[WRP suit Bu is to make its otter…]

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WRP suit Bu is to make its otter, in reply to the unions' claim; this Friday, 8th October:

It is widely expectea to be lower than 4%. But whatever it is there is no doubt that it will be unsatisfactory to the workiorce.

• So the arguments that have taken place over the claim during the past week have been important in showing who is really serious about giving leadership to the rising militancy of the workers.

The Cowley Assembly Plant stewards met last week and both the TGWU and AUEW meetings unanimously called for £20 across the board, and have nothing to do with a bonus.

This, as we have said in previous issues of Socialist Organiser, was intended to concentrate on the wages and stop the company and union leadership avoiding the fight through the issue of bonus.

In the Body Plant a similar attempt to have nothing to do with a bonus was defeated by 37 votes to 34 at the stewards meeting munist Party policy at Longbridge, that the question of bonus should not be rejected.

In the national meetings of both the TGWU and the AUEW Senior Stewards last NEXT Wednesday, the NUR Special General Meeting convenes in Birmingham to discuss its reaction to the McCarthy Report on this year's pay claim by rail workers.

Following the disastrous climb-down and suspension of the NUR national strike back in June, the SGM delegates must vote to reject the report.

McCarthy recommends a 6% increase from 6 Sepbember, equal to 4% over the full twelve months, and contains pages of strings, particularly on the removal of guards from many trains, and driver only operation on some commuter trains.

Although the report's conclusions aren't binding on either side, management are clearly happy with most of it and it's a recipe for a huge escalation of job losses, currently running at around 1,000 per month.

Rank and file NUR activists clearly have a fight on their hands. The 77 delegates in Birmingham will be the same as those who called the Friday, the Longbridge tion was carried.

The final claim, there fore, will be for £16 acros the board, consolidation o the £22.50 bonus, al increase of 13½% i premium rates and for th sick pay scheme to be full! funded by the company.

Leyland workers wil now have to continuall! argue that there must be n‹ budging from the £11 increase and that the bonu is a secondary issue.

One dangerous develop ment arising from the TGWI Senior Stewards meeting las Friday was a step away fron the struggle for a democrati structure.

The meeting, which wa supposed to be a 'delegate meeting, ended up being attended by only one senio steward from each plant.

Consequently, thi Cowley Body Plant Senio: Steward, representing ove 4,000 members and othe senior stewards representing only a hundred or so workers all had one. voti each.

A mass meeting in the Cow ley Assembly Plant on Tues day 5th passed a resolutior supporting the claim put for ward on the basis that there was no alternative. It alsc called for the Joint Negoti ating Committee to make it: "overwhelming priority' getting new money on the basic rate. strike off in June, anc Weighell's allies will certain ly make no case for rejec tion.

Already many branche: have rejected the McCarthy package and mandated thei delegates to do the same.

Weighell's credibility ha: also been shaken for many delegates after the Labou Party conference.

Putting pressure on the delegates to reject will be crucial, which is why a lobby has been organised supported by the NUR Broad Left, the London Joint District Councils and others.

As many railway workers as possible should get down to the lobby as well as mandating delegates to reject the deal and refer the claim back to the NEC with a call for strike action to back up the fight for a decent wage without strings.

LOBBY: Assemble 9 am at the AUEW offices, five near the Albany Hotel.

----- pull-quotes -----

after the right wing strongly argued, in line with Com-

minutes walk from Birming- ham's New Street station,