TORIES TAUNT THE RAILMEN ACCEPT FICHT

THE RAILWAYMEN'S fight for a living wage is in great the British Rail Board said immediately after the talks that they would 'stand danger. At 12 noon yesterday firm' on their latest offer of a 12.5 leaders of the three rail unions per cent pay rise effective from June 5. -NUR, ASLEF and TSSA- have been told over and over again postponed a decision about the that there is absolutely no chance of the Board giving in to their full £20-anext step in their pay fight for week claim from May 1. the second time in 24 hours.

offer from the Board the rail NUR general secretary Sir leaders waited at Unity House yesterday marking time and waiting for an Sidney Greene told reporters offer which would not come. after a two-hour joint meeting at Unity House, London: that as far as they were concerned, 'We are doing everything we can for a renewal of industrial action folto show, as always, we are in a coming-off period at midnight, May y, conciliatory mood. It hangs on this. they could go on calling and adjourning Do people want to talk to us? meetings as long as they liked.

Still waiting • the NUR's Sir Sidney Greene as conciliatory as ever.

TIE-BURNING PROTEST •.. Youths from yesterday's 3,000-strong pupils' march through London burn their ties outside County Hall, Westminster. One of their demands is against school The answer is 'No'! A spokesman for Meanwhile no pay rises were being shelled out and rail services were running normally.

But behind the stalemate between the two sides yesterday, the swords of The leaders of the three rail unions class war were still, nevertheless, While Heath and top Tory Ministers had met on Monday to draw up their battle plans, late on Tuesday the railAware there will be no improved way leaders were showing a marked reluctance to enter the fray.

Not only did yesterday's noon meeting of the rail unions make no call for action, but Greene stressed: 'We want Government sources made it clear to see if we can do something without provided the rail unions did not call landing up in an industrial dispute.' But neither the Rail Board nor the government is under any illusion that the stark choice for the unions is now-EITHER GIVE IN OR FIGHT.

To fight or not to fight was the vital question which disturbed the minds of the union leaders throughout yesterday.

The determination of rank-and-file railwaymen to defend their living standards — expressed in barelycontrolled militancy on the Southern Region and in Scotland a fortnight ago -cannot be in doubt.

All three unions have • already climbed down before the National Industrial Relations Court and two of them-NUR and TSSA-voted against recalling the TUC to discüss the working of the Act.

The present standstill is playing into Tory hands. We say to these leaders: If they are not willing to fight, they should resign and make way for those