Union Leyland procedure wrangle

free Qll political • prisohry MODIFY RATE SYSTEM UNION chiefs call in a TUC have to be balanced by conpaper published today for tributions from industry-posabolition or modification of sibly local corporation tax or the notoriously unfair rating more likely super-rating. system. Philip Wade writes: Instead Criticizing the government's of fighting to remove the Green Paper on local govern- Tories, who have decided to ment finance, they call for the keep rating despite wideintroduction of local income spread protests, the TUC has tax at rates determined by decided to engage in yet ancouncils. other academic, time-wasting The paper says this would discussion with them. ITALY'S deadlocked presidential election yesterday entered a critical phase as the 17th ballot failed to produce a result and the Christian Democrats prepared to make a crucial decision on whether to replace their candidate.

Few observers doubted that Amintore Fanfani, who has stubbornly held on as the official party candidate throughout the first 1l days of voting, would be replaced at a meeting of the 423 ChrisSHOP STEWARDS in the BritishLeyland combine have not been consulted about the company's move for a new procedure agreeThey are by no means happy with Friday's soundings about a possible replacement for the now-defunct York engineering-industry procedure, imposed Fears that Leyland is after an even more advantageous agreement this time were heightened at the weekend by reports that the Department of Employment may resort to the Industrial Relations Act if further talks next month fail.

Under the Act, the new National Industrial Relations Court has the power to impose a model procedure in the combine if it considers there is a threat to profits or to the economy.

Employment Secretary Robert Carr would first ask the court to order an investigation by the Commission on Industrial Relations headed by Len 'Dodger' Neal-the former meat porter and union official turned labour Following Friday's preliminary talks at eyland's Berkeley Square headquarters, unior leaders said they would not tolerate a FordCALL BY TUC tian Democrat electors last night.

He has held the post of premier four times, but only picked up five votes in yesterday's ballot as his party officially abstained for the tenth time amid hectic negotiations with other parties to find a compromise candidate.

The left-wing bloc remained united in support of Francesco de Martino, who won 397 votes.

DAVID MAUDE ment with union leaders.

in 1922 after a national lock-out. director of British Rail.

style national agreement.

And under considerable pressure from the combine's 130,000 manual workers, they have rejected' plans for a central negotiating body to discuss issues such as wages. they did respond to threatser, sackings from Leyland chairman Lord Stokes by trying to sell their members the idea of plant-level investigation of the causes of disputes.

,Though a majority of the senior stewards went along with them at that stage, the idea got a cool reception in the factories.

There is , good reason for believing the spectre of the anti-union law is being raised now to frighten the union chiefs into similar but even greater concessions.

But no real compromise is possible on the central issue over which the national procedure talks broke down: the employers' right to change working conditions without consulting the unions.

If this is Leyland's aim, it will need the Industrial Relations Act in earnest and not just as a threat in the background.