Barking Jobs Saved

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THE SIX week strike by 900 members of the National Union of Teachers in Barking ended last week.

104 jobs had been saved. The council originally wanted to enforce 159 job-cuts including compulsory redundancies], and introduce fixed-term contracts. Now 55 jobs will go and there will be no compulsory redundancies.

Louise O'Connor of Barking NUT [above] spoke at the April 3 Socialist Organiser/London Labour Briefing trade union conference and declared: ''This is not a strike for pay. It's a strike about jobs. And not just about redundancies we're fighting to save every job" es its regular quota of practical jokes, but the suspension of Steve Forey, branch secretary and LDC rep for Kings Cross ASLEF, on the day, was in deadly earnest. It was the culmination of nearly two weeks of intimidation by the Area Manager at Kings Cross, Charles Wort.

Essentially, Steve Forey was suspended for observing the disciplinary procedure and refusing to go to an interview with the Area Manager without a witness being present.

A joint mass meeting of NUR guards and ASLEF members took a decision to walk out. Signalmen also stopped the job, and at one point trains were blocked all the way to Peterborough.

By 8pm the management had reinstated Steve on full Vivid The strike was a vivid demonstration of our strength and confidence. It also served warning to British Rail management that we would not be intimidated and our determination to resist 'flexible rostering' is still very much alive.

It now seems likely that the Railway Staff National Tribunal will lean heavily in its decision towards the position of ASLEF. The declared intention of the British Railways Board is to implement flexible rostering come what may.

The ASLEF EC can be under no illusions about the total opposition of the rank and file to flexible rostering. The only concession that the union leadership has been prepared to offer the Board is the acceptance of seven to nine hour diagramming, but with a guaranteed eight hour payment.

In other words, some flexible rostering, but at a price. This option has been rejected by the Board as it would cost a further £12 million in wages.

Rosters

The confrontation over the rosters seems set for this summer, and coincides significantly with the introduction of Tebbit's Employment Bill. The Tories look prepared for a confrontation with ASLEF, and the EC cannot be allowed to vacillate under these conditions.

Any attempt to implement flexible rosters at one depot must be met with an immediate official call for all out action.

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