Heathrow Claim Rejected

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not ever know Bloody This latest step in Middle East diplomacy has confirmed what Trotskyists have always said about the struggle for Palestinian national rights -they will never be achieved in any alliance with the Arab bourgeoisie.

Time after time the conflict of interests has been shown between the Palestinian fighters against Zionism and the ruling groups throughout the Arab worldat times in a most bloody and bitter way.

Yassir Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organisation described the visit correctly as a "sure gain for Zionism and imperialism".

However these forces will only be defeated by a movement with a programme to rally the Arab masses against both the Zionists and their friends the Arab bourgeoisie. other words where everyone works for capitalists and none against them).

He went on:

«We could begin by ensuring that honour, hard work and dedication were justly rewarded... and that the social non-conformists, As predicted last week's 'Socialist Press' British Airways have rejected the pay claim submitted by engineers at Heathrow Airport and instead offered a 10% increase and a productivity deal.

In a four page document detailing their offer British Airways management state that they are prepared to pay all grades £6.75 a week extra.

But British Airways point out that the shift pay and incremental increases which have been agreed between them and the unions involved and are due for payment in January will now only be paid on the condition that a productivity deal is negotiated.

British Airways are proposing a productivity deal which is open ended as far as altering conditions of work is concerned.

The maximum increase the men could receive regardless of the extent of the changes is £3.37. Part of the productivity deal includes a no-strike clause.

In order to ensure that a real increase in productivity has taken place BA management are proposing to hold back payments under the scheme-which they hope to negotiate in time for its introduction in Januaryuntil April when they will pay the men a lump sum for the first four months.

If industrial action "causes loss of productivity" the men will forfeit that money.

The European Division Joint Shop Stewards Committee has met and rejected the company offer. It remains to be seen whether the Overseas Division will do the same. There is some talk of them being prepared to discuss with management about a possible productivity The British Airways offer is totally inadequate to restore the living standards of the Heathrow engineering workers. Shop stewards must instruct their national officials to break off discussions on such an offer and prepare the membership for indefinite strike action in support of the original claim, the shitt pay and the incremental increases.

At the same time other sections of the 55,000 strong workforce on the airport who have themselves submitted substantial wage claims should be called on to take simultaneous strike action in support of their own claims.