'Comparability' fraud exposed

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But as a result of determined leadership in the Assembly Plant pickets on Monday only had to turn a handful of workers away.

But over the road the vast majority of the neighbouring Body Plant were working through an official strike.

The support for this illprepared, limited action called by the Confed shows that with determined national leadership and all-out indefinite strike action the workforce would respond, bringing a possibility of a breakthrough on the 35 hour week.

The findings of the Clegg Commission on comparability of earnings for public sector workers should have come as no surprise to public sector workers.

Following the massive wave of strikes earlier in the year in pursuit of a £60/35 hour week, the Clegg Commission was devised as a means of tricking public sector workers and enabling their leaders to force them back to work.

Strike action

It was obvious from the start however. that only the strike action that had forced the government to increase its offer beyond the 5% Phase 4 limit could secure the full claim.

But instead workers were Clegg fobbed off with a miserable 9% increase plus £1 on account in advance of the Clegg findings.

Of course Clegg has taken no steps to provide workers with a living wage. Despite Alan Fisher's ranting and raving about the plight of the low paid, the lowest grades receive "comparability' awards of only 3%.

While differentials are to be increased by Clegg, the vast majority of public sector workers will still be earning less than £50 a week.

The treachery of Alan Fisher and the public sector union bureaucracy is at the centre of this betrayal. It was Fisher and his cronies who argued for 'comparability' and drew up Clegg's terms of reference.

It was Fisher who sent thousands of workers back with only 9% and a worthless promise of more. And it was Fisher who persuaded the NUPE conference not to formulate a pay claim for this year so as not to "prejudice" the Clegg findings.

Miserable

As a result workers face not only miserable wages but further cuts in public services to finance the awards that have been made.

Management will no doubt also use the opportunity to railroad in speed-up and productivity schemes on every grade of public sector workers.

The lesson is clear: a specific pay claim to improve and defend living standards must be drawn up now within the public sector unions, and all out strike action carried through until the demands are conceded in full.

Branches and shop stewards committees must begin this task at once if Fisher is not to catch them napping once again.