Differentials no-Wages yes!

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strike, the do whatever the committee says."

"Differentials? don't mind them getting more than me if we were getting a decent wage.

"But we're not getting a decent wage and that highlights the questions of différentials".

Trevor, a 25-year-old toolmaker at Cowley put the question of differentials in a nutshell.

His take home pay is f44 and the real comparison he makes is not with other toolmakers but with the £30.35 he took home when he started four years ago-a sum worth more then in real terms.

The meeting at Cowley, like that at Birmingham the day before, bad just voted for a return to work.

"If we stayed out we'd become martyrs. The management and the government are trying to put the unions against one another.

IMPORTANT

"British Leyland pay lip service to good industrial relations; but they've had a hell of a long time to sort it out. With the union behind it they would have gone ahead with the sackings. Then it would be up workers to support us" or all toomakers saw the talks • ita: light. One shop steward said -Scation's changed since last weak sy now inviting the workers' representatives to go with him.

They can't get out of it now. Something really must be done Bow aiterwise they 11 have another sire a their nands.

-The way 1look at it, Scanlon is ou dis last legs. But it's the same with all these union officials.

-They're been taking on new sortes in Cowley in the last three wears Corley won't close down; there's too much at stake.

-I Ecat think they would have darai ia ct us sot once they realised that otber worters nothing company and the union had to du something in the end because the whole thing was so well known."

The feeling against Scanion was universal. An ex-convener told us his view of the Birmingham mass meeting to which Leyland 'bused' workers from other plants.

"Scanlon began on completely the wrong foot. He began by saying 'colleagues; he didn't even say "brothers': the whole place just exploded-that was before he had said another word. I've never been so disgusted with him in my lifeit was disgraceful. I'd go so far as to say that the wole executive should be suspended."

Another toolroom worker said:

"The meeting was chaotic. It certainly opened my eyes. The members were very bitter. This whole thing has been going on since 1965.

"Scanlon had a really uncomfortable time. He just gave all the same old excuses. Because of his attitude he really asked for it."

Talking to the toolmakers also the first to stay on second to go back.

It showed that the toolmakers went back strong, united and undefeated.

Only a tiny proportion of the 3,000 was prepared to vote for a return to work despite all the efforts of Scanlon, so long as the leadership was set to stay out.

Scarcely a larger number were prepared to vote to stay out after the committee said go backalthough many had severe doubts about the kind of meeting that had been set up.

Their feelings were summed up by one toolmaker waiting to go into the Birmingham March 17 meeting at which Longbridge and Castle Bromwich workers voted almost unanimously to go back to work.

"If the committee says go back we"ll go back. Our committee is asking for one thing and in reply Can-la- in minima mantha. Toolmakers meeting in Birmingham Town Hall The leadership, having stood up to the combined weight of government, NEB, and Scanlon, was trusted absolutely by the membership. If Fraser had called for an indefinite strike or a return to work, he could have won either.

One Birmingham toolmaker, asked what he thought about the talks which had been set up, replied: "The opinion I get is that it is unacceptable and what was already rejected last Monday. I think there will be a bit of kicking up about it but I think it will be passed"

Another thought the talks were a way for Scanlon to give in while saving face.

"Scanlon cannot say he'll meet with the committee. He can't say that. But if our committee is not there you can more ot less guarantee a load of dissatisfaction"

Another toolmaker who overheard this chipped in: "If we are not there when the talks begin md?11 all ha haal nort Arguing for an organised intervention into the April 3 conference, called by the BL Joint Shop Stewards Committee but inspired by the Communist Party, Red Weekly describes it (on March 3 1977) as "a real opportunity to co-ordinate the battle against the treacherous attacks of the Labour Yet that conference will oppose fights on Phase II, will be less 'representative' than the IMG claim and bureaucratically controlled.

CORRECT

It is correct of course to organise an intervention into the April 3 conference, but to pose it as more important than the CDLM conference which is aimed at supporting sections fighting Phase 11 is grotesque.

The one day national strike called by the Communist Party for April 19 for "free collective bargaining in August" is a similar diversion. Defending it on the British Leyland Combine Committee. Derek Robinson said:

"We have to have this token strike. If we are not seen to do something we will be overtaken by our members"

Yet Red Weekly on March 17 says the one-day strike can be turned into a movement which will sweep away Phase Ill.

FIGHTING

The "Workers Socialist League will be fighting for a different perspective at the CDLM conference. We have fought for the working class to be at the conference, represented by those sections 1O W fighting government policy. If we Can bring the most advanced element from those struggles to the conference it can not only discuss programme under conditions of a living movement but can make a material intervention into those struggles through the development of leadership.

That the IMG can be so wrong on the wages issue and so wrong on the toolroom dispute is closely linked to their attitude towards the ranfaranna

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SOCIALIST PRESS, Frider 35 Merce, 1977