Jags Ban Ends

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Paintshop workers at Jaguar's Browns Lane Plant in Coventry have voted to drop the overtime ban imposed since July.

The ban was in support of their demand for a public inquiry into the siting of the new paintshop which is to be in Birmingham rather than Coventry.

Jaguar workers feel that this is the first step towards the ending of Jaguar production in Coventry.

After failing to get agreement with management over a public inquiry, the union leaders at the plant have used sympathetic noises from Eric Varley and calls from Jack Jones for 'more information" on Leyland's future plans as a cover to call off the action. proposals of this sort can only benefit management.

The technique is to prevent such proposals becoming known in the factory before the convenors meet to accept or reject.

It these proposals went to a vote in the factories they would be rejected out of hand.

On wages, Robinson reported that Longbridge workers had accepted the principle of the social contract in the current annual pay FRAUDULENT This had been fraudulently achieved by means of a militant sounding resolution which called for the rejection of wage control, voluntary or statutory, after July 1977. In other words advocating acceptance of the 4½% deal for this year.

So fraudulent is his position that Robinson does not even take this as a mandate to fight wage control next year.

Knowing that those trade union leaders who had been circulated with the text of the Longbridge resolution have been replying with talk of Stage Three of wage control, Robinson is now saying that it will be "up to the workers to decide."

In the Longbridge review T&GWU convenor David Holloway says that calling off the ban is a sign of "goodwill" ", and it is hoped that management will reciprocate with a speedier flow of information.

However, the central issue remains, Will Leyland continue to produce Jaguar cars in Coventry?

To get an accurate picture of the company's forward planning, Jaguar workers need more than a speedier flow of information.

They need to see all the books of the company and this remains the most important demand for them to raise. Calling off sanctions is no way to force this information from the company - but a move by the union leaders to defuse the militancy of Jaguar workers. Leyland management had offered the straight Social Contract entitlement - 5% of gross earnings (inclusive of overtime and nightshift allowance, and paid as an individual supplement).

But even • while he helps carry through such a wage cutting deal, Robinson is acutely aware of the massive pressure coming up in the working class on the wages issue.

"There is sheer frustration over wages," he said. "It is leading to a negative attitude. Unless there is some reversing of the trend we will not be able to hold our members until July - let alone after."

CONFINE

The phrase "hold our members" spells out Robinson's view bf his job as a convenor - not to lead in lefenre of livino ctandarde hut tr 'Natural wastage' is steadily eroding jobs in the public sector, avoiding the confrontation of compulsory sackings.

An example of this is the school meals staffing arrangement recently introduced by Warwichshire County Council, which lays the basis for sharp attacks on job security.

The new system was outlined in a letter to school meals staff as follows:

«The proposal is to reduce over a period of time, only as natural wastage occurs and posts become vacant, the number of permanent school meals employees to the level needed to cater for the lowest expected number of meals at each kitchen and scullery.

When demand temporarily increases, for example, during the winter months, the extra duties will be covered either by extending the hours of permanent staff or by the employment of temporary additional staff employed on a termiy basis. confine his members within the reactionary limits set by the TUC and the Labour government! Such a view is held by Stalinist bureaucrats throughout the unions.

The same sentiment was expressed by Arthur Harper, convenor at Tractors and Transmissions (a former member of the International Socialists, noW a supporter of the Workers League).

натрет reported that he had accepted the : 42% deal at Transmissions, making the direct workers rate £66.65. But he added:

EXPLOSIVE "It is just explosive at the moment. If there is no settlement of the lay-off claim [an upshot of the 'fringe benefit' blind alley, Ed] we will face some very big problems."

If the convenors see the problem as the militancy of the working class, for the shop floor the question is a fight against such leaders.

It is clear that an urgent campaign throughout Leyland is necessary to reject al penaity clauses, and to launch the fight for a rejection of the 42%, and for a substantial wage increase tied to a sliding scale of wages to protect against inflation.

The appointments for one term only will offer exactly the same conditions of service as those enjoyed by permanent staff except that there will be no entitlement to the payment of retaining fee during school holidays, nor any guarantee of continued employment beyond the end of the school term."

The existence of different categories amongst the workforce opens the way for the County Council to reduce hours worked by cutting the temporary staff. It is the old trick of splitting the workforce prior to organising an attack.

School meals staff were asked to fill in a form indicating their attitude to the new proposals. Although the letter stated that the form need not be signed there were cases of workers being inșiructed to sign the forms.

Any workers indicating hostility to the proposals and signing the form would obviously lay themselves open to victimisation as militants.

The G&MWU did nothing to fight the proposals and - indeed helped management with their circulation. The union leaders rejected a call for votes to be taken