ASLEF ready to fight rosters

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"It is equally important" King's Cross STEVE GOOD (Kings Cross ASLEF) reports on why the rosters loom larger than the pay claim A RECENT circular from the ASLEF executive committee includes a "leak" from the British Railways Board. The "leak" is a letter from BRB central management to local managers on how they should implement the variable rosters.

After exhausting all the channels of consultation, management will make up their own flexi-rosters, and if men refuse to work them they will be sent home.

ASLEF kader Buckion Buckto "It is equally important" the letter says, "that those the letter savs. "that those rosters produced are in accordance with the RSNT criteria as your staff have been directed and that they are wel prepared and can be sustained in demonstrating the benefits to staff without fully exploiting, in the hrst : instance, the savings to be derived together with the re-allocation of work."

Soft-sell

In other words it's a softsell or downright deceit! The new rosters are to be presented at first as attractively as possible with little variation on the eight hour day, and then tightened up later to cut jobs and worsen conditions.

Variable day programmes have now been drawn up for implementation at all depots on the Great Eastern with the exception of Stratford. Rosters drawn up for Hitchin depot are due to commence on July 5 and there isn't a single programme over 8 hours, in order to make the new rosters look as harmless as possible.

However, management have told Hitchin drivers that if they do not work the new rosters and are sent home, their work will be covered by Cambridge and King's Cross men!

Management are indeed clutching at straws if they believe this ploy will work. King's Cross branch of ASLEF are committed to opposing the rosters even if they have to go it alone.

The possibility for the unions to score a resounding victory are there. yet ASLEF continues to equivocate over the NUR strike call.

Perhaps even more disturbing is the total lack of direction over management's criterion to impose the new rosters: so far the only instruction to ASLEF members comes in the form of an instruction to local union representatives not to consult over the rosters. King's Cross branch has called upon the Executive to organise immediate national action if management attempts to impose new rosters.

Otherwise we will have one depot taking action over the rosters, getting the immediate support from possibly five or six other depots, but those few depots remaining isolated.

Under those conditions the whole fight against flexi-rosters could collapse in total confusion. The executive must demonstrate leadership at this critical time. It is not a time for resting on the laurels of the previous strike.

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Socialist Organiser no.90 June 24 1982 Page 10