Dangerous bargaining in Clyde dispute

Brown's shipyard at Clydebank were called out on strike by their union at the end of the firm's two weeks' holiday in July. Last week the Clyde Shipbuilders' Association locked out 1,500 men at the Clyde yards. The men were told that they would not be re-employed until the electricians returned at John Brown's.

The ETU claim is for an increase of wages to be made up of a minimum wage of 8s. 3d. an hour, plus a payments-by-results scheme. In return for this, the union leaders say that they are prepared to agree to the introduction of work study and a drive for increased productivity.

That the electricians should get increased wages is correct, but the form the increase takes introduces a new and dangerous principle into collective bargaining.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE It is only two months since George Brown was given a full vote of confidence for his wage policy, at the union's conference at the Isle of Man.

When Brown spoke, he emphasised that the job of the unions must be to help the employers to make their profits more efficiently. They must, he said, 'push and prod' the employers to adopt new methods.

An official of the ETU said last week-end that the union's move should not be regarded as a sign of weakness.

PRODUCTIVITY DRIVE The spokesman for the Clyde shipyard employers stated that once a return to work was organised then a speedy agreement could be quickly reached.

But by pressing for a small increase for their members, the ETU leaders are paving the way to a drive for productivity on the ships.

At the present time, when British shipbuilding is being pushed against the wall by