₺1,000 Million in Cuts and Speed-up

Scan page 1

A £1,000 million loan has been requested from the IMF by Wilson and Healy to finance a programme of massive speedup and redundancies in a desperate attempt to solve the capitalist crisis at the expense of the working class.

In return for the loan the government will send the IMF a "letter of intent" underlining its commitment to stepping up profitability in British industry - at the expense of mass unemployment and further cuts in the social services, health and education. Their full strategy, announced from the Chequers meeting last week between Wilson, Healey Varley, the TUC and the CBI, is a threat to the job-and living standards of every worker in Britain.

JONIT STATEMENT Their joint statement spelled out that the central problems for British capitalism are: "Tow labour petictivity reflecting poor manageri , inadequate consultation, to rictive practices, overmanning f which is the crucial question] and eruption by ind ustrial action" together with resulting "declining rate at sudustrial profitability" and "a capital market which does not give priority to the needs of industry".

They announce their determinatio to overcome the problem of overmanning by collaboration (or "participation') between TUC bureaucrats and the employers to impose massive speed up. At the same time the Labour government will provide equip and speed up the most lucrative capitalist industries, while the others are forced to the wall, or in turn take on and speed up their labour force.

CUTS

The huge sums of money involved in these subsidies are to be taken from cuts in spending on the nationalised industries (most of which they describe as "utilities") and the social services. The statement says clearly that: "For the immediate future this will mean giving priority to ind ustrial development over consum ption or even over social objectives"

The logic of this is absolutely clear. In the name of profitability in capitalist industry, hospitals, schools, pensions, welfare payments, and jobs throughout the state sector must be axed in the immediate future.

Every sector of workers will suffer in this process: whether they are directly speeded up in the "top 30" manufacturing industrie or face redundancies through cuts in social services.

CLASS COLLABORATION The Chequers talks show that the strategy of class-collaboration pioneered in the Ryder speed up plan for British Leyland is now being extended to British industry as a whole.

The joint statement is full of references to "cooperation" of union bureaucrats and management. The TUC in signing the statement expressed its agreement with the crucial clause: "The Government has made it clear that it accepts the importance of sustaining a vigorous, alert, res ponsible and profitable private sector of industry".

All Healey's talk of 'expending capacity and increas ing employment in sectors sett good pros pects' is just so much hogwash to disguise the brutal attack now lined up against manning agreements, conditions and jobs on every shop floor, which means a wave of redundancies all over the country to add to the 1.25 million already unemployed.

With this commitment to demanHealey, Wilson, Varley and the NEL at a press conference after the Cheq ning and unemployment, it is small wonder the TUC has implicitly threatened action against Trades Councils which support the mass lobby of Parliament called on 26th November by the NW Region TUC, stating that to give such support they would be acting outside their authority.

HOSTILITY

Jones and Murray rightly fear thi a big demonstration will provide a focus for working class hostility to Wilson's Tory policies, going much further than the reformist demands on which it was called.

But this is just what is necessary to begin the mass movement which must drive Wilson, Healey and Varley out of the labour movement, where they are protected by the TUC - and put an end to their reactionary policies once and fo •all.

Workers voted Labour to lefe jobs and wages against the' Corit - not to face a state-backed emp ers offensive on speed up.

'LEFTS'

This is why the dismal sounds of the "left' MPs are completely inadequate to lead the fight against the Chequers plans.

The Tribune Group of MPs, the day after the o passenin 1S01 abandoned 1973 Manifesto and the decisions of the last Labour Party Conference.

But where has been the fight of these 'lefts' to oust Wilson from the Cabinet?

What does it mean to bleat now about Wilson's flouting of the last Conference, if it is not backed with IC's McIntosh uers agreement. a campaign throughout the unions and the LabourParty to remove him!

If these 'lefts' really oppose Wilson's policies, now is the time for them to take a stand on the fight for socialist nationalisation (specifically ruled out by Healey in the Chequers agreement) - in opposition to Healey's plan.

Only wholesale socialist nationalisation, combined with a programme of public works to provide jobs and expand the social services can now ward off the impact of the capitalist crisis and offer a way forward for the working class.

Such a programme must be fought for in the labour and trade union movement - taking up the struggle to open the books of the employers for work sharing on full pay, and for a programme of public works under workers management.