Builders fear a sell-out on claim

BUILDING UNION leaders have already accepted the employers' latest pay offer and will try and call off official strikes for the £30, 35hour week claim.

However, rank-and-file workers feel that their claim has been sold out by the leadership. There is a possibility that the will resca selective stoppages escalate into unofficial all-out strikes up, and down the country.

Last Wednesday, union ers met the employers the national joint council. One thousand building workers stood outside demanding immediate settlement on the basis of the full claim.

Afterwards, George Smith of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, which represents building workers, said there had been no settlement.

But it now seems clear that something fixed up at the meeting. For the following day UCATT executive met in London and recommended acceptof the latest offer at next Tuesday's NJC meeting.

settlement nowhere near original atel represents a clear betrayal by the union leadership.

The claim, drawn and fought for by the rank and file, was for an immediate increase in basic rates to and a hour cut in the working week with another week's holiday.

The employers' offer is only for an immediate rise in the craftsmen's basic to £23 from £20 and £2.60 rise for labourers to £19.60.

Next May, craftsmen would get another £3 and labourers £2.40 Employers have also offered higher guaranteed minimum earnings of £24.80 for labourers and £29 for craftsmen.

Not a minute off the working day is offered and there are only two days' extra holiday, and only one this year.

Shortly before the seven-week sélective strikes began, employers offered 18-month package deal which gave basic rates just below the current offer. As the latest offer lasts for an extra SIx months, it in substance the same.

Transport and General Workers' Union regional and national building group officials meet in London today to decide their attitude to the offer.

Meetings all over Britain have condemned the union leadership and called for all-out stoppages. In Leeds on Saturday there was a demand for an all-out strike throughout Yorkshire. Workers in Bristol and Birmingham have passed similar resolutions.

On Tuesday, London building workers will strike for half a day and march from Speakers' Corner to the sell-ouy Day talks to demand no Undoubtedly there will also be - as there were last week-calls for the resignation of George Smith and other union leaders.

Smith, as chairman of the TUC General Council, was one of those who fixed up the new 'conciliation' anti-strike deal with the Confederation of British Industries.