Workers Press no. 9

workers press

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER •

PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY •

NUMBER NINE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1969

Before Tory businessmen

EDITORIAL

Dustmen

FEATHER LASHES

must win

THE

London

WORKERS

austmen s

MERSEY

of the World War. It enjoys the TUC GENERAL SECRETARY Victor Feather de- vicious attack on Mersey By John livered himself of a workers when he spoke to the Manchester Institute Spencer of Directors on Monday night.

'Merseyside', he said, 'is getting itself an unwelcome Maxi strike reputation for unnecessary stoppages of work. His lory no doubt heartily applauded these anti- audience working-class sentiments.

halts Cowley There is nothing these Tory gatherings like better than to be entertained by a tame trade union leader who bashes the workers while the port-wine is circu- ASSEMBLY lines at Morris Motors, Cowley, stopped lating. But Mr arain on luesday wen key seculons walked our 1n protest against the company's threat to put the new

G.E.C.-E.E.

marks will arouse * the trade un all scions of hatred of every class-con iyaxi circul on snort-ume Sub-assembly workers By David Maude

WORKERS

scious worker. dustmen. Financial assist went home : shortly after 11 The Mersey workers are Every sis vitt following 30-minute showing the for all those way

MUST FIGHT

It wall their stewards outside thiet officials event want lo outside plant. bein ment une incomes concy and in for a works' con-

FOR JOBS

• ere cloaky beloved ine lories of hat wereyside in ior After their says Roger K. Armstrong False GEC Merseyside Shop steward Monday's successtul toker special ral Me step had emphas •teward land's te should speak frankly Sections that Morris Tory revealin words are extremely leader Parasites Real face day calls for gamble as turned up fo legal did go in went who police beat he stagain scussing strike wilson spee A on the sallel Negroes the Congratulations breaking ' Mersey In the lactory se LAS VEGAS, the million some o the aires' playground' opposed strike action last dustmen's strike was Lu enters its and from the 3/55 T&GWU branct most critical scene Dilla. phase the forces of reac- action aralust an esumaled

• PAGE 4 COL. 7 →

building up in 'all, note of thi 1,000 Negro vourns. order to smash it our problems •а трас ої answer is to be

JORDAN

20552 rested.

• PAGE 4 COL. 4 →

o at last Ultra-right alerted in fighting maters press attempts coup undlake prac unionists all over the THE Jordan government has just announced the failure of a coup directed, it appears, against King Hussein.

Or-anize Muslim faction, Convited no the programme workers press

ISRAELI

Hostile Demolition Feather's remarks shownto

ATTACKS

On eve of LP. conferen the remedy

CONTINUE

the Koran act michi THE IS attack entent nilitants out of the e slightest offence villages. Feather 3 tete prinds. concerns lition is the only remedy Jordan gave news on Tue Since the TUC-Cabinet lis.

orne rocket and Al-Midray area

ORDER THE

laras the architec is of victory: Meanwhile Ast Israel med Prelude

DAILY

i Star for Indonesia, Muslim September rocket fire. ewards ans an interview with

NOW

Sinfield's Full aubecription Perhaps "Star' Car struggles mount two days Peat eas starest se OR Set are month. on the subject to date? " The machinemen. The class-collaborating leac demandion a pay sorkers creep resented d I would like to subscribe to Workers' Press for lisaster fo he working class. e coday to decile whether forced the on the relisions the strusie against brac strike, now Parallel On Not Monday. This attempt stole Name ile hand friend es the peasants Address ..... inside he woke movemen nee Organize vorkes ried Tel: 01-720-2000 against such leadership. Socialist Labour Lested That O1 Chi The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League

VOLVER

URSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1969

JAN 31 1970

PRICE Bd. Faced with major class struggle Stalinists and social democrats A CLEAR hint was given on Monday that the Soviet bureaucracy welcomed the new West German coalition under social democrat Willy Brandt. The occasion for this gesture towards Bonn was 20th the Anniversary meeting of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany, leading where Stalinists from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe as well as East Germany were in attendance. Soviet Party secretary East Rrezhner stated in Berlin that the Soviet Union change would welcome a West towards realism' German policies, a change to which the Soviet govern- would 'react accord- ment ingly. One of the main points of hewalter and Brandt has OCCh develop more on v to but soviet Union, even to East Germany.

PROMINENT

West German industrialists have long East Germany large West German firms always an- 1y there had been cond and recently sideraole pressure in business circles for a relaxation of the cold war noliciec associated with the Christian Democrat leadership. by for €20 claim Dustmen are Trade and prob Currenou determined lems now add new weight to to win strike these arguments. walter Thricht Stalinist leader of the Socialist is fully aware reapers egatioty of rights and peaceful By Rex Henry co-existence.

ALL TRADES

ROADSWEEPERS

joined

SIGNIFICANCE

the dustmen on Tuesdav's

UNIONS

picket duty at the Porto- This remark has far more hello Road depot, Kensing-

ALLIANCE

signitcane than tha rest n contained his speech, which usual routine denuncia. TOn.

MEETINGS

tions West As our picture chame thou tarism. gave an enthusiastic reception to the Workers Press. Reports from Bonn indicate that SPD-led More and workers. more certainly unertaial contacts with open drivers, lavatory attendants, partie London i oroveds ar elbricht. Speaker: Frank Willis ale The East German workers now on strike for higher pav.

were the first to challenge the Young Socialists candidate The demand for is also £20-a- week basic wage gain- might ot the Stalinist burean in the parliamentary Factarp Europe. raci ing sunnort in the nrovinces.

With taking on Soviet tanks Walkouts already by-election than their bare little more taken hands in the nace Benfleet. and uprising of Tune 17, 1953.

(rimshu stevenage Thursday, October 9 A velay Canvar Ulbricht was only saved Other areas are expected to from disaster by the Kremlin's 8 p.m. follow. ruthless action. Penhill Common Room With nawe of thic inorage.

Then and later, particularl Road pipkets expressed belo support Dartohollo time of erectioni Tuesday, October 14 letermination to stay out un.

of the most til their full demands are won.

8 p.m. Reuben George Hall vocal onnanento any real worker gave hoth the tions with bricht's regime Walcto Estate council and the trade union leaders a clear warning:

ENEMY

not get Friday, October 17

«TAT 111

Brandt's ny productivity deal, we war pati communica 8 p.m. increase and that's all social. Swindon Town Hall when hoth democratic bureaucracies Sainsbury Thursday, October 23 -the German Commen enemi 8 p.m. working class

• PAGE 4 COL. 4 →

men want Pinehurst Common Room Wednesday, October 29 parity Italy: 92 8 p.m. Swindon Town Hall

FIVE

hundred engineering million and maintenance workers

HULL

haydanarters tha Watarlor of tho giant Coinchney tand 'Workers' Press and strike days fum struck work on Mondav.

sausage end and productivity deals' Sunday, October 12, 3 p.m.

FIGURES just issued indicate that phase strike wave Corren Harco flooded across Italy The strate tive ve ere r support- Beverley Road ing men at in ferent manths who want bonus Tuly alone, almost hury depots production with

LUTON

warhero amninuers tima pay award pro- unila the house for too com In a repant 'Support Ellesmere Port 41 duction war rarg wan that amount. Throw out scabs' charter' maintenance men got only 33 Friday, October 10, 8 p.m.

of this year, total strike hours were nearly Sainsbury The Cock Wednesdav. Park Sauare same period in 1968

workers press

MERSEY WORKERS

• PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY •

NUMBER NINE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1969

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER

Before Tory businessmen

EDITORIAL

Dustmen

FEATHER LASHES

must win

THE

dustmen's LOndOn strike is one of the most strugg es lower-paid workers since of the Second the World War. TUC GENERAL SECRETARY Victor Feather de- By John livered himself of a vicious attack on Mersey Nov- workers when he spoke to the Manchester Institute Spencer of Directors on Monday night.

political 'Merseyside', he said, 'is getting itself an unwelcome reputation for unnecessary stoppages of work! His Tory Maxi strike anti- audience no doubt heartily applauded these working-class sentiments.

halts Cowley There is nothing these Tory gatherings like better than to be entertained by a tame trade union leader who bashes the workers while the port-wine is circu ASSEMBLY lines at Morris Motors, Cowley, stopped lating. again on Tuesday when key sections walked out in

G.E.C.-E.E.

protest arainst ne companys Inrear to our me Maxi circuit on short-time.

' to come to the a re scious worker. By David Maude

WORKERS

sub-assemon workers ance to nancial The Mersey workers are went nome snorty arter 11 sho all those who forw lollowing a su-minute Every step

MUST FIGHT

DackIns must be taken to officials meeting with their stewards local area labour in the Threncomes policy and outside the plant.

FOR JOBS

Tories. ference. Ma sentede 'reputation' their two-hour meet- False SaGE Merseyside Strong A latest alid be morterious working successful token Monday s Steward esperinis rival Herseyside Sophad emphas Work suggestion bit more older Tory speak frankly a nethe respective so er their fac tory-line words are extremel revealing. leader been are to one that cha, and will be Parasites Real face calls for *Over the last few weeks Every worker can now se gamble as legal the sage TUC over alli police beat strike- Wilson's speech on the salle Negroes Wilso Congratulations breaking Cading miet ts the Mersey work. "All that this has achieved LAS VEGAS, the 'million- playgrounda the

AS THE

dustmen's strike critical discuss and tobin enters forces of reac. onase me discussion О ГАС " VU. ! • building up in Know gon are ore • he al answer so ly blesser to any The demonstration order to smasn 1l. Following a tratie the h

JORDAN

• PAGE 4 COL. 4 →

• PAGE 4 COL. 6 →

Ultra-right alerted North-West.* stays injured t miers nress sit other marden the attempts coup don't knuckle seder.orkers acho ка пкасс Wort THE Jordan government has just announced the failure o side are wing a coup directed, it appears, against King Hussein makhare nrace gOr-aniz Muslim factic ultra- Tahriv (Freedom) workers press restoring coup

ISRAELI

Hostile ruled throu roue hey the Mustin retaho or me trade unit Demolition world in

ATTACKS

ode, like the Mustim Brothe the remedy

CONTINUE

discipline t drive

THE

ISRAELI

ntinues its attacks ven Arat militants out of the untons villages. Feathers here poinds concerns The purely religious nature about en real gun stack day of an ocket a Since the TUC-Cabinet dis eal aims of these Arica area.

ORDER THE

up as the arenilet of victory: movements. Meanwhile Al Fatah claimed Prelude COmment cal of thing indee

DAILY

treatment ca or the peast stewards

NOW

mes, infield. interview workers and poor peasants.

Car struggles mount For ar two days remarks OR i for three months mache madnessment. ership represented in the TUC the working class. aren addition pay disaster for to workers rress for 3 Car di they are to lean Solihull pl Parallel ibs • 2000 an production boat coed Solihull ceases serable and the day to the Name. This attempted peasants. This might end ass the fourth time since It makes more urgent than Claph am High aret, Lordni, swer: 0r-720-21869 uch leader ship. against s Triumph workers hard. Socast Labour Leaguet the work see for a socialist piddle The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League

URSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1969

PRICE 6d.

JON 8A 1370

Faced with major class struggle Stalinists and social democrats By Robert Black A CLEAR hint was given on Monday that the Soviet bureaucracy welcomed the new West German coalition under social democrat Willy Brandt. The occasion for this gesture towards Bonn was 20th the Anniversary German meeting of the Democratic Republic (East Germany, leading where Stalinists from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe well as East Germany were in attendance. Soviet Party secretar East Brezhnev stated Berlin that the Soviet Union 'would welcome a change towards realism' West German policies, a change to which the Soviet govern- ment would "react accord- ingly'. One ot the main noints ot between * alter Free agreement Democrats under Scheel and Brandt has the to develop policy only wards Union, but Soviet even to East Germany

PROMINENT

West German industrialists one been exporting on large WaST Germany scale West German firms are alva Lierom prominent fair nua! trade recently there has been con- siderable pressure in business Christies Democrad : lobhy for £20 clain lems now add new weight be Dustmen are Trade currency to wir str these arguments Walter Ulbricht, veteran Stalinist leader of the Socialist unity party. is ruly aware oi trends and these onen v en couraged them at the meeting.

In his speech he extended ofter or good-newthbour' on relations The hasts equality of rights and peaceful By Rex Henry co-existence'

ROADSWEEPERS

ALL TRADES

joined

SIGNIFICANCE

the dustmen on Tuesday's

UNIONS

This remark has far more nicket duty at the Porto- significance than the bello Road depot, Kensing-

ALLIANCE

speech which ton. denuncia. routine

MEETINGS

usual tions of West i the wore Peepin As our gave : reception Tast Reports from Bonn indicate that SPD-led More and more workers- covernment certainly drivers, open lavatory allenuals least none contacts with keepers and gravediggers DaRK abricht. in the London Boroughs Speaker: Frank Willis are The East German workers now on strike for higher nav Young Socialists candidate The demand for £20-a- were the hrst to challenge the may of the stain week haste ware 1s also in the parliamentary cracy ing support in the provinces Bare taking on Soviet tanks Walkouts already have by-election little more their Wakefield, and uprising of june 17, 1953.

taken nace crimchy. Stevengga. sentieet. Aveley Canvey Thursday, October 9 cland. Ulbricht was Vay the Kremlind saved areas are expected to disaster 8 p.m. Penhill Common Room With news of this increas- Then ing support Portobello tha Road pickets expressed their Tuesday, October 14 Berlin determination to of the most Brandt 8 p.m. was one vocal opponents any rea One worker both the Reuben George Hall gave Mons with unricht's regime council and the trade union Walcto Estate leaders a clear warning:

ENEMY

•We'll Friday, October 17 deal, we want Brandt's anti - communism 8 p.m. and Ulbricht's wall count for little both social- Swindon Town Hall democratic and Stalinist bureaucracies enes ye fe derman Sainsbury Thursday, October 23 condon 8 p.m. working class

• PAGE 4 COL. 4 →

men want Pinehurst Common Room Wednesday, October 29 parity Italy: 92 8 p.m. Swindon Town Hall

FIVE

hundred engineering million and maintenance workers

HULL

Waterloo headquarters the of the Sainshurv food 'Workers' Press and strike days productivity deals' hampering sausage Die •and and halting Sunday, October 12, 3 p.m.

supermarkets FIGURES just issued indicate throughout the country. that Carron House flooded across Italy The strikers were Beverley Road in recent months. bury five other who want depots July alone, almost million production hours were lost to the DarIly

LUTON

employers in strike workers. ome while the figure for the same In a recent pay 'Support Ellesmere Port- month in 1968 was barelv hal duction won workers that amount basic Throw out scabs' charter' Der cent bonus on For the first seven productivity 'norm' while th months maintanance men got onlv 3 Friday, October 10, 8 p.m.

of this vear. total strike hours depot struck fast wednesday.

com- Were near! million Cock pared with 33 million for the he Park Square same period in 1968.

Get, put, apply pressure, re-grasp, eye action, crank, step, foot motion, bend, weight factors.

PAGE TWO

BY THESE ARE THE ten basic elements of meth- ods, time, measurement

(MTM),

time-and- motion which system Otis Elevator company may bring to its Liver- pool works. The above are termed basic motions and employers and work consultants claim that be all manual work can broken down into a combin- ation of these movements.

For each move there exists a series of fixed times called

BRIAN RIZMNITOCAD

pre-determined time stand- ards. This method is based on the principle that the move- ments of people at work can be analysed and rationalized in the same way as those of a machine so as to cut out all wasted motion, motion not in and for the work process, so as to attain a maximum of speed without any slowing due to exhaustion. Its introduction at Otis's directly follows declaration a by the management that .. the immediate target of the company is to reduce time standards through negotiation and mutual agreement by approxi- an mate amount of six million minutes.' Agreement This is just one aim of a pro- posed long-term agreement for all the hourly-rated employees at the Liverpool works. Based on the agreement reached be- tween the employers and the Engineers on the march for 1 leaders last engineering union December, of its other many proposals reflect this 'workers are machines' outlook-that a measuring re- procedure for the day and night-shift axation be fixed : ployees. of re- and 'for the purpose establishing and in the 'The extension of majority of cases reducing working arrangements, current relaxation allow- cluding three-shift syster ances.' and That there will be 'Acceptance of autom data-collection by compi 'The re-introduction of the of in and of time and bonus rece system clocking out at lunch time for both ing'

NEWSLETTER PAMPHLETS

Trade Unions : No Laws Against the Trade Unions! (G. Healy) 3 The Alternative to Wilson (G. Healy) ...

Lessons of the 1966 Seamen's Strike ... ... 2s. € (M. Nolan) Stop Devlin Now! No Sackings on the Docks (Jack Gale) The ENV Story ... ••• Your Wages in Danger (A. Thornett) ...

Labour Party: From MacDonald to Gaitskell ...

How the Labour Party Began (B. Pearce) Ceylon : ... 1s. C The Great Betrayal (G. Healy) ...

••• The Logic of Coalition Politics (M. Banda) ...

United States : The New Nationalism and the Negro Struggle 2s. ( (Tim Wohlforth) Belgium: Class Struggle in Belgium (1960-1 General 1s. ( Strike) (T. Kemp) A New Party? Some lessons for Belgian Labour 1s. t (P. Arnold)

PERIODICALS

7s. ' Keep Left (monthly) 1 year Fourth International (quarterly) 1 year 18s. 1 All these books are available from New Pa Publications, 186a Clapham High Street, London, S.W.4. r the pay claim prior to the sell-out.

And also that it em- "The formal morning and afternoon 10-minutes sit- down tea-break to be dis- shift- while continuing with their matic puter ecord- Allowances The cutting of relaxation allowances is one of the main methods used by work-study to speed-up workers. The high level of physical aptitude and dexterity of movement among workers of of the industrialized most countries means that little can be gained by trying to speed- up their movements. No-one hammers slowly or takes a long time to turn a 3d. screwdriver, and with work associated with machinery it is 6d. usually impossible to make slow movements anyway. . 6d. But one thing that has re- sulted from this high rate of 3d. working is that workers have evolved for themselves adequate rest breaks during 3d. the work process to ensure mental and physical relaxation.

3d. It is these breaks that the employers aim to eliminate.

Instead, they want to work 3d. out one long continuous list

GET, CRANK,

of the PUT, 2d.

ACTION, FOOT-

EYE

MOTION routine to run from clock-on to clock-off. • Od. Suitable 6d. Of course, the work-study . Od. men will say that they have allowed 'suitable' (sometimes they say "adequate') times to cover rest. They will claim that 'stand- ard time' is the actual time for . Od. a movement, plus an extra allowance for contingencies . 6d. and rest. But who has decided what is 'suitable'? The fact is, that the original rest-times were arrived at by the workers in keeping with their own well-being, whereas the new times are solely dic- tated by the drive for more . 6d. profit from fewer workers.

• Od. MTM itself is no more than an attempt to blind with 'science' the workers who are Park facing what is blatantly a speed-up method. Work-study men will aim to use it to 'prove' to the workers

WORKERS' PRES

S concerned that it is easy to non-stop, and also to work 'prove' that all the new times are reasonable. The introduction of the three-shift system means that this non-stop working is to be on a 24-hour day, seven-day week basis for every job.

No details are given in the agreement about the automatic data-collecting system men- tioned, but in some firms this has turned out to be the use of methods to spy on operators at work. Machines are linked up by electrical lines to a computer which records every move and a dossier on every provides operator's work. This is cer- tainly more than 'bonus re- cording'. Tea-break On the elimination of tea- breaks, experience elsewhere has shown that at first, this may mean some advantage to workers while they are the their normal rest having breaks; later on the employers specify fixed times during the day in which workers may have a break. For example, they may be allowed to drink tea only some time between 10 and 1l a.m.

and between 2 and 3 p.m. Finally, when systems like MTM are implemented, there is simply no time for any break whatsoever. Also associated with this move is often the removal of canteens and the introduction of vending machines. The clauses in the proposals show that four other work- study methods are to be intro- duced as well as MTM. These are : • Job evaluation, which will be 'the chief medium to be used by the company for all future job classifica- tions'. The usual aim in factories of changing job classification is to break down all job titles and trades and instead, set up a series of simplified grades into which all work is fitted. Direct time-study. In addi- pre-determined tion to times - those taken from work study's own Manual of Synthetic Times - the management also want to use times taken directly on the job.

/ORKERS' PRESS

• Random This stantly trying to increase out- sampling. and make further put to svstem allows management savings'. work study men pounce on a worker at any On this the proposals say : time and to take a sample study of his work to see if 'Revisions established to it is up to standard. time standards may be made for of the following any • Method study. This is undertaken at first as an examination of exactly how (1) Change in method working an operator is or equipment - fixtures- how a job is being done. tooling speeds Later, a plan of how the quantities. management thinks the job ought be done is pre- (2) Change in design. sented to the worker, to- (3) Change in material. gether with the

M TM

times. (4) Demonstrable clerical error.' The point is again empha- Grading sized, where it is noted that the period agreement The introduction of grading which was retained in the re- based job-evaluation in vised wage agree- ment of 1967 shall be modified schemes similar to this one has usually meant the introduction and that: full flexibility of and inter- 'this agreement in the future changeability of working, with will provide management being changed from workers with the right to re-time any job to job, and up- or down- operation in the Liverpool "loosen the graded to up works, whether or not system'. mutually agreed time stand- ards have been established This often leads to turning on the operation concerned.'

worker graded every into Other points made in the general labourer, available for proposals about methods of work the management any working are that there be: gives him. In these proposals 'Withdrawal of the unofficial the management hint factory-wide mandates along these lines when it says: against selective overtime. That there be: •... of de- that any lines 'Acceptance that the marcation or similar restric- prin- will ciple of overtime be tive practices should not be worked by groups permitted to hinder the secuolls, or individuals as the work- company in working towards load demands. increased efficiency.' And further : Some examples given in the It is intended that excessive proposals are: the employment overtime on a regular basis will not be worked as it is of women on certain work at the best long-term present done by men: not in interest of workers or super- 'Controller wiring, solid state visors.' winding, assembly, armature work, press oper- ating.' Convenience and 'Acceptance of the principle This last clause may indicate where suitable and that the firm has a long-term that in specific areas, skilled trades- policy of eliminating overtime supplemented but at the moment men may altogether, employment of they find it to their conveni- by the skilled workers. Appropriate ence to keep it going. full co- will be to In for the training given operation of employees in im- these persons. plementing the provisions of and again this proposed the agreement, offered company 1s.-an-hour "The production use by be paid in three increase to of operatives pendant-con- stages of 4d. an hour trolled overhead cranes all female three years; production the normal ployees to get 9d. an hour in the event of duties and in three 3d.-an-hour stages, the regular service operator further 3d. an hour to be paid being unavailable.' to seven grades on the imple- mentation of the agreement.

includes: A further clause Savings "equal 'The principle of pay for equal work" will be adopted throughout the important point that One of this agreement.' term applies to these proposals and It goes on to propose that all others that conform to the of pay for the females government's incomes policy, be brought up to the full male is that the introduction of new Exactly rate in three stages. working methods is a continu- on what basis equal pay is pro- not a once- process and posed is made clear as follows: and-for all affair. 'The full application of Work-study does not fix one "equal pay for equal work" set of times and leave it at for female employees is that, it revises all work, con- dependent upon the accept- Vol. 12, No. 608 November 30, 1968 TWICE-WEEKLY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE Price 6d The engineers' pay claim I NEW BLACA FRIDAY is written into the history of movement - Friday. Novemher 22 The decision of the Alf National Commitler on tha date to accept the engineering employers' current wages offer and the deadly productivity 'strings' is an open ult against the organized working class by the re- Tist trade union leaders.

Labour lefts' I1 was the Lind of blak an reformists can deliver A miner i betrayal of a confdent mass = support cost- warns of-living rise engineers union leaders-the "biggest since 1926' as 'Tl The sell-out by the engineering the Workers' Press) described it last December—has prepared the way for the Weenena ance by females of the same night - shift overtime and arrangements applying to male employees. It is recog- nized by the company that in order for this to be im- plemented special dispensa- tion from the factory in- spectorate will need to be obtained.' Equal pay Many of the proposals now coming forward for equal pay' drive right through the pro- visions of the Factories Acts which regulate the working of women and young people. While it is possible for em- ployers to get special dispen- sation to make exceptions to these rules, it may well be that the government actually proposing a change in the law in the name of 'equal work'.

The labour movement has always fought to protect cer- tain sections of the working class, in particular, women and young people from strenuous work, from long hours of working and from night-work.

The argument being put now by the employers is that work- ing conditions are different from the time when these Fac- tory Acts were introduced.

While it is true that hours may be somewhat shorter, in fact, the intensity of working is probably far higher than it has ever been and far more protection and far more strin- gent laws protecting workers at work are needed. The proposals also put for- ward an annual holiday bonus.

'In order to recognize the high standard of attendance and time-keeping expected from employees it is pro- posed that a bonus of 15s.

a week be paid to all adult standard.' Bonus This bonus, to be paid in a lump sum yearly, just before the annual plant close-down, is tied to the attendance and time-keeping strings in the following way: 'Any employee losing any whatever during the time week through sickness, whether qualified by medical certification or not, through unauthorized absenteeism or lateness or through author- ized leave of absence, would forfeit the bonus for that week.' Also 'Any , partial stoppage or stoppage of work 'go-slow 'work-to-rule' or any or other form of industrial ac- tion by an individual group or section or a department would forfeit the bonus for all employees, day and night-shift for that particu- lar week.' This proposal might better have come under the heading

PAGES TWO

WEEK

AND THREE

Political Revolution in Czechoslovakia

END

The price of centrism Money crisis continues by Peter Jeffries DE GAULIE'S relasa! to devalue the franc in line with the Bonn disgus brings the entire mpitalist mong Sed from all sides, to th of disintegratio ice 1926' as 'The Newsletter' (forerunner of he way for the implementation of the Otis October 9, 1969 'disciplinary procedure' rather than under its 'annual holiday bonus'. The other disciplinary pro- cedures that the company re- forma carings for any ot of misconduct'. These can lead to dismissal after four warn- ings. Also required by the man- agement is a procedure for processing disputes and it is written in that no stoppage of work • shall or go-slow take place while procedure is being carried through. Guide-line This agreement follows the guide-lines laid down by the government through the Prices and Incomes Board. Whatever slight advantages in wages may be paid at first, the long-term aim of this type of deal is always to get more work from fewer workers, whatever man- agements may say, or whatever 'guarantees' are given for no redundancies or no sackings.

It is a fact that the basic aim is always a reduction in the size of the labour force.

Sometimes managements claim that their aims go no further than getting more work from the same number of wor- kers, but in every case a com- bination of modern methods and introduction of modern leads to cuts in machinery manning. That such modernization is planned is noted earlier on in the proposals. Clause 3 section one, states that also required is : "The unimpeded operation of new or modified plants, equipment and tooling and operation methods designed to increase efficiency or pro- ductivity in the manufacture of the company's products, or in any ancillary activity.

It is important to under- stand that these proposals are not just a question of demands by the employers. Managements would never have got as far as recommend- ing this type of exploitation were it not for the sell-out by engineering union leaders last December, when rather than utilize the strength of three engineering workers million who were prepared to strike for a basic wage increase with- out strings, Scanlon and the AEF leadership agreed to.

productivity strings demanded • that , by the engineering employers.

Sell-out This action, described in 'The Newsletter' at the time as the sell-out since greatest 1926, gave the government and the employers a new lease of life in their struggle to save from the themselves ever- developing crisis. Employers were then able to new productivity bring out proposals based on the measures the union leaders had declared acceptable. Much of the wording in these Otis pro- posals reads similar to the December agreement (1968).

Otis point out on their first page: "The National Agreement negotiated between the En- gineering Employers' Feder- ation and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engin- eering Unions, dated Decem- ber 1968, clearly quotes the unions' and the federations' unreserved agreement "that there is an urgent and con- tinuing necessity in the in- terests of those employed by the engineering industry and community of the as a whole, for the productive resources and manpower of the industry to be deployed and used more efficiently".

"These new proposals con- form to the provisions of that agreement. workers, along The Otis with all other engineering wor- kers, must resist the attempts by the government and the employers to solve the crisis of capitalism through the in- troduction of intensive exploit- ation on the shop floor. They must fight a battle, too, in their unions to clear out all leaders who refuse to fight the employers. A major step in this struggle can be carried out by building circulation of the up the Workers' Press and through this, developing the All Trades Unions Alliance to provide a real socialist alternative in the trade unions.

October 9, 1969

MONDAY'S

announce- GEC-English by ment Electric that there is to be a three-month post- ponement of its threat to 3,000 Merseyside put of work workers By David again places the ball squarely at the feel of the shop stewards. Maude But in order to our Industrial through last week's decision to continue to ngnt against Correspondent company's the by plans, strike action if necessary, all The essons the bitter struggle against Weinstock's rationalization - which has already cost 17,000 workers jobs—must be fully Lien assimilated. Despite declarations of op- position from trade union leaders, 5,000 were put out- side the gate at AEI Wool- Gru-engish bectric worker demonstrate last wich last year. he closure of the Liverpoo Then, on September 17 and 18 this year, workers at three plants rejected Merseyside plans to occupy their places This is not a matter of de ciding empirically where things went drawing up a recipe for • • alu the revisionist weekly Damine Lne working cass. Marxists with developing insoluble

CRISIS

cabilansm ano witn CrISIS working-Class leadership The Interna. so-called which publishes Socialist broke from Marxism seal with conception decisively defeated Soviet ine WOrKIng october "lost' to Revolution had been capitalism. September article headlined kenind the Marcer Defeat'. 'Socialist Worker's' Northern Industrial Reporter' places heavy emphasis on the neaunuancy rayments

ACU

unaer workers stana to receive a lew hundred pounds when they are sacked'-as a major factor the votes against occupa- tion. GEC-English Electric stew- ards, the article claims, willalely ucicalcu manasement - mindedness their own members. Like of 'state Ine tneory capitalism'. this is ale And it is a lie designed to cover up for the role played by the in in set themselves the strug- gle against unempioymenl. By presentin the оссира- tion a publicity as the Socialist Worker's sep- Tem ber editorial puts as a means of showing if only for a few davs. Workers codtrol in giron a action and possibility • planned rational demands of a tinv clique bent on v on producing bronts the expense of the majority, 'International Socialism' and the self-styled 'Institute Workers' Control' helped create a diversion away from the real political fight against the threat of unemnloyment.

upport amongst and tor docks those in other factories and building sites in the area.

talks The editorial also need to draw "positive lessons' the at But for that headershlacing the fight the centre. NO lessons Can Weinstich last year despite ationalizatior the dear cons cost 17,000 their hearned. and ladders conception of kese maintaining "snakes- deve onment ot the working out of the (Bewley is admitted sup- 1sm'. Marxism goes •Socialic. Worker window at the first whiff porter real struggle. was, hesitation September they were concerned, a de- confused cisive defeat. The fact that 'Socialist Worker's' workers whom marched with right-wing Aad -with his talk of the What the stewards were that 'anyone 'Socialist advocating Work- with stewaras two davs derore an editorial er's' ounce Donuca calms. was Sentember 19 reimnosed their would know education that sten turther than is left entirely overtime han Powell Is one ot the cham. their kranch brothere who ar out of account. pions, of ruthless sackings cupied factories last vear.

The For 'International Social- pursuit of the god of profit' English Electric militants say document of the programmatic world his s the basic movement founded by Leon Trotsky and his comrades. By The death agony of 1938 the revolutionarv Marxists had found it necessary capitalism lay the foundations of the fourth International in order to restore working-class leadership after the defeats prepared by the Stalinist bureaucracy in control of the Third (Communist) and the Revolution International he l detent German tasks of the British General Strike in 1926, and of 1923. of the Chinese Revolution in 1927, followed by Hitler's victory over 4th Intervational the (terman working class In 1933, finally ruled out the perspective transforming the Communist International by internal opposition. 60 pages. 1:.

WORKERS' PRES

NETHERTON.

APPOSE

MIS-MACAI

dDic ir jobs—5,000 were pushed out at AEI they would run plants'. 'Such an advanced type of action', the paper says, 'de- mands a high level of political understanding, as well as a solid trade union type of ex- perience'. what is Socialist Just Workers's' position here?

The only conclusion from its comment is ... that the stewards should not have gone ahead with their plans.

This is a double pronged attack on GEC-English Elec- tric workers-on the one hand their 'management- mindedness' led to defeat and on the other, they are not 'advanced' enough for this kind of action anyway. Its message to the stewards, who, it says, 'did well in the field ot linking up with shop stewards in other industries Merseyside' 'also on but (also!) neglected the political education of their members', is thus no more than a ra- tionalization of 'defeat'.

The fight to build a leader- ship which can carry through the struggle against unem- ployment on Merseyside must go on in implacable hostility to such politics.

VORKERS' PRESS

GEEC

ACTION

"COMMITTEC

9.30 a.m.-12.0 p.m., For Schools and Colleges. 12.0, International Golf. 12.30, Farm Management.

1.0, Cadw Cwmni. 1.30, Watch with Mother. 1.45-1.53, News and Weatherman. 2.5-2.25, For Schools and Colleges. 2.50, Racing and Golt. 4.20, Play School. 4.40, Jackanory. 4.55, Blue Peter. 5.20, Journey to the Centre of the Earth. 5.44, Babar. 5.50, National News and Weather.

6.00, London-Nationwide: news, features, opinions. 6.45, The Newcomers. 7.05, Top of the Pops. 7.30, Dad's Army. 8.00, Softly, Softly. 8.50, The Maln News and Weather. 9.10, Sportsnight with Coleman.

10.30, 24 Hours Including 11.05, The Conservative Party Conference. 11.30, Weatherman. 11.32, Car-Wise. Reglonal Programmes as BBC 1 except at the following times: Midlands and East Angila: 6.0- 6.45 p.m., Midlands Today, Look East, Weather, Nationwide.

12.2 a.m., News Summary, Weather. North of England: 6.0-6.45 p.m., Look North, Weather, Nation- wide. 12.2 a.m., Northern News Headlines, Weather. Wales: 2.30-2.50 p.m., For Schools and Colleges. 6.0-6.45, Wales Today, Weather, Nationwide. 6.45-7.5, Heddiw. Scotland: 2.30-2.50 p.m., Around Scotland. 6.0-6.45, Reporting Scotland. 12.2 a.m., Epilogue, Scottish News Headlines. South and West: 6.0-6.45 p.m., West, Points South Today, Spotlight South-West, Weather, Nationwide. 12.2 a.m., South and West Headlines, Weather.

Border TV 1.40-2.55 p.m., For Schools. 2.55, Conservative Party Assembly. 4.0, Border News Headlines. 4.02, Junkin. 4.15, Katie Stewart Cooks. 4.40, Once Upon A Time.

4.55, The Adventures of Robin Hood. 5.20, Magpie. 5.50, National News. 6.0, Border News and Lookaround. 6.35, Cross- roads. 7.0, The Wild, Wild West.

8.0,Peyton Place. 8.30, Doctor In The House. 9.0, Nearest and Dearest. 9.30, This Week. 10.0, News At Ten and Border Weather. 10.30, Cinema. 11.0, The Avengers. 11.55, Border News Summary and Weather. Coverage of key debates of Conservative and Unionist Party to be announced. 11.00-11.20 a.m., Play School.

7.00 p.m., Teaching Adults.

7.30, Newsroom and Weather.

8.00, Call My Bluff. 8.30, The Money Programme.

9.10, James Forsyth: plays of today. 10.30, News Summary, Weather.

10.35, Line-Up. The Intelligentsia ind Socialism By LEON TROTSKY A review written for the St. Petersburg re- view 'Sovremenny Mir' in 1910, of Der Sozi- alismus und die Intel- lektuellen, by Max Adler published in Vienna in the same year. Price: one shilling

NEW PARK

PUBLICATIONS LTD.

186a CLAPHAM HIGH

STREET

LONDON, S.W.4

TOMORROW'S

WORKERS PRESS

will contain book reviews of "The Interregnum 1923- 1924' by E. H. Carr, Pen- guin 10s. 'Captain Swing' by E. J. Hobsbawm and George hart 70s. 'Selected Poems: Anna Akhmatova' Translated by Richard McKane, Penguin 4s. Nixon's

PRESIDENT

decision to give the 'go- ahead' for the construc- tion of a United States supersonic transport air- craft (SST) now faces the US aircraft industry with considerable tech- nical problems to over- come and the Nixon ad- ministration with size- able political problems. In the SST field the United States is virtually at square one. The new aircraft, the Boeing 2707, has had a very chequered career to date.

The original swing-wing de- sign for an aircraft to carry 350 passengers was found to be uneconomical compared to subsonic aeroplanes. At this point, having spent considerable funds, the Boeing designers reverted to the slim delta wing proposed by their Lockheed competitors. So far the preliminary de- sign work has been in pro- gress for a year and has cost the government 600 million dollars on research and devel- opment for the airframe and engines. Authority has now been given to proceed to the con- struction and test flying of two prototypes in 1973, at the time when Concorde will be going into service on the air routes. If the test flights are suc- cessful the 2707 should be in service by 1978 at anes- timated cost for development and production of 4,500 mil- lion dollars.

COMPARISONS

It is useful to compare the estimated performances the three SSTs which on work has now been under- taken. These are the Boeing 2707, the Anglo-French Concorde and the Russian TU 144 com- pared in the table below. Of the three, the Russian air- craft is the only one to have been flown at supersonic speeds to date. Number of passengers 250-300 Boeing 2707 TU 144 135 Concorde 125 Obviously, having wavered for a considerable period over prospect of spending 4,500 million dollars on the SST project in a period of growing economic crisis, the prospect of letting the pro- fits go to their competitors in western Europe and • the USSR has proved too much.

By building an aircraft whose performance far ex- ceeds those of its rivals, Boe- ing and the major US airlines plan to make up for lost time and to grab as big a share of the market as they can. The technical problems as- sociated with the development of the 2707 are not just quantitatively greater than the Concorde. The latter is almost entirely built from aluminium with consequently a great saving in weight, but this metal reaches a critical state at 130 degrees centigrade.

HOT NOSE

When flying at its cruising speed the temperature over the surface of the Concorde remains below this critical value except at the nose. In this area the temperature will rise to over 150 degrees and for this reason it is construc- ted of resin - bonded glass fibre. For the Boeing this use of aluminium is by and large ruled out and is the price which has to be paid for the extra 350 m.p.h. A number of special metals will have to be used including titanium and stainless steel.

Undoubtedly, although the SSTs are superb technological achievements, the deciding factor has been the profit motive. Above all, said Nixon, 'I want the United States to

PAGE THREE

TIFIC AGE

lead the world in air trans- port. Very good. However, it is reported that the final push that clinched his decision probably came from the recent visit to the Soviet Union of Mr Najeeb Halaby, head of Pan Ameri- can, who warned that if an American SST was not forth- coming he might buy the TU 144! At £20 million each com- pared with £8 million for a Concorde, the SST will of course be expensive to buy and the strain on airlines who attempt to maintain a com- petitive position is consider- able.

'DRY UP'

Although 26 airlines have placed more than 80 million dollars in reservations on 112 Boeing SSTs, one spokesman said: •Most airlines hope the SST will dry up and go away. They are up to their Adam's apples with the financing of the airbuses.' There is therefore consider- able opposition to Nixon's proposals and it is expected that there will be a bitter battle in the Democrat-con- trolled Congress. Many Congressmen know that to embark on massive expenditure on the SST would exacerbate the economic crisis. They feel that domestic problems' should have first claim on the money; in other words, cash spent on prepara tions to deal with the Ameri- can working class. the opposition has Already gained a limited victory.

The SST will be prohibited from flying over land until the problem of the sonic boom has been solved and the noise brought within reason- able limits'. However, it is doubtful whether the aircraft will ever be profitable with these re- strictions.

SALES DROP

It is thought that if the problem of the sonic boom remains unresolved and SSTs restricted to subsonic are speeds over land, then the es- timated sale of 1200 SSTs by Cruising Operational speed height (m.p.h.) in feet 1,800 70,000 1,550 60,000 1,320 60,000 1990 will be slashed to 500.

This would be maior blow to the plans of the US government which, on behalf of the big bourgeoisis, will be standing 90 per cent of the costs of the first stage of the project. The technical advances em- bodied in the SST, giving the possibility of transporting 250 human beings in substantial comfort at nearly three times the speed of sound, are not of primary concern to the capi- talist class. In any case, a flight in a airliner luxury remains the prerogative of a privileged few even without the 15 per President Nixon. cent extra which it will cost to fly by SST. With the intensification of the trade war between the United States and western Europe, the battle over the SSTs threatens to become yet another thorn in the flesh of the bourgeoisie. How many SSTs by 1990, gentlemen? 1,200? 500? matter! Long before then the proletariat will re- lieve you of the task of making that decision.

October 9, 1969

WORKERS' PRESS

PAGE FOUR

A policy for miners * te der German

CONFLICT

FOR

OVeT the new West German

DISCUSSION

farm import tax has. broken out within the farm import bodies of the ruling WAGES-closures-hours A statem the All tra Yes Unins iners se Yorkshire miners' section Common Market. these issues One of the last measures -rents. All by the are now reaching bolling taken criss ae canonan, Yorkshire point the Kiesinger coalition was the a Octabery sette here ned ahis inod Wheldale pe decision to 'float' the mark, coalheld-to hacke +37.5 t interest mounting On of tie Al rade t o ground of a move that resulted defi economic crisis and grow- paymems immediate upvaluing unemployment. ing about 5 per cent. e Porne coml prose miners: parties

CLOSURE

Sed re est- tria step en- every industry managements Korkither Panel the estike te vizten, ad such ace wantes no male: M,ithe West German cap s de enty ie, n ar ric d class rura alsi et the still ha vand te ne ral pledife to o olitica they are pits, Where they are allocated.

agai strik On the Bross at home pit Inass Hill collier danger points ne bors as s os. despit This baBk nih pho ig the med go problem mande other I aalition he serike o ou so ganad mesr e brout

SETTLED

cratic way the d co's ket countries Market at • ment rate for all crafts N.P.D. chief pesn done baner on Eriday, hed raset nothing ovsta a le nened come it

BROKE PROMISE

Yet t Cadeby Sout decision Power- Loa dine rei stepd Trei. arrested and afents over per cent. pit closures. • inild to s shaud not ady in force disguised Federal commissioner for

'DEFICIT'

KLAUS KOLLEY,

sh otere ha the NCB houses. operaton or the fery for e stewards of the neo-nazi National Democratic Party, has orking spasi. Natonat Coal --oard. and North Operating pral ol a3 I made been arrested on a charge of shooting two anti-NPD nels hike Bue hansiy Nuin panel pan demonstrators in Kassel last month.

Fixed Kolley was emolovea

A.B.S. SUPPORT

By a foreign correspondent the legal A time for avisel Wheat rea cor d to Pedal stewards, who hol madent te da during claiming thạt the their chat withi

FOR ONE-DAY

thuggery sarming failure elements ustud ente firea united action anc thei umonis! against working-class against aemonstalilg in he pole ace te tan party's leader, Adolph von

STRIKE ACTION

hadaen. police evidence cunt sall the big, anti facise police on Merseyside fore, with

U.S.S.R.

Workers' Press reporter barbed wire and SiPD mad its THE Association of Broadcasting Staff (ABS) represent- Chadden.t the time by von ing a third of BBC workers, called on Monday for a By Robert Black Kolley denies France, the charge, one cay surke on a ady lo be announced.

The strike is in From Bill Hunter SUDDOrT

HHHAILURE

Soviet harvest has created Sackings begin at ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED Liverpool

CEF:

problems dockers employed by Ocean Port Service returned Soviet bureaucracy. Indif- to work on Monday after a strike demanding that terent weather was doubtedly a factor in cut- Pressed-Steel Police support deck hands be paid 50 per cent of the awards given ting the grain narvest Dy Ingide hepi cher isr 35 million Th° ecrion. tons from the ethe ie. te i to holdsmen. anis Factory backing 1 the erilan 8 50 per recoro u manor ol lası Estimates A section ot the men year. were not satisfied and they the Productivity From Harry Finch Fisher ermed fordes there mowever Mall came out again, but they for Rolls Royce causes nOT natural papat hot fan BRITISH-LEYLAND'S de- have still not achieved the

NPD

ones. regions where * PaY the 50 per cent. cision to sack 530 workers the cron has been noores ora 193 Mitler Was Naz at the Pressed-Steel Fisher are those nioneered unde _l uescav morning hent hot th tet na as lad so-called sparks in increasing BBC produc A simular threat nangin' Coventry factory, by trans- Traveller work for a dockers emoloved bv Smith financia s support over bodv workers at Nul Coggins Limited Glad- ferring the MGB work to od.-a-ciak sevy of her mised

BBC

has driven fos held Metal Products, Bir- Wa have asona te a here stone decided - A ToS productivity *tackmate ht o recent Cowley, is a parallel to the mingham the recent £70 million direct 5 has invest- will 10. motor From bob shaw ae torefully saying they ment programme at the

ELECTRICIANS

other industries. machinery anc Cowley works. placed West Tar VU ii ec ack . un Bendsat "The on strike tor eght weeks sma ga ae sa e e meneNor against grading and job fascism probles tas tase the the Rolls fight th ehe orkis class can Legal Royce clasg win lett and will Hillington industrie taragiye lack [his takes place against the the car workers Labou space ane contadictions of Exiled Greek egun inside the Boyns tor the BBC. Ri Thin on asso i • the be• Soviet

ADVANTAGE

their strike tory, Stalinist sponse at es essed sect asi ie rad di agatig in th journalists It makes the leadership

GERMANY

world economy. trip vo yugosla ent 1 asa wec s rs and all other British condemn workers Siven backn rig aragat, Repercussions ci Brandt, is a suppression with a simila new set-back in Soviet Stowage

OFROM PAGE ONE

oftalian aTe just ene gedin orkess mood. have just of press Vs Ay vaad. seris, serike to ilsos

SPLIT

of the collec- vay from the Nemi spat stovean while nes tot a a56 ale London branch of tR col borain aitm ne com madar ds nce, factory. union ni icreek onenals s in progress not cope'. such a Exile (UGJE) has just mprove Ar hen usust 19 soviet Pressed statement con- Machines 'blacked' Shorae of brad in tire bet Saradat has intellec- continued sup a thy ome s ho tan key legal cover Greek mes ary die ve ee ployers entar den thei on "centre- fragile macine ish cold noterea Boton by the Ultrct reşimde i hicve strings che workig cassie e volutiont the, • of separate aue sinn e so r r Mirse side Dockes ha of these manoeuvres bring all their dispersed etween the bureaucracies nese 1s Estone boto VIbrich" the made his orter that Whos S : попса" ahd attes he conterence pay a erur var Closer links tor te capraise wan a te ihrown out. home, the kremin wil lean concciucu • or Cetober re. Losst. the

G.E.C.-E.E.

candinavians Sheffield sermen bekan shan aks Trades Unions

FROM PAGE ONE

men badian ii nister already d arrested by lay-offs the talan Commuyare The Soviet partner Soviet to đing back the cur Alliance "This factory will be run on the G.P.U. expected Foreisn Minister, now rocking his Gromyko sevardeneifura conterence

STE

Maxi в Coe. ' Tons Workers' ( valuable asset Motor workers' conference 1 costen ton st our malste conte-erolu Ws Panp All car. car

• FROM PAGE ONE

problems er in che fiter to every t rt.

components and tes tre sarkime their leaffet explaining the orn Khrusched denver wish it in Britain, workers s ld ocke as a B'oup, all workers posal eo det 1,50 anax are invited of yhe disp ocat Vaux? 8 leader of or 'socialism re achiered and to a motor workers' Weigh heavily concrcic sents a really hard line by th Bulders threaten work Digbeth Civic Hall, Nickel strike company'. Digbeth mon is laged oft, po on Linking, te company s atd tude

ONE

tracting. Birmingham workers stoppage goes on ro Comley Cubitts, main employed by Meetings of workers em. Saturday November 8 apposition contractors at the sub-contractors pre of t dor r Pan Warning 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Workers' Press reporter io deg he held Tues- Inamesmead

W OO1-

the ne letter irom boncaste. whether to Nickel, wIch- salo to de dan the secide. Write for credentials to : continue betwe Union varning t It demanded that the redu , Parsons patt, gest bulding site in curoD taken on tne oD. *'sack bid lose, chat homerd aren tt _oted dn me cete strike beran labo cans a sall o) oyers brokeew date has on Monday (October 6) to It fol. men agree Mondav afternoon. Oxford. of the Sover wiking clas.

sen ie for a per dai i. stop work until all labour- lows a number of disputes strike, the action Will vare of dan subcontractors Conterence lee: 5s. a person hall dispute to last. volve neary L.ul workers