Pearson Report

'independent' court of inquiry into the do dispute has supported the port employers to hilt and rejected completely the dockers' mand for the £20 basic wage.

Contrary to the extravagant speculations of the capitalist press, Lord Pearson has given the dockers nothing except the advice to swallow the employers' modernization schemes hook, line and sinker. There is to be not one premiums there should be a telling the dockers special overtime calculator of 8s an hour instead of the and that they present 5s 6}d an hour. • Holiday pay should be at the rate of £20 a week instead of the present £16 15s 7d.

Modernization payment of 1s an hour should be raised 'If without any increase in to Is 6d and in principle the additional 6d should be paid across the board.

Little wonder that within the hour the port employers stated that they were willing to accept the report's recommendations! Crumbs Pearson • therefore recommends that the dockers should For a few crumbs, they would have the way wide open for the rationalization of the docks at the expense of the docker. to overtime, holiday pay and Indeed, the report makes it clear that at the centre of the national dock strike is the implementation of Devlin • • The guarantee should be applied on a daily basis of f4 Phase Two:

'For the good of the indusa day as minimum wage for an try and the nation as a whole, eight-hour day without over- further progress of the transitional process [moderncalculating overtime ization]... should be actively pursued and nothing should be done to hinder it. That' is more important issues arising in this industry, which have a temporary character' (Our emphasis.) employers and all Tory Above representatives require Devlin the docks and with it speed-up, •wage freeze and unemployment for the dockers.

For the Tory government, this is an essential prerequisite for the introduction of anti-union legislation towards the end of the year, employment as the big stick.

The dock strike is therefore not an economic struggle being waged by one section workers, but a political struggle against the employers and Tory government, DEP joi ANOTHER government department - the Department of Employment and Productivity has joined the ban on Workers Press by refusing us an advance copy of a report of the utmost importance to the working class.

Yesterday morning the DEP press office refused to release a copy of the Pearson report to a Workers Press journalist and told him that he would have to wait until noon, the general publication time.

This was despite the fact that other journalists were already studying their Reports at the DEP and Southampton dockers anxious FEARS of full acceptance of the Pearson Report prompted the decision by Southampton dockers yesterday to send a large delegation to lobby the next docks delegates meeting.

"Too many people,' said strike committee member Don Cox, 'will try to settle for anything' Once again the meeting unanimously reaffirmed its decision last week not to move perishable goods despite the pleas from Jones and O'Leary.

It also made clear what sort Press that some were given their copies after our reporter made his request at 10.30 A DEP press officer said that he was only giving advance copies to members of the Labour and Industrial Correspondents Group.

Our industrial correspondent David Maude's application for membership of the Group was voted down in January this year.

Yesterday's DEP action confirms the statement of a CIR press officer (reported that the target can be achieved.

One major spurt and we'll make it. Do not delay.

Post your donations at once Appeal Funú, 18ta Clapham High Street, London, SW4.

I!II

hose outcome is decisi ne entire working clas The publication of the Pearson Report now strengthens the hand of the employers and emphasizes complete ability of the official union leaders to do anything but retreat before the Tories on these main issues.

On the of the strike Transport and Teneral Work erS secretary Jack Jones tried to foist an unacceptable settlethe re-call delegate conference When the Tories threatened o send troops onto the docks he took a furthe step back and recommended dockers to handle perishable cargoes. into a Jones. "out. Now the retreat has turned Comment Onl Pear son's arrogant rejection of his members' demands was:

It is a significant advance on what employers prethat the delegate conterence has been re-called for tomorrow. -get them off.

young Ryelands estate building worker said that the action committee which had been formed on his estate was urging people to refuse to pay the increase.

'We want people just to pay the normal rent. They will try to frighten us with eviction, but if we stand together we have nothing to fear.' The council is due to meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Tenants from the Marsh estate plan to meet at 6.15 at the Community Centre and to march through Lancaster to Dalton Square, outside town hall, where they will be joined by tenants from the other estates.

CORRECTION

IN far 10 of 'An Introduction to Marxist Philosophy' Press, Saturday July 25) the quotation in paragraph three column one should have read • A definite social pro. duction relation'. The quotation in paragraph two, column the specific economic form in three should have read which unpaid social labour is pumped the direct producers Out of i LATE NEWS MICHAEL FOOT'S VISIT OFF Mr Michael Foot, a member of the 'Shadow Cabinet'. , was forced to cancel his visit tonight to N Ireland, where he planned to speak at a meeting to protest against the imprisonment of Miss Bernadette Devlin. • Mr Arthur Latham, Labour MP for Paddington North, also cancelled a visit. Both were unable to get flights into the country.

A number of people are likely to be charged for taking part in Orange marches in Ireland on Sunday, following the Stormont government ban on all parades.

A Royal Ulster Constabulary spokesman said today 'names have been noted with a view to prosecution'.

Church parades took place of action could be expected if troops were called in to the docks.

A resolution passed at the national shop • stewards' committee in London on Sunday was read out to the meeting.

It calls for: • Mass pickets on all dock gates • Mass demonstrations and meetings outside all factories where goods would be taken • Solidarity, action by other trade unionists on the • docks and on the shop fioor.

'If troops are moved in other trades would become involved like the NUR, chairman Bernard Behan told the meeting. 'We would call for their support'even if it was unofficial to start with,' he warned.

While these dockers prepare for determined action to extend their strike, the Iransport and General Workers' Union leadership continues to give authority to foremen in Southampton - also T&GWU members—to cross the picket line.

at Rathfriland and Magheralin, Co Down, despite police warnings.

MORE POST CHARGES UP The Post Office yesterday proposed to reduce the basic letter weight from four to two ounces to raise an extra £100 million a year.

Inland parcels would go up by about 14 per cent.

An inland parcel now 3s for 2 Ibs would cost 4s.

Foreign letters under one ounce now 9d would cost Is.

Post cards now 5d would go up by 2d.

La newspaper at the Clapham High Street,