Basnett boosts Phase 4 ROW WITH THE G.M. W.U UNCIAL WORKERS UNION

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SOGAT workers receiving strike pay at the England strike. Allare SOGAT members.

UR AT IAN AT THE TOP wage restraint, but for the TUC to decide on "bargaining priorities" and to negotiate a joint public sector agreement with the government.

This was to include a "realistic minimum wage" in each industry and "sensible wage structures"

The meaning of this phrasing can be seen by looking at Basnett's complete failure to fight for the £50 minimum wage demand of last year's conference.

This year he was careful have no figure at all included.

35-hour week The motion also demanded Executive action over the 35hour week.

The hypocrisy of this call was clearly revealed when 20 pipe laggers from Dagenham turned up to lobby the conference.

They had responded to Basnett's appeal last year for grass roots action in favour of the 35 hour week, only to be jumped on by the bureaucracy as soon as they took individual action.

Their dispute has now been referred to ACAS, with assurances from their local officials that they have "an unanswerable case for 35-hours".

When Basnett refused to speak to them they surrounded his car and had to be forcibly removed by his driver/bodyguard.

The need to physically defend Basnett against his members is the clearest reflection of his role in defending capitalism against the demands HOTO: Mark Rusher, IFL of his membership.

An alternative composite motion was moved by John Cope from London.

This was more specific in committing the Executive against wage control and correctly demanded support for workers struggling for better wages and conditions.

But it was weak in terms of an alternative to EC policy.

It contained no proposals for the protection of workers against the erosion of wage increases by inflation.

It's suggestions for cutting hours centred on the same 35 hour week policy as the Executive and did not raise the question of the control of hours IF YOU ME, GENTLEMEN, THESE WORKI ARE THE CAUSE OF ALL PRI YOU SICK: SACK EM I SAY! YOUNG )BLEMS SICK, motion was narrowly lost by the margin of 199 to 204.

Such a vote in a union such as the GMWU clearly represents a high level of hostility to wage control in the working class and a growing recognition of their leaders' treachery.

But the complete absence of any coherent opposition underlines the need for an alternative revolutionary leadership.

This would be able to present to the GMWU membership policies that would start from the defence of their interests and lead forward to the struggle for a socialist society. NO ALLIED TRADES Bank of NO WONDER THE NATION'S GOING GOING NOW THEY'VE EVEN STARTED THUMPING

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STAYING OFF WORK JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE DEMANDING PAY INCREASES!

FOREMEN, OR ANYONE CONNECTED WITH MANAGEMENT!