'Ranks must take over'

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THE much-publicised Inverclyde District Council public meeting against the closure of Scott Lithgow took place on Friday 3 February. But it turned out to be only an opportunity for politicians to either pat each other on the back or snipe at eachother. Labour, Tory, SDP-Liberal Alliance, the Scottish Nationalist Party - all were on the platform. All the main speakers turned up, with the exception of Alex Ferry, general secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, whose train had been derailed. Justice seems to have been done, as the same Mr. Ferry has been derailing the Rowntree CRAFT unions at Rowntrees in York have now been on strike for a week over the loss of around 200 maintenance jobs. Management forestalled the dispute before Christmas by announcing the losses would be achieved through voluntary redundancy.

However only 130 takers were found for the scheme so strike action is being taken to stop enforced redundancies.

The AUEW has now made the strike official and over 800 workers have already been laid off as the lines break down with no-one to fix them. workers for years.

The strikers are still hopeful of winning the dispute, although members of the GMBATU on the production lines are still excluded due to lack of space. working.

Pickets believed that the strike would be won within a handful of days if they came out in support.

Messages of support and donations to: J. Ramsden, AUEW, Matmer House, Hull Road, York. dancy.

phone and speak on behalf of the shopfloor workers.

relate to the workers in any way at scott Lithgow. But he only Wing to the Scottish people, who owned them as they were a nationalised industry.

As regards the turnout, the meeting was a success. The hall was packed out, and many were (Scott Lithgow)

A considerable number of theme of their contribution was those inside the hall were ex- that the Tory Secretary of State shop stewards and ex-workers for Scotland, George Younger, from Scott Lithgow who had had been unfairly pilloried and already taken voluntary redun- that only a private company could save the day at Scott But in every other way, the Lithgow. meeting was a failure. For McCurley was followed by the example, not one lay speaker local Labour MP, Norman was allowed to go to the micro- Godman. Fireworks might have been expected from him. In fact, he was as effective as an The only speaker who could ashtray on a motorbike.

It must by now be clear to was Duncan McNeil, convenor everyone that the only way to save the yards is for the rank gave his usual well-practiced and file workers of all yards speech about the yards belong- threatened by redundancy and closure to take the initiative and start occupations immediately.

We cannot look to the union Someone should inform Mr. leaderships for help. They have McNeil that you don't own already shown their true anything you don't control, and colours. Even after the latest attacks by Graham Day and his henchmen, the Shipbuilding Most of the main speakers Negotiating Committee saw fit were given a polite round of to agree to the new National applause, except the two Tory 'Survival Plan, which had MPs who spoke, Michael Hirst already been turned down by and Anna McCurley. They were the workforce.

Nor can we look to the shop during their speeches. The stewards committee at Scott Lithgow either. Its members have a history of compromise and capitulation. All they seem to want to do is tour the country and get their pictures taken. Duncan McNeil has played to more audiences than Frank Sinatra and said less than Harpo Marx.

And we cannot look to the politicians, because Thatcher has too big a majority for them to put any pressure on her at all.

So it is left to us, the grassroots militants, to start the fight. 10o much time has been lost already. The days of being responsible people are over - just look at Henry Robb in Leith. They voted against a national of state for Scotland) refuses tr intervene, Scotland's reputation in the offshore industry could br seriously damaged" . This woul mean that 'the Koreans, Not wegians, Japanese and other would be delighted."

So, the leaflet asks, like as if i was World War Two all ove again, 'Whose side are yor on?' and goes on to pledge tha the Scott Lithgow workers, i their future is assured accept flexibility and three-shif working. Compare this positivi attitude with the negative stanc of George Younger.

The only action which thi leaflet calls for is to "write nor to your MP urging governmen action to save the yard."

The Clydeside CSEU is als considering calling a demonstra tion. But no date has yet beer fixed. Presumably it wants t wait until the whole affair is ove before doing anything so adven turous as call a demonstration.

The well-attended mass meet ing on February 10 rejected : call for immediate occupation Scott Lithgow convenor Duncal McNeil opposed occupation ant announced those speaking i favour of it as people whose goa