Gormley Makes a Bid for Long-term Pay Control

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INTMARE «PUBLIC WE PHOTO: Andrew Wiard. Report THANKYON B22 ON THE PICKET BREAD men's case.

The first meeting of the The leadership of the NUM will make a decisive attempt this Thursday, December 8, to flout the decision of both their annual conference and of the national ballot, by introducing productivity deals in selected areas.

A meeting of the Executive is expected to approve demands from local officialsincluding those from Squth Degoysting the very same the very same productivity deals rejected by 57% of the membership in October.

Far-reaching proposals This is nothing more than a device to avoid action over the union's £135 wage claim.

But it now emerges that Gormley and the NUM right wing have written into that claim far-reaching proposals that could end annual pay reviews altogether.

Proposals for US-style three year deals are being thrown around by officials desperate to take the heat out of miners' pay talks.

This, linked to a derailing the NEM leaders wont becontribution to the planned phases 4 and 5 of wage control.

Lawrence Daly-one time 'left' talking , General Secretary-sat firmly alongside Len Murray last week as the TUC General Secretary announced the F&GP's decision to dump the firemen.

Determination

It was an outward, visible sign of Daly and Gormley's determination not to allow their members to move towards strike action at the same time as the firemen.

Gormley himself is now behaving as if there had never been either a vote over the productivity deals at the annual conference or a ballot.

The current issue of The Miner quotes Gormley as saying:

"There. is undoubtedly strong feeling in this and South. Derbyshire have already formally asked for permission to negotiate their own scheme.

"Many of the areas who voted to accept the national incentive scheme feel that there is money in there for their members and it's only natural that they want to be able to get their hands on it"

So far, the reply from Arthur Scargill in any concrete form has been conspicuous by its absence.

The move is not just an assault on union democracy Gormley PHOTO: Chris Davies, Report McGahey-where does he stand on £135 claim? but a carefully conceived move to sabotage any attempts to call strike action over the £135 claim.

If Scargill is serious about leading a fight over pay then he must act now by calling for an immediate strike ballot.

The basis for the right wing move is the discrepancy between voting figurés certain areas.

In South Wales 83% voted against the deal, in Yorkshire 76% and in Kent, 71%.

Campaign launched

In all these areas-notably Scargill's Yorkshire-some sort of campaign was launched against the deal.

Other areas where no opposition. was allowed to be voiced, showed much lower numbers voting against. In Nottinghamshire, 38%, in South Derbyshire 29%.

But the corporate nature of the vote is not one of the left's making. If areas go ahead in productivity schemes locally, Scargill must begin a campaign for strike action on the pay claim throughout the union, beginning in his own area.

No date set The management and the union are to meet again on the pay claim but no date has been set or will be set until Gormley and Daly think they have got their way.

The simple fact is that for every 10% increase in output under the scheme, three per cent goes as 'incentives' payments and seven per cent as increased exploitation to the employers.

Should Scargill fail to lead an immediate and effective fight, a blow will be struck not only against the miners but against the firemen and the whole working class.

The miners' place is alongside the firemen in a united battle against the 10% limit, not alongside Len Murray in his fight against the firemen.