Chrysler: Open the Books to Force Nationalisation

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Chrysler chief Ricardo Chrysler's threat to close down its British subsidiary is part of the international crisis in the aut industry. The world market for cars has slumped by 25% in the last year, leaving most plants working at half capacity and slashing profit margins.

As a result a savage war for markets between miah acts or pamphas becoming prevalent.

The only way the stronger capitalists can deal with this crisis is by ban! rupting their weaker rivals, "rationalising" their own plants - forcing through massive speed-up, and driving down workers' living standards.

Already this crisis has forced Chrysler workers on to a three-day week, cutting take-home pay as the lay-off fund dries up. Now faced with massive losses of its UK subsidiary, Chrysler has issued an ultimatum to the Labour government - demanding £100 million to prevent closure.

Wilson is wheeling and dealing with Riccardo behind closed doors. What they are discussing is not how jobs are to be preserved, but what is commercially best for British capitalism.

If state aid is used to bail out Chrysier it will only be on condition that the industry becomes "viable" . As the Ryder proposals in British Leyland show, any government aid will be tied to forcing through speed-up at the expense of jobs.

Bob Morris, T&GWU convenor at Chrysler Stoke has lined up with Jack Jones' reactionary argument that workers must accept part responsibility for the crisis.

This same argument is now used with every group of workers - workin conditions, manning levels etc. shoul be sacrificed to preserve a "viable" industry and protect jobs. What it means is working each other out of a job to preserve the employer's profits.

This sort of'solution ' proposed by the trade union leaders completely jettisons trade union principles and ties workers' jobs to the fate of capitalist industry. Instead of mobilising the strength of the trade unions to defend jobs and fight for nationalisation, the union leaders, joined by the 'left' MPs, are queuing up to see Varley to plead for funds to keep Chrysler open.

They are claiming there is no other way to keep the jobs. In fact they are saying that they will not fight for any policy which brings them into conflict with the Labour government which is defending capitalism.

At the Chrysler Stoke mass meeting the AUEW convenor made it clear that the shop stewards committee saw defending Chrysler as the only way to defend jobs.

APPEAL

If Chrysler brought out a new mod! with the help of the Labour government we would be able to sell cars again. We appeal to the government to help Chrysler in its hour of need"

The consequences of this were brought out by Bob Morris - he felt it "would be hypocritical to offer any great hope for what the future would bring"

Certainly there is no hope while the leadership pursues this policy. Only with an independent and determined policy can the future Chrysler workers be defended.

SUBSIDIARIES

First, workers must demand to all of the books of the Chrysler Corporation in Detroit and its national subsidiaries. The claim that the British factories are losing mone is meaningless until the books are opened. How can workers accept ultimatums from management based on completely unsubstantiated figures?

Next the booksiof all Chrysler suppliers must be made available to workers committees to reveal the financial connections and arrangements between the suppliers and the Chrysler Corporation. It is only in this way that the real position car be established.

The open the books committee established in Cowley in major struggles has already revealed facts which give lie to British Leyland's charge of shoddy work and laziness.

A thorough investigation of Chrysiers books by elected trade union committees would demonstrate conclusively the need for nationalisation under workers management and for a system of state contracts to be provided to guarantee production. This must be a step towards the nationalisation of the whole car and component industry. The "right" of management to impose short time working due to the world crisis of capitalism which is completely out of the control of the working class, must be ended. All redundancies must be rejected. All available work should be shared on full pay. If this is refused all Chrysler factories should be occupied until management concedes these demands.

This is the only policy which can detend jobs, but it cannot be carried through without a sharp struggle Stewards at Linwood have correctly announced that they intend to occur if Chrysler tries to close down: But preparations have to be made now to occupy not only in the event of direct closure, but over lay-offs and redundancies.

TEST

The outcome at Chrysler will be a severe test of the Labour government.sJones at the T&GWU Confer: ence said "voluntary" pay laws were necessary to save jobs. Now thousands of jobs are at stake. Jones must be called on to mobilise the industrial strength of the T&G to force nationalisation.

The left MPs who have spoken of nationalisation in the past must now put forward this policy in practice. If their words are serious they must fight for the removal of the Wilson leadership and their replacement by one which will carry out policies in the interests of the working class or else stand exposed as no more than 'left' talkers.

N.W. TUC LOBBY

The North West Area TUC has called for a lobby of Parliament against unemployment on Nov. ember 26th. The TUC nationally has since set out to sabotage this lobby.

The Workers Socialist League calls on all members and supporters to campaign for this demonstration as part of the fight to mobilise the trade union moven movement against unemployment.

DEMONSTRATE AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT!

March called by Banbury Trades Council, Starting 10.00am. Meeting at Banbury Town Hall, 11. SATURDAY, 22nd NOVEMBER. (Supported by Oxford Trades DEFEND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS!

WRP DEMONSTRATION Saturday, November 16th Assemble 2pm Hyde Park. March 3pm via Oxford St, Regent and Piccadilly to Meeting 4pm Trafalgar Square.

As we stated in our last edition the WSL will support this demonstration in defence of democratic rights, and will bring its banners o the march.

LEAGUE

PUBLIC MEETINGS:

WOLVERHAMPTON 18th November, 7.30 & Crown, Penn Rd. on the Trade Unions"

LONDON Our programme to wages nd jobs"

Wednesday, 19th November, 7.3 Newington Small Hall, Manor Place, off Walworth Rd (Elephant & Castle 2 mins)

OXFORD UNIVERSITY W.S.L. Marxist Society Classes every Wednesday, 8.00pm, "The Blue Room', Wadham College