Reject Chrysler Deal!

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After a correct and solid strike in defence of their stand- After a correct and solid sirike in defence of their standard of living, Chrysler workers now face great danger. Man- ard of living, Chrysler workers now face great danger. Management have turned what appeared to be a defensive posit- agement have turned what appeared to be a defensive position on their part into an attack. The tying of the wage offer ion on their part into an attack. The tying of the wage offe to future corporate wage bargaining must be rejected by to future corporate wage bargaining must be rejected by Chrysler workers. Chrysler workers.

By making the £8.00 offer (plus additional increases for various groups including the Scottish plant) to every plant in the corporation simultaneously Chrysler want to end wage bargaining at plant level. They want to create the conditions that worked in thi favour of Ford management for many years with wages negotiate, for the whole combine by the national officials.

Objective This is precisely what Chrysles and Leyland have been trying to get in ever since they introduced the Measured Day Work system. MDW could never work fully to their advantage until they gained control of wage rates - and this move is the major step towards this.

Tied right in with this are Chrysler's proposals for workers' POSTAL BALLOT (cont capitalist press under postal ballot systems.

As a result of the AUEW decision not a single member will be deprived of a vote. All they have to do is attend their branch meeting and put the ballot paper in the box. But this of course is exactly what the right wing, the employers and the press don't want. They don't want worker involved in their trade unions where they would quickly become involved in the struggle to defend living standards against the employers.

Scanlon participation. Far from these proposals being any kind of concession to the working class Chrys ler is offering lump sum payments to get it.

They have said that if there is agreement in principle by July 12t all workers will receive a lump sum of £50.00 and that if the sche me is fully accepted by the end of the year they will get a further £50.00.

That really is some workers participation! It is pretty clear what it is that Chrysler wants for the £2,700,000 they are bursting tu pay (under conditions where they are making a massive loss and have been approaching the government for aid).

They want to suck not only the full time officials and the national officers into closer collaboration with them but key layers of shop This principled decision of the AUEW must be defended if attempi are made to overturn it. We are pleased to note that the IS after previously supporting postal ballots have now come out against them.

ENDED

The system of postal ballot should be ended throughout the trade union movement. This is an essential part of the fight for the independence of the trade unions from the state. There is already talk of legislation for postal ballot: and government paid postage. The postal ballot issue was being developed as future policy by the Tory government of Heath.

This fight can only be taken up in the context of a fight for a leadership in the trade unions whic will begin to fight in defence of all the rights and gains of the working class. 30b Morris, Chrysler T&G Convenor stewards and convenors. They want to get them in a position where they can "appreciate the problem" of the company.

Danger

This is a very dangerous situation. Chrysler workers must not consider this to be simply a Chrysler question. Leyland has been trying for 5 years to get corporation level bargaining introduced and have met resistance. If Chrysler get away with it Leyland will move almost immediately.

have played their cards go on and made their announcement immediately after the last mass meeting (they could have made it before the meeting if it had suited them). They moved at what they considered the best possible moment to get this deal accepted.

Ful Claim They can and must be beaten. Chrysler workers must reject the deal., continue with the strike, and fight for the full claim without strings. There must be no phoney "participation". . The books of Chry. sier should be opened for the inspection of trade union committees specially elected for the purpose, and responsible only to their fellow trade unionists.

The demands should include a sliding scale of wages to keep pace with a cost of living index worked out by committees of workers. Chrysler workers should use the figures revealed in opening the company's books to prove the case and back the demand for the full nationalisation of not only Chrysler but of the whole car industry under workers management as the only way to protect jobs and living standards in this period.