TRIAL OF STRENGTH ON ENGINEERS' PAY

FROM STEPHEN JOHNS THE ENORMOUS trial of strength between 200,000 engineering workers and their bosses opens today in the greater Manchester area.

Output of a total of 1,000 factories is expected to slump by as much as 50 per cent when workers ban piecework and overtime in support of the demand for £4, a 35-hour week, more holidays and special rights for women.

Employers are expected to hit back with lockouts and in retaliation more workers will join the 1,600 already occupying three engineering plants.

The mood in the boardrooms was summed up by Edward Morton, president of the Engineering Employers' Association in the NW, when he paid tribute this weekend to firms who have tried to suspend their employees.

He said employers everywhere, 'owe a great debt to those managements for their fight is our fight'.

Firms expected to react immediately against the bans are AEI in Openshaw and Linotype on the massive Trafford Park industrial estate near Salford docks.

In Stockport, where 5,000 workers are already working-torule, 2,000 employees at Mirrlees have been warned that they will face action if output falls below a certain minimum established under their productivity scheme, The occupations express a determination by workers that they are ready to meet united action by the employers and not be driven onto the streets.

The union tactic so far has been to pick off weaker employers and get them to agree to a deal.

There has been one notable success at the textile engineering firm of Scragg's, who have agreed to pay £3 and introduced a phased shorter working week.

But the plant-by-plant battlesforced on the engineering workers when the AUEW abandoned the national claim —have led to grave weaknesses.

In some factories managements have done deals behind the backs of local union officials. At Simon's Engineering and Oil Wells Engineering Stockport, agreements have been reached and workers there will not be joining in today's district-wide action.

LATENEWS SECURITY measures on an unprecedented scale for yesterday's anti-internment demonstration suggested the government expected a major battle over its ban on Irish assemblies in Trafalgar Square.

Thousands of extra police drafted in from London suburbs in special buses were at their posts an hour in advance waiting in side streets around the Square for the five columns to arrive.

Fifty mounted police were standing by in Great Scotland Yard, squads of motorcycle police patrolled Whitehall and the approaches to the Square and two mobile ambulance units had been brought in anticipation of casualties.

Reinforcements had been sent to 10 Downing St and the Houses of Parliament.

2,000 demonstrators from N London led by a contingent of bereted Provisional IRA marched peacefully past double police ITThe AUEW has recognized the Bredbury occupation The full terms are not yet known, but I understand that at least one plant the agreement provides for a phased wage increase which runs specifically against union instructions.

The Manchester employers have been backed strongly by their national federation. In particularly, they have been urged not to make concessions on hours and holidays since this would set i precedent throughout the country.

SHEFFIELD district committee of the AUEW meets tomorrow to discuss action against firms which have refused to negotiate WHILES .... on the claim.

The Stalinist-dominated conmittee has already rejected action with Manchester casting vote against coming leading Communist Party nember Herbert Howarth.

Trade talks in Moscow SENIOR executives from some of Britain's biggest firms were among 20-man delegation which has just visited Moscow to boost trade.

Describing the week's talks as most successful, Lord Errol. former President of the Board of Trade, who led the mission. said that businessmen would have to change their methods if they wanted to increase sales in the Soviet Union.

WEATHER

lines at Trafalgar Square to a rally on the Embankment. Shouting "Victory to the IRA' the march was not supported by the trades unions and there was only one Communist Party banner. S DISTRICTS will have showers or longer periods of rain and sunny intervals.

In N districts, squally showers are likely, with snow over hills and perhaps thunder in places.

Winds will be generally strong. westerly, with gales in N districts.

Temperatures will be near normal in the S, but rather cold in the N.

Outlook for Tuesday and Wednesday: Rain or showers at times and some snow in the N. Becoming colder.

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