Kial Nev Tgwu Conference - Throw Out Phase 3

Scan page 10

Last week's votes at the NALGO and COHSE conferences shackling another 885,000 workers to support for a Phase 3 of wage control means that a vital element in the TUC vote will be the This is because, although the leaders of unions representing nearly 5 million workers have obtained conference decisions or announced their intention of voting for a Phase 3, there is a substantial opposition, including the AUEW (1.7 million), ASTMS (400,000) and CPSA (225,000), with leaders of the NUM and Post If the TGWU's 1.9 million votes were thrown in with this in opposing a Phase 3 it would mean that both Britain's biggest unions stood opposed to wage controls-and would rule out a workable The message is clear: a vote against Jones' "orderly motion at the TGWU conference is the only way of ensuring TGWU delegates were used by Jones two years ago board for Phase 1. This time they must take the chance Phase 3 of wage control is on its way. The clearest guarantee of this is the way in which Len Murray and Jack Jones are now touring the country claiming that no figure will be fixed as a limit in what they describe as an "orderly return to free collective bargaining".

Jones has gone so far as to suggest that the preservation of the 12-month rule restricting workers to one rise a year, might be sufficient as such an "orderly return".

On this basis he extracted unanimous vote from the union's 37-man Executive in support of this poucy, to be moved at the union's Biennial Delegate Conterence next month.

FRAUD

But the whole argument is a fraud. Firstly, the enforcing of the 12-month rule in a period of skyrocketing inflation itself acts as wage control, and a sure fire means of cutting workers' living standards.

Secondly, Jones is most concerned with pressing home the principle of conceding wage control. Once trade union bureaucrats accept that living standards should fall to boost capitalist profits, then talk of how much they should fail becomes a point of fine detail.

Workers should remember the way Jones approached the question of ramming home wage controls at the last BDC in July 1975.

FLAT RATE

There was talk then also of "no figure" being involved as a limit. Jones assured the conference that to accept his proposal of "flat rate increases" (with no amount specified) was the "only alternative to statutory wage control."

Any other policy, he assured delegates, would lead to alt Healey inflationary spiral and massive unemployment"

Not one shred of Jones' argument remains intact. The TGWU conference's swallowing of "voluntary" flat rate limits was followed two hours later by Chancellor Healey's announcement of rigid state control of wages, in which Healey decreed the "flat rate" limit was f6.

Jones, despite claiming to oppose statutory control of wages, accepted this, and, in defiance ol BDC policy, joined with the Executive to cast the union's 1.9 million votes in favour of the more vicious Steel-demanding Phase 3. wage cuts in Phase TUC last June.

In the meantime, despite rgia pay curbs there has been a never ending inflationary spiral, and there are now record levels of unemployment.

SAVE THE GOVERNMENT The notion that wage controls could "save the Labour government" has been shot to ribbons as thousands of voters, furious at falling living standards under Callaghan, witheld their support TGWU conference in the first week of July.

Office Engineers about to recommend rejection.

policy.

Even Labour Weekly, voice pointed out that:

"It is inconceivable that the agreement with the government TGWU."

end of Phase 2 is the end of wage controls.

plans for a vicious Phase 3.

from Labour candidates in single figures under Phase 3. This means a definite figure-and it means essentially another year of the 42% limit of Phase 2.

CANNOT ACCEPT Jones knows that the government cannot accept a deal with no figure and remain in office. But he is consciously creating confusion until he has a blank cheque from the TGWU Conference behind him.

Talk of enforcing the 12-month rule is designed to block discussion on the essential policy for defence of living standards-continuous wage increases to keep wages in step with rising prices through a of the Labour TUC would try to make a pay that was not supported by the return" that the Fi springtorpedo An explicit statement that a "slush fund' was used to bribe trade unionists as well as the usual government employees The Special TUC, June 1976 sliding scale of wages, based on a cost of living index worked out by elected committees of trade unionists and housewives.

This policy was raised explicitly at the last TGWU conference when Alan Thornett, a delegate from the 5/293 Branch at Cowley moved a resolution along these lines and spoke in opposition to Jones.

That Branch has again put down a resolution demanding a sliding scale of wages for discussion at this BDC. It remains the only alternative to another year of plunging living standards under a third phase of wage control.

Jones