Lobby Ther Tuc

Scan page 12

5 September, Winter Gdns, Blackpool lesday HT THE ANTI-UNION LAWS by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement amongst engineering workers for an all-out strike. More and more workers are realising the limitations of one and two day stoppages.

Following on the vote in favour of all-out strike action from the Bradford Confed stewards and the demands from the Birmingham rally at the demonstration last Monday, a Leeds rally passed the demand for "an all-out national strike in the immediate future."

A meeting of the No. 9 Confed (Reading and District) stewards has also passed a resolution for an all-out strike.

This meeting also made clear that this was not an excuse for not participating in the two-day strikes, because they also passed a resolution saying they would carry out all these strikes.

This growing feeling shows the engineering workers want a confrontation with the employers.

Opposite

This is the opposite attitude to the union leaders who have shown by continuing to call protest actions that they are hoping just to pressurise the employers into concessions. Also indicative of this attitude of union leaders is the exemption from the strike of shipbuilding, public transport, gas, etc.

As we go to press the results of talks, involving ACAS, between the engineering employers and the Confed have not come through.

Pressure must be built up in the union for no compromise on the claim. This is the best opportunity any section has of winning the 35 hour week.

(The claim is now for a 39 hour week this year and 35 hours by 1982).

The engineering employers are saying they are in a bad financial state and some firms will have to close if there is an all-out strike.

This challenge should be taken up by being prepared for a policy of occupation and demanding they open the books of the whole industry and not just the bankrupt firms to elected trade union committees.

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

All out Like demand Pressure is building