LOOMING

The Newsletter, vol. 3 no. 100, 2 May 1959 · scan page 4

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in the industry to meet the union’s claims.

By Brian Arundel The pamphlet included a number of graphs purporting to show how profits had _ The meeting of representatives of the National Union of Railwaymen and run down and what a parlous state the in- British Transport Commission, called for next Wednesday to discuss the dustry was in.

Some copies were given out by employers NUR’s claim for a substantial wage increase, will once again spotlight the to union members. These copies, often with crisis which is about to flare up on the ribald remarks appended, gained wide circulation in the printing offices as further BTC economies have resulted in the ammunition for the unions’ claims!

wages of thousands of railway workers being slashed to the basic minimum, which BOARD OF STOOGES means that workers with families are in - The arguments contained inthe. pamphlet, many cases expected.to, live on £7. to. £8. and the graphs with which it was illustrated, a week. ° were exploded by an answering pamphlet _The current inquiry into wages and confrom the unions which blew wide open the ditions on the railways—it has been employers’ side of the case. dragging on since last autumn—offers no Among the many arguments put forward quick solution. by the employers was one relating to the Other workers in the industry, such as high incidence of purchase tax on printed foot-plate staff and clerks, have not felt the matter. The unions told them that as pinch so sharply. ; Macmillan was a ‘publisher’ and also head And while the rank and file of the NUR of the government, they had the remedy in has put pressure on its national executive, their own hands. the same thing has not happened in the two The employers next asked for the case to other rail unions. So the NUR is to face The emergence of go to arbitration. This is the trump card the BTC alone. the Socialist Labour played by all employers, knowing that with League is the natural a board composed of government stooges result of years of they will take all the tricks. frustration for many