAGGART LAST THURSDAY'S papers Tory of carriea pictures Housing Minister, Peter Walker, looking slum houses in Brixton. "All | can d bara is to eyereso my disgust an an human henna who other human beings in this dreadful way? doubt about Te anon. week, he num the Rowell Group, one a £72 million investment banking group. He Peter WALKER was also on the boards of several unit trusts. So we can be sure he would never exploit anybody by rat-infested for hiah Why should he? Head of Military Intelligence at Wiveliscombe A RECENT broadcast from ference on his nart. Only docu Prague mante trom n become certainly confirms which were iced as hadronmind ot nolice called him to an inter predictions or a show trial on tor the trial were trans vIeW and elicited intormamor traditional Stalinist lines.

ted To him He methodicall about incuse in sovaki as en jesate to the Maris Peace commented them arom It consists of reminiscences by viewpoint of an expert controller.

Bretislav Vejda of a Russian o the time ha: eturned when expert' work on the 1952 frame o advise the Ministr met him Control in the early 1950s that oraise Wiveliscombe talk. Comrade has revealer Somers. to rantino interrupted when the was crudity •TIa diligent of leading circles of British . untiringly interested trial certainly the modest. thint Czech Stalinists were in need of in me home conditions or all possible information abor aven found time for leccone "t hen from their more aynemence?

at that time Czech . Russian colleagues never him The idea saw give nspiracy whose order or interfere We Veida's imagine rhitram attention to Coward a caT turning our le kept Russian menta the hein comes me point of the made gently as a to yarien in Britain pare for a new round of nessed no direct or indirect inter- in 1939. THE 'Morning Star' for Tues- day, June 30 led with a story Peter Zinkin about the by Common Market Safeguards Campaign. and Sir Gerald Nabarro amitted name comple phoned by on o Ronald Bell, Command Tary At porter of the Campaign the Ston! for Thung dom loc arried on paze two a feature I Chris Myant. tHere's a menace te Tara'e a mango demarnatic Bullus, Mr Richard dangers of Powellism "Mr Ronald Bell is Tory MP for South Bucks, says Myant.

cath immigration and the attacks on Ciyil Service? best ene told an made ported what he said election meeting before polling threat. as he says, isthere are because Communists under far tor many beds in this country" Nabarro's Sir Gerald comment (on Powell) was: ast the nation has found a leader break the enough ring issuend of Gerald

NARADDA

PAGE FOUR

WORKERS PRESO

• ROM PAGE UNE

of its imperalist history. Special report from the Falls y differe d the Aden

BARBARA SLAUGHTER

Grater is thatr entres while the were In

SHOCK

REDUNDANCIES

have been an- Under the shadow oT being the A Treland is nounced to cutters—members of the National Workers-at Union of allors and Garment if, being an imperialist blamed of Dachau and Belsen John Collier's three Leeds clothing factories.

The have been men informed by union branch officials that the company o sent in the plans to axe the number of cutters employed in the city by 50. examp ble, joined with the that the Army had bota sational British export performance..

when 30000 make ne man lays the cloth Latr the scals oll heto the in the pinch, feeling One Communist Party mell will now see lining Marxists ber said: ening for Com Stanley and bad conditions in that the Each lay work-study collaborationist YET ANOTHER illustration of the nature of the their trust. mented: holeperiod portaise it at t per cent produce S Vietnam US puppet regime is given in the horrifying ar the le is a wages fight!' Ra factory teams weroduce 36,000 ligh recent events at report irom the prison islana or con son, 1 mles In other words it was from Saigon. 500 men and women are shut up here in factore of 3,000 pairs per man per fight necessary to *When the strike was canted Lane in the tiny stone cages, starved and beaten.

ty of the strike commit te provuctvily agiceues. Work-study * Each lay is of the fac Mid-East threater difectly as a result of the man at the action crieved through work-study?

at ten the factory * mont on the US plan, or So caled T nox Rd. sece 276 pairer Resolution The cutters now see this as Bao pairs per defence of the The resolution finally calling the island in cas aps mus now stand AT LEAST 19 MPs now clothing worker: It begaeyery Committee difference in producten immed by Clothing pardy or business consultants a mato door of some sort. esist these area determined to timization. To fight the national agree- is and everything it this tike cds rising out of being starved of work, whilst groupe this is wny burton's nave and local over t Tiger cages' redposity in she delp and danger that a dea '(1) The Strike Committee Through during the whole period. im dustry mat mean fight fer Americans : for- This appointment our 184 source of gratification to chose he be bained more struck for under foreman was dis- workers' control. current issue leadership cheaply. chang Ra Work studecialist The Mation icontras ted Colliers cutters must magazilt sen years harassing a of the Page A factory meeting insisted one of dismiss ent Institute of W steward - clothing manufacture. racetor ers principe time been worked unt as repents to the eds actory.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

and the amongst being worked until very prisoners in danuarantees mean absolutel or the this des nothing. Saturday work-sharinn the Nob deany expressed the factories the vise more ployers themselves. to, we will not salute this In March 1969 a report was earernment East factories. othing Indust at low tear are that to the re nite Indictment Combine Drap ConCombia part. his account is not Just the My Lal an industrial office were directit of the uni On eve of LP. conference agreement signed nawsui whole clothing industry. orkone of coars featre this. Colliers estimate Promise maaket continued to report manoris and tradi third week two days nis misus her be possible ere clea and OR federal Workers Unions. ree months They were preparing for an в ву ром нектися demand is

'IF THE

nore mee Nationa

BY DAVID MAUDE

WEATHER

certain to fall Ports Council as they've said Dealing with a section of The was sat of marr they've labour. 8 tver - - - no. I my her the be 'Nationalization rits delayed annual te would like to subscribe to Workers Press fo explainy case, delay 2. force reduction in the labour "board, the hect publication, the NPC i matter of history e upd reant pated that result of only academic interest.

or ship. experts por the stric Ranson bosed! clothing industry said tien tello, called representation on the Board

MEETIN

the workers •You they an ease enema tuation care arod sustained coasts. or cent, far in excess 'Make cab Doric ences will have te

ALL TRADES

LATE NEWS

Nngland: Rather cloudy. northern

UNIONS ALLIANCE

under tions have been introduceda- review on a realistic basis.'

MEETINGS

spying adjustable ple scorted to ans who skil burt of the alt lemanc compulsory' the Robertsor ana General Ume in-in' the patterns is Te made Compulsory in healt Preparation Workers Much of the tailors vehicles been eroded by ner Could general sec On rebruarv lo we said: the firemen should accept as has told the new Minister of This, They claim, , is neces- Thea halso sit one stand dori unhe freen pace ing research and training com NDLB, Kirby execut claim mories of 220 the + the with temperatures undergroun E30k hick. Tho men work in the mmit- who Bon Casha l sire, ondon 1 vehicle in sunny trol over the docker. £3 and £5 increase). Leains Talse Wednesday July 8, 1970 Cables strikers to meet officials Cal Greenwich weeks both officials this union 3 of the seen. 23e over workers from the two factories Genicials were While expired later present cont Bad conditions admitted in Hungarian factories

FOREIGN COY RESPONDENT

THE

the Hungarian Nationa Trade Union Council, in to a Counci. last week, has revealed the serious situa- facing and WOllies workers in Hun- young garian factories. presidium on July 2: "The working proved. Doyed in industry are sti employed rich ot 39 industry-are girls of intin son organs allow iousn Bad working conditioned in ronst the Bureaucrats mire the sol

MEETINGS

MANCHESTER

LENIN LECTURES

party. So he coming english Routing.

The Sociallet Ration cree

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National Docks conference Cavanagh, *Birkenhead. Gamlin