The Newsletter, vol. 6 no. 269

A MAJOR strike by London busmen against the plans of the Transport Executive to introduce modernisation plans with completely unacceptable wage increases may well be called next Wednesday.

Discussions between LTE officials and busmen's leaders reached deadlock on Tuesday this week. The immediate bone of contenticin' is the move to introduce 64-seat Routemasters to London garages in the near future, followed shortly by giant 72-seaters, special buses carrying 35. standing passengers and one-man-operated vehicles in certain areas.

Wouldn't Budge

On Tuesday, the LTE refused to budge from its offer of 42} per cent of the savings from the introduction of the new buses going to the busmen. The unions are standing out for 50 per cent.

After the meeting, Mr. B. H. Harbour for the LTE told a press conference that the executive could not possibly make any further concessions to the busmen. He considered it the LTE's 'inalienable right' to introduce new types of buses whether or not the busmen gave permission.

He said that the LTE would operate 64-seat Routemasters from Edgware and Harrow Weald next Wednesday and the drivers would start training this week.

" No Intention'

At these garages, however, busnen said that they had no intention of turning up for training. A rank and file busmen's leader said on Tuesday that the situation looked like developing into the most serious one in the industry since the official strike of 1958.

LTE proposals to date amount to an increase of 2s. a day for Routemaster staff and a reduction in hours equivalent to 6d. a day. Busmen have been fighting the proposals on the grounds that the new plans would mean a 10 per cent cut in services, fatigue for bus workers would be greatly increased and they would ultimately receive less pay for more work.

Part of Drive

The LTE's plans are part of the drive for efficiency in all sectors of the transport industry at the expense of the workers. Because of this basic cause, it is clear that an alliance of all transport workers is the only means to defeat the Tories' plans.

Mr. Cousins has promised to tell his busmen to support railway workers. He must be held to this promise; it must also be a recip rocal agreement between all transport unions.

A major transport strike can cripple the Tory government. In this important and far-reaching struggle, the busmen must not act alone next week but must immediately seek the support of all other transport workers.

Our Labour Correspondent EADERS of the vational Union o • Railwaymen have been engaged in secret talks with the Tories' hatchet-man Dr. Beeching this week. Sidney Greene and company have shelved their plans for an extended national strike until the outcome of these talks are known.

Despite the hush - hush nature of these discussions, it seems clear that they have centred round the need for better • redundancy terms— more settlement pay, with the sackings spread over a lengthier period.

Blackmail

Dr. Beeching, who is quite willing to step up redundancy payments in order to avoid a showdown with railway workers, is indulging in some judicious blackmail to buy off the militancy of the rank and file.

On Wednesday he said he would put the NUR case to the government-if the strike was called off.

After the 'success' of Monday's meeting, the Ministry of Labour felt sufficiently encouraged to call formal talks with all the interested unions.

The issue is now clear to all railway workers: the NUR leadership is fighting a narrow battle on the subject of the best possible terms for redundancy.

The rank and file must organise to defeat this move, which can only result in victory for the Tories' plans and mass unemployment for rail workers.

Oppose

The task of the NUR leaders is to oppose completely the Marples - Beeching economy measures. Although the unions are not against modernising the railway system, they must fight the attempts to push through the Tory brand of modernisation which, in effect, means smashing the system as a social service to better aid big business, thus throwing thousands of workers on to the streets.

• back page,

1 UNDAY, October 14 was La day of violence in Brussels. A march by tens of thousands of Flemings clashed with French-speaking counter-demonstrators in the city centre.

A bomb was thrown at demonstrators and many were injured in the ruthless attempts to clear the crowds by police. Over 40 people were arrested.

The police were aided by 4,000 gendarmes equipped with tear-gas rifles and sabres. Barbed wire barriers erected around the city centre were broken down by angry counterdemonstrators.

The aim of the march was to demand more political rights for Flemings and to protest against the transferring of two towns, formerly under Flemish administration, to Wallonia.

The parliamentary system in Belgium is arranged in such a way that neither the 5 million Flemings nor the 44 million Walloons can obtain a majority in either house. The balance is always held by the bilingual Brabant area.

But it was not a dispute over the electoral system which really caused this march. As Louis van Geyt of the Political Bureau of the Belgian Communist Party said recently: 'Such a march can have only one outcome, that of playing the game of the worst enemies of the working people: the Belgian financial powers and their reactionary allies?

This chauvinistic demonstration by the Flemings has the same effect as the race riots the Correspondent USA and the growth of the fascists in Britain. It is a deliberate attempt by the Belgian capitalist class, which has been in a state of crisis since the Congo disturbances, to split the workers along racialist lines.

Homeless numbers grow in London THERE are now nearly a thousand homeless families in London, it was officially stated this week by the LCC.

This is an increase of more than 50 per cent during the last 11 months. The chairman of the LCC housing committee stated that 991 families4,638 personswere in welfare accommodation.

He said that the possibility of using temporary camps for homeless people had been studied but had proved impracticable.

The statement was made at the same time as the new Tory Housing Minister, Sir Keith Joseph, was touring slum housing in London and making vague promises about improving the situation in the next few years.

Observing a tenement in Southwark, South London, Sir Keith observed that 'they were doubtless the best in the world when they were built 100 years ago, but they are thoroughly unsuitable now' An open letter to a member of the ETU This important contribution starts on pag

Page to a member

By ERIC N Sunday a Cuban patrol boat was attacked and sunk by a large exile ship thought to be operating from the island of Cay Sal. At least two Cuban militiamen were wounded.

Serious though such an attack may be, it is not these small groups of counterrevolutionary exiles that threaten the Cuban revolution, but rather the strength of American imperialism.

US big business now intends to starve out the revolution by imposing heavy sanctions on Western and Russian ships trading with Cuba.: This brings it into sharp conflict with the British and Scandanavian shipping interests.

The opposition of the Euro: pean ship-owners to the plan is not a result of any love on their part for the Cuban revolution. They are simply concerned about the loss of business which the cessation of trade with Cuba would involve.

This could seriously affect countries such as Norway, Khrushchev: thin disguise 'whose economy leans heavily on the shipping industry.

Just as the American imperialists are stepping up their campaign against the Cuban revolution, the Soviet bureaucracy has shown its readiness to compromise with them. Delegates to the United Nations have been informed that it is willing to adopt a 'more moderate course' in Cuba, if the US is prepared to do likewise in Berlin. In other words, Khrushchev's 'defence' of Cuba is just a thin disguise for using the country as a useful bargaining counter in his bid for a deal with imperialism.

This compromise could mean that Khrushchev is considering cutting off the supply of arms to Cuba, arms vital to the defence of that country against US imperialism.

Any such compromise must be firmly opposed by all those who claim to support the Cuban revolution against the reactionary forces which now threaten it.

in any will only be advisory Union and the Communist Parties munist Party who work in cover for the irregularities which insofar the powers as of the to live at. peace with the im- ETU and base this work on took place. Inside an executive HOPE you are too executive council are concerned. perialist powers. "peaceful co-existence' with the dominated by members of the appointed by the decisions of The Right wing did their best This theory rejects the Marxist imperialists have been inevitably Communist Party, Frank Haxell, the Rules Revision conference. to foist a full-time executive, conception of the irreconcilable forced to along a road proceed as a leading member of its They were very much related to elected for upon the five years, nature of the struggle between the similar to that of the right-wing national committee, reigned the events of the past 15 months, conference. the pro- Although working class and the capitalist reformists. not only in the ETU but in the posal was withdrawn, t will be class-that is the Soviet Union If, in your trade union work, the Communist Party had trade union movement as a whole. brought up again in based upon the working class, and you reject the Marxist theory of advocating a Marxist line, The witch-hunt against the old future. the imperialist states such as the development of the class their first consideration on leadership of the union seized Byrne Chapple and Cannon Britain: and America, which struggle as the basic factor in the assuming control of the ETU upon what has been described will not rest until they the based upon the capitalist class. struggle for socialism, then you would have been to change the • ballot-box fiddling' in order union bound securely to the The leadership of the British become a prey to all the reformist constitution to enable the rank and attack the militant traditions policies of the Right wing. Communist Party is unable to pressures that surround the file to develop and throw all their the ETU and weaken it as a force How nave inest serivus events maniamon normanta publish the history of the Party bureaucratic apparatus of trade creative energies behind making within the Labour movement. come about? We think that it (promised for over five years) union organisation. the union a powerful industrial There is really nothing secret is little use blaming individuals because they do not want to and political force in the trade about all this. Members of the like Foulkes and Haxell. They correct the mistakes of Stalinism. union and Labour movement. union work in essential defence are men who have spent almost a In short, they still apply his There are members of the industries: since the union was lifetime in the working-class policies to the situation in Britain. Communist Party who even today led by members movement and the Communist Reformism, the term which des- call the Trotskyists agents of munist Party, the Party. They joined that move- cribes the opportunism of the Catholic Action. But who, may the government ment as men who wanted to see right-wing leadership of the we ask, permitted John Thomas looking for a way socialism established in Britain. Labour Party and trade unions in Byrne to continue as lord of the leadership. this country, bases itself on the That is what happened manor in Glasgow The witch-hunt SCAPEGOATS need to preserve peace between Haxell, Foulkes and their imme- years? Foulkes and their is impossible, we believe, to the working class and the capital- diate supporters. Having gained in fact, part of the separate the actions which led to ist class. control of the ETU, they were ASSISTANCE Without in any way agreeing the court case from the policies of drawn into the reformist atmoswith the serious breaches of union the Communist Party. All the COMPROMISE phere of the trade union move- Anyone who has any contact rule, which it was alleged were engaged in by these men (Frank Haxell, Frazer and othërs as Party has done far is SO course, Fabianism, which sub- theory behind this is, of co-existence' policy of the Com- ment, as a result of the "peaceful with ETU militants in the. Clyde area knows that they fought Byrne Foulkes denies knowledge of these scapegoats to avoid a political stitutes the evolutionary for the munist Party. for a considerable period without breaches), the Socialist Labour explanation of what happened. revolutionary road to socialism. It is no wonder that they failed munist-dominated leadership any assistance from the ComLeague consistently opposed the After all, you are one of those In practice, Fabianism engages in until the last minute to alter the witch-hunt. We maintained that who have to bear the brunt of the constant compromise with the constitution of the union, giving the ETU. Byrne, Cannon and Chapple, when witch-hunt. ruling class. It forms the theore- full powers to annual conference. Haxell and company refused given the opportunity, would do We believe that the political tical roots of the right-wing But by then it was too late. take the side of the militants their utmost to take away some reason for the events in the ETU bureaucracy, which acts as The annual conference, which against Byrne and thereby allowed of the democratic rights already is the growth of opportunism in buffer between the capitalist brings together delegates from him to carry on much as he by the ETU membership. the trade union work of the and the working class. branches, should be the highest pleased while he was full-time Communist Party. This oppor- Although on occasions this body in the union. But under the official of the Engineering ConADVISORY tunism is part of the legacy of bureaucracy negotiates inadequate old constitution it was purely federation. Rules Revision conference Stalinist miseducation and train- wage increases, it always leaves advisory. All that Byrne and proved us right. Formerly, ing. the working class leaderless in company have done to retain union had an annual policy The British Commu inist Party times of a serious conflict with the advisory nature the conbut this has now been accepted the theory of Stalin that ruling class. ference as laid down the rules a biennial event which, it was possible for the Soviet The members the and make conference itself Frank Chapple, also a member biennial of the Communist Party and a violent anti-Trotskyist, learned his politics in collaboration with King Why didn't the Communist Street.

Party advise Haxell and Foulkes All these men found it possible to change the union constitution to work with the Communist and make annual conference the Party because they found in the highest body? Party the opportunist methods Such a reform was urged on which eventually led present for Germany, is have a bio- would last long and that many occasions by Trotskyists, situati who were slanderously denounced graphv. The writer Lev Nikulin, USSR would come to their aid. a friend of the Marshall's, has According to 'Ex-Insider', Stalin for their pains as agents of been entrusted with the task. encouraged these ideas-but had Catholic Action, etc., etc. We There was nothing principled Perhaps he will explain why he no intention of risking Soviet again pressed for this immediately about the decision of these men could not have written such a security in real aid to a German after the court action and then to leave the Communist Party. book before. It is to be hoped revolution. He preferred fascism suddenly it became clear to Personality differences shrouded ANYBODY who still thinks that •Ben Bella is a 'socialist' should famous frame-up case which was he will cast more light on tois 19 - 1. л -- 1L:- as a 'lesser itself mainly to breaking up the evil', which would turn Haxell, Foulkes and others the reform was essential. conflicts which were basically differences about the opportunist referred to by Khrushchev at the Versailles system, thus causing It was agreed to at the Decem- future of the ETU. take note of a statement made by 22nd Congress of the CPSU. complications with the Western ber 1961 Rules Revision con- The Trotskyists opposed all a close collaborator of his who powers and giving the USSR time ference. Then the Right wing hit these methods. For this we were the Algerian economy. This is has important responsibilities for to prepare for war. Such a tactic, then, began not back and a successful court action nullified the decisions of this violently attacked by Haxell and Co., just as we are by Byrne and what he said to a journalist from in 1939 with the Sov: iet-German conference. Had Trotskyist policy Co. today. To say that TrotskyFrance-Observateur. Pact, but back in 1932, or earlier, been adopted during the years ists are the agents of Catholic 'We are in a privileged STALIN's most colossal poli when it was clear that a Nazi coup when the union was under the Action is nothing more than a position for undertaking agra- blunder outside the USSR was inevitable. control of the Communist Party shameful slander by people whose rian reform, for, after seven probably his direction of the No wonder that emigrants in the situation would be entirely role in the fight against Catholic years war carried on by the policies of the German CP in the Russia, the flower of the German different today, because the rank Action is open to question.

people, above all by the peasan- years immediately preceding the CP, were liquidated, as they saw and file would have much more There are at this moment dietry, everybody, even our big coming to power of Hitler. Any- through Stalin's game, leaving only experience of how control the hard Stalinists working with the landlords, accept the idea. We thing which sheds light on the the yes-men like Ulbı icht to carry leadership. Communist Party leadership who shall. proceed by stages. From betrayal of Europe's best organised are anxious to do a deal with the 1963 we shall have at our dis- proletariat, particularly personal ETU Right wing and get rid of posal several million hectares testimony is worth having. the reform been initiated the Trotskyi the ETU. sts in of nationalised land which Despite general 'Cold the then, the union would have been belonged to French owners. character that publication, a of AS elections loom nearer, the in a far better position to withthat we are going to give them against oversimplified notions, for our peasants often imagine little pieces of land. In reality, 'It is here that we must fight apparatus at that time. It is in the form of an interview contribution in the October issue with a member of the Comintern of Survey is worthy of attention. cynical Tory politicians hope to get votes. Promises are made of tragedy of millions of families becomes the snare with which housing crisis, the bitter stand the present attacks of the would have been under closer activities of Haxell and Foulkes surveillance by the rank and file Right wing. At the same time the setbacks in the ETU. If you member of the Party, understand the political reasons for all the happenings which have led to the important that you, a ot hectares of nationalised land we must organise these millions leading German communists had According to him, many of the big slum clearance schemes. "Has Sir Keith really solved the which, in turn, may well have prevented the serious breaches of on mistake and it will be im- don't, then mistake will be piled in order to increase agricultural apart from that I do not think which belongs to the State. But productivity, not to reduce it. . .. We have petrol and gas 'social fascists' it was clear that serious misgivings about Stalin's denounce the Social Democrats as policy. While Stalin continued to stupid October slum problem?' problem 14. Certainly there is Observer headline for some as perusal ran rather no of Foulkes and Haxell Communist Party which union rule that took place. It was the political line to of possible to defeat the Right wing with such wrong methods. democracy in the ETU is part of The fight to establish internal naturally ensure its profitability. that nationalisation would be useful: on the contrary, we need foreign capital and we must this Trotsky's penetrating writings only a united front tactic seriously of the time Germany - What pursued could save the day. (On lush resi flat: columns manage dences for sale in its own shows. If can't house, why led to adaptation of the constitution. within right-wing policy 'peaceful old the of trade union movement as a whole. the struggle being waged in the retary of the Trades Union When George Woodcock, Con- secNext? and The Only Road for Superb Flat. Luxury union bureaucracy. gress, talks about streamlinin g the Germany should be studied.) 2 bedrooms, large double The two things are inter-related. trade union movement, he is talkDemoralised by Stalinism, the tion rooms, kitchen. Since the rank and file of the ETU ing about the establishment of a German CP was unable to give C.H.W. Lift, porterage, garage. remained disfranchised because super-centralised bureaucratic conTHE Soviet Union's any effective leadership as the Rent £835 excl. Carpets, cur- the annual conference had no trol over the unions and not the pre-war military leader ; wan- tide of fascism mounted Many tains, etc., powers, it followed that the execu introduction of more democracy tonly put to death by Stalin, leaders resigned themsel to After tive was the all-powerful body for the rank and file. ostensibly he was because Hitler victory, believing that ciety! and this provided considerable He is, in fact,

of the ET U Anti-fascist committee formed influences behind Cannon, Chapple immediately restored. As trade influences behind Cannon, Chapple immediately restored. As trade NEWSLETTER REPORTER and Byrne. It is safe to assume unionists who followed a reformthat the amendments presented ist line they have as good a OLLOWING the example of Lambeth, where an Antiby them to the Rules Revision record as any other trade union fascist Committee was formed in mid-September, Birmingconference were, in fact, drawn leader in the movement and they FOUR members of Spearhead the 'elite corps' of the ham last Sunday inaugurated its own 'Campaign Against up as a result of talks with are just as entitled to their cards Fascism' Committee. Aston Labour Party took the initiative members the TUC and Wood- as anyone else. Nationalist Socialist Movement by calling a conference of trade unionists, Labour Party cock. Candidates for must stand -were sent to prison at the Old members, Young Socialists and members of the CND, to discuss the Tory wage freeze; for a for a militant wages policy against lasting Bailey on Monday trial 11 days. in Birmingham. the best methods of combatti ig fascist and racialist activities Labour government pledged to Colin Jordan, leader the socialist policies; for the demo- movement, was given 9 months; Unions represented included from speaking. cratic, elected authority of the John Tyndall, deputy leader, 6 branches of the AEU, ETU and Mr. Fred White, Secretary of union's conference and for a NUVB; a message of support Aston Labour Party, said the union of right-wing months; and Roland Kerr- was also sent by the union of •Campaign Against Fascism' tion. Ritchie, research officer, and Sheetmetal Workers and Cop- would be quite different from any Denis Pirie, a section leader, persmiths. pther campaign in Birmingham each received 3 All months. in the past. It would be basically When you have bureaucratic four are to appeal. Dr. Frank Girling, lecturer working class in nature and control strengthened in the union it enables the right-wing leaders over the results of the Rules Understandable disappointment organising, training and equipping They were each found guilty of sity, explained that the racialism sociology at Sheffield Univer- policy. If middle-class people wished to to elect or hand-pick the people Revision Conference can be short- Spearhead in such a manner as now developing in Britain had come in and work against the they want to fill the various posts. lived if we now decide to learn to arouse reasonable apprehension its roots in the crisis of capital- growth of fascism they The immediate result of the the lesson of what has happened. that they were organised and ism. Rising unemployment and welcome to do so-provided Margate conference, although not The difficulties of the Left wing trained to be employed for the use an acute housing and hospital joined strictly on this basis. entirely favourable for the Right in the ETU may well be trans- or display of force in promoting shortage were conditions in Fascist groups were numerically wing, can provide an impetus for formed into substantial victories political objectives contrary to which ultra right-wingers were small at the moment, but there the growth of their forces in the in the near future. If the Left, the Public Order Act of 1936. able to incite the white popula- were activities by other rightthe men they want official union, because they will be able, the leadership, to encourage which includes Communist Party members, Trotskyists and Labour Party members, now decides to organising, training and equipping Spearhead for the purpose of They were found not guilty tion to hatred and violence again minority of as the strike-breaking activities of wing organisations, not generally known among the workers, such positions. learn this lesson, united action using or displaying force to pro- Jews people. the Martell 'Freedom Group'.

becomes possible on a wide basis mote political objects during the The Campaign will hold public if there is essential agreement to same period, between March 1961 'eeling meetings in all parts of BirmingThis why they the tunists. fight opoprtunism and oppor- and A lugust 1962. only racialists, Dr. Girling said. These were not, however, the movement the truth about fascism. ham to explain to the Labour posal to make the annual In fact, from the extreme Right It will campaign from door-to ference the governing body, re- wing of the Tory Party to the door and broaden its base by moved by a court action. The Right wing of the Labour Party sending speakers to union the Left wing in the ETU because should be the main objective of implementation of this proposal Right wing. It contains some of The ETU does not belong to the working and REDUNDAN the transferring • ot short - time there was racialist feeling in Britain today. branches and Labour the finest militants in the trade industries to areas with a high There was a great it would be a big step towards union movement with high level of unemployment where reluctance on the part putting an end to the dangers of political knowledge. It can still cheaper labour can be employed Labour Party leaders to say i opportunism in the union. play the role of a powerful force this is the Tory pattern. thing on the subject, on the Communists, Trotskyists in pushing the trade union move- This week comes news of a call grounds that to do so would be left-wing Labour must unite ment to the Left along by Birmingham shop stewards to 'an electoral disadvantage'. forces to ensure victory socialist road. the British Motor Corporation in Dr. Girling said the working change in the constitution Birmingham to stop its f49 class must be mobilised against the these lines. million expansion plan until "pre- growth of fascism. Anti-fascist The only real guarantee against vailing short-time working at committees must press for the the rank and file have control over opportunism is to see to it that rule Byrne, remedied. BMC Birmingham factories" return of pledged to a Labour government a policy of nationali- by of: the leadership and that it is im- The Ministry of Labour states sation, and should urge the underpossible for this leadership to that the number of workers on taking of public works such as handpick its successors under con- short-time at BMC had increased tne bullding of houses, hospitals ditions the membership has from 3,000 in thé middle of and schools, to relieve present and no say September to 13,000 last week-end. future unemployment.

Short-time working If in spite of all the campaigning The Communist Party were caused by work being which Anti-fascist Committees guilty of this practice inside the from Birmingham to could do, racialism was still ETU in the days of Haxell and plants elsewhere in the preached, then the working class selected for positions in the Foulkes. Opportunists cialist Labour another spokesman said. must organise methods of stopping because it was felt that they be amenable to the control 'THE act that he has done Party. little the fact, in particular, mowing down that he has done nothing at all their thousands. to counter the drop in manuMilitants and Trotskyists were facturing investment-is a posi- also be used to rejected because they had differ- tively depressing influence in reactionaries in ences with the Communist Party. as Sir Roy Weler business.' that members of the Communist There is every reason to believe Maudling, This sentiment about d in Mr. the ing profits, a decline which is not necessarily attributable to de- profit margins due to pressure on but usually at the cost revolution. efforts to learned the lesson of Party in the ETU have still not Financial leader heavier incidence of depreciation creasing sales but to the much have had less influence on the prices. These increased exports mistake. There is Thursday, 11, of fixed assets, due to larger better balance of payments figures select candidates to oppose echoed the capital investment in the recent than the vast amount of foreign Right wing at elections for past. money which poured into the UK union posts because they The largest companies which as a result of high interest rates. militant but, as they are op reported their trading profits But interest rates are falling tunists, there is possibility (profits before depreciation of and with the decline comes the they will be easier to direct. fixed assets) in the last quarter, tendency for foreign money to be We say that showed an increase of nearly 3 per withdrawn.

But, because That is why Maudling governpedals the sort of measures neces- ment on the sary to resuscitate home demand. South rican government For heavy demand increases im- acquiring planes that could You cannot fight the right-wing opportunists, Byrne, Cannon and ports and puts pressure on sterling be used as naval aircraft Chapple, by using opportunist and thus adds to balance of pay- during a world war. methods. The type of candidate ments difficulties. it it is not in the interests who must be selected for union Nevertheless a healthy the British working class to office of any description must heavier depreciation market is vital if exports send these planes to South loyalty and devotion to the work- have a record of militancy and ing class. He must not be frightened level of output in their factories is industrial big business, two-thirds 'stimulate the economy'. alarm among the tycoons of of whom report that the present government takes measures There is certainly cause for to return on capital is down of 12 months. greater capital employed, the quite a heavy reduction 15.4 per cent to 14.1 The solution to the Tories' far as he can to placate these interests, but because of the con- siderations already mentioned, capitalists. Maudling will go as this will not be very far. be a profitable outlet for the Capital, of course, will try to uring the boycott of South be used against the African workers, or in an all-out war. Africa, whether they are to African goods trade leaders and fight for the reinstate- stand up against the right-wing below capacity. So gloomy is their outlook that in substantially increasing exports. problems was to have been found solve its problems at the expense of the workers. To bring down ned ment of the people who have been expelled from the union. However serious the nature of ists questioned -all representa- tives of the biggest big business— nearly 50 per cent of the capital- Exhortations to this effect, with reduce costs, was the subject particular emphasis on the need to 'labour' is easier to get due to the costs is the aim. According to the respondents to the FBI enquiry, ere is wines their misdemeanours, Haxell, intend to spend less on buildings, economic 'expert'. matter of every Tory minister and lack of demand. The Labour Foulkes, Frazer and the others plant and machinery in the coming movement must organise to ensure who have been expelled should 12 months. In fact the FBI eport shows that it is not a passive factor in have their union cards They are that exports considerably, the deliberations of big business.

off militants

• Railways iron page Talks with Beeching will not stop the Tories. Only a clearcut struggle, waged by all transport unions, against redundancy and the Tory government can do this. Railmen see need for anti-Tory struggle By a Railway Shopman THE one-day token strike called by the NUR raised the political level of railway workers. They no longer see Beeching as the sole instigator of redundancies but rather as the executive of the Tory government, which itself represents Big Business.

Local demands for further strike action have been linked with demands for the removal of the Tory government. In Manchester, on the day of the token strike, a mass demonstration of railwaymen passed with acclaim a resolution calling on the unions to fight for 'the end of the Tory government and the initiation of a planned transport economy that places the needs of public and workers before the economics and greed of Big Business'.

The resolution also called for 'more extensive action including strike action'.

Support for the one-day strike was 100 per cent in the Northwest. Yet only a handful of railwaymen attended a 'public protest' meeting held a week later in Manchester. This certainly does not mean that railway workers are apathetic in general. They are only apathetic about certain types of activity.

The feeling is that the Tory policies will not be ended by propaganda and resolutions alone. The realisation of what is involved in the present fight is forcing railway workers to the conclusion that only a large-scale showdown will do this.

If a call is made for a week's strike, then there can be no doubt that it will receive the same sup port as the one-day stoppage.

Tory transport plans, involving the closure of 'uneconomic lines' threaten the end of 150,000 railway jobs. That means the sack for one in three railwaymen.

Any retreat or compromise by the NUR and other unions on the present issue will strengthen the Tories for a future onslaught on railway workers.

The resolution of Manchester railwaymen, already mentioned, included the demand: ' No redundancies until the need for redundancies can be proved to our satisfaction by the BTC. All workers made redundant to be kept on the books with full pay until other work is found.' That is the way to meet present and future Tory plans.

But it is clear that the fight can only be really won when the Tories are kicked out altogether.

To force any substantial retreat on the Tories will need more than limited action. The next step must be to involve all transport workers in a struggle to bring down the Tory government.

F the port employer is allowed to get his way, : the employer is allowed to get his with present ambitious proposals, with his present ambitious proposals, one shudders to think how many more dockers be added to the workless as a result of the speed-up that mechanisation and palletisation, coupled with the complete mobility of gangs, will bring' This is one of the warnings in a Merseyside Area Committee of the 'Blue Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers.

The leaflet is concerned first to answer rumours based on recent press articles. It declares that, contrary to these rumours, 'Bro. Bill Johnson, who was democratically elected (not selected) by rank and file 'Blue' dockers, is still the area officer of the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers.

'Secondly, the rules of the union have recently been amended so as to provide for the full participation of the Northern members.' But the main purpose of the leaflet is to deal with what it calls 'the threat to the security and working conditions of all dockers, which is contained in the port employers' current proposals.

'The Sunday Express of September 23, says the leaflet, 'carried an article headed "Now Cabinet is urged: 'Do a Beeching' at the docks" • Fears were expressed in the article that a "Beeching" at the docks may provoke clashes with the dockers in connection with speed-up and the fears of redundancy which must follow.

MISLEADING

' When fears or redundancy are expressed we are told that natural wastage will absorb the surplus. This statement is grossly misleading. The speed-up in cargo handling and turn-round of ships would be felt instantly. The ... surplus labour caused as a result would greatly exceed the number of retiring dockers.' The leaflet continues: The London employers have already made their proposals. They want to split the dockers into categories of labour. With a labour force split into "attached" perms (weekly workers on contract), second class «unattached" perms and third class "reserve pool" men (casual workers), redundancy would be more difficult for the docker to fight, and something like three weeks wages and your cards could well become the order of the day for hundreds of dockers throughout the ports.

'The NASD have met Industrial Saturday October 20, 1962 om BILL HUNTER, Merseyside Correspondent leaflet issued by the Union'-the National London port employers and are in the process of submitting the union's counter proposals.

'The NASD's demand for the shorter working week is essential, partiçularly, if shift work is to worked on the docks.

'We want the abolition of night work and the introduction of two six-hour shifts, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a basic wage of f3 per shift. This policy, as well as providing the industry with 12 hours' continuous productivity, would effectively combat redundancy and bring fresh young blood into the unions, strengthening the unions.

PRIORITY

"The maintaining of the Dock Labour Scheme and the retention of the present Continuity of Employment rule is top priority in the NASD's policy for "effective decasualisation". An increase to £200 lump sum, plus an adequate weekly pension instead of the present few bob, is included, with the demand for adequate sickness benefits for all.

'The NASD are in favour of permanency provided it gives security to all dockers without discrimination in grades of wage and privilege?

FIGHTING POLICY

The Merseyside Area Committee ends its statement for a fighting policy to meet the employers' proposals with the following urgent appeal:

'This stand of the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers against the employers' proposals and its alternative policy is worthy of the consideration and support of all dockers.

' But time is running short and a policy is hardly effective if only on paper. The widest possible support must be gained for these ideas. If approved by the dockers, liaison of the ' Blue Union' with rank and file TGWU dockers is a must in order to prevent the port employers bulldozing their conditions for their convenience on the docker.' Motor Company workers is, in reality, a preparation for further attacks against the working conditions now operation in ford's tactories. ment accompanying the award 'could not afford' the increase as good as we hoped they deteriorated compared with last year' ', the statement claims that there is an annual loss of £3 million due to labour inefficiencies.

Although the award, which gives approximately a 10s. a week rise, is a considerable concession compared with the firm refusal made by the management in May, it is accompanied by an agreement that the unions co-operate in reducing bad time-keeping, absenteeism, abuse of washing time periods and that the resistance to increases in production time-speeds be abandoned.

The most important moves in the negotiations with the 22 national union officials have been to limit the power and authority of the shop stewards' committee.

Agreement was reached that:

1. There be weekly visits of district officials to the factories.

2. There be meetings twice a year with works committees and the national union officers.

3. Convenors of shop stewards will meet the executive of the Ford Company once a year.

These moves would cut out the direct approach of shop stewards with company representatives over immediate issues. In this way Fords hope to steam-roll through the speed-up and other new conditions while discussions travel round through elaborate union and negotiating procedure.

Although one of the concessions demanded by Fords-that shop stewards' credentials be authorised only by the officials of the 22 unions meeting together-was thrown out at this stage, the drive will continue to weaken the resistance of the workers by destroying the militant shop stewards' power. Only three days after making the award, 700 workers at the Southampton works have been put on a 4-day week. • Over 1,000 workers at Dagenham walked out on Wednesday night after a shop steward was sacked—one week after the 'peace agreement' was signed!

With falling orders throughout the motor industry, Fords' workers can expect the get-tough policy of Sir Patrick Hennesy to be intensified.

They will have to watch with the greatest vigilance the negotiations continuing between the union officials and the management. 1 hI bec WO is is made clear in the stateointing out that the company cause "trading results are not uld be, in fact they have

1,500 workers employed by Otis Elevators in London and Liverpool voted to resume their strike for a substantial wage increase on Wednesday morning.

The strike, which involves factory workers, outside erection men and service workers began on October 9. After nearly a week the shop stewards at the London factory were told by the union organiser that the employers were willing to open negotiations on an interim basis if the men returned to work. This was agreed and the strikers went back to work on Tuesday, October 16.

Derisory

During the day the six shop stewards met the management, who offered a derisory three-farthings an hour increase. At a mass meeting held that evening, the stewards recommended the rejection of the offer and the meeting voted unanimously to recommence the strike the next morning.

The workers in London and in Liverpool have been acting solidly together throughout the strike, and the stewards are keeping in frequent contact so as to hit the employers hard with 100 per cent solidarity in the strike for more wages.

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE PUBLIC MEETINGS Glasgow FIGHT TO GET TORIES OUT Speaker: Bob Shaw Sunday, Oct. 21, 7.30 p.m. Kingston Rd., 336 Paisley Rd.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7.30 Rutherglen Town Hall Registered at the G.P.O. as a newspaper Published by The Newsletter, 186л Clapham High Street, London, S.M.4 Printed by Plough Press Lid. (TU), I.o. 180 Clapham High Strees, London, S.W.4