Stop the Basnett wage control plan

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Plans for permanent wage control in the public sector took a step forward last month wher the general secretaries of six public sector unions met to discuss the so-called Basnett plan.

Basnett, present Chairman of the TUC and General Secretary of the GMWU, first announced his proposals in the Sunday Times on 4 December last year. The main aspects of the plan are:

*Recognition of continued pay policy in the public sector.

*Joint bargaining by the unions involved.

*Synchronisation of wage settlements, effective ly giving permanence ot the 1 2 month rule.

The major distinguishing feature of the 1978 conference of the National Union of Teachers has been its pledge to do nothing whatever about *A permanent pay research system to draw up comparisons with the private sector. In the first instance this would provide information to negotiators, but the obvious intention is to use this system to limit claims by public sector workers to levels obtained outside.

To operate this system, Basnett proposes to replace the TUC Committee on Local Government and Health with a single Public Services Committee to include the Civil Service.

Excluded

This would, he hopes exclude the possibility of joint action with other parts of the public sector such as the Post Office, the transport industry and the nationalised industries.

The February discussions were attended by Basnett Drain of NALGO, Fisher of NUPE, Spanswick of COHSE Thomas of CPSA and Christopher of the Inland Revenue Staff Federation.

Agreement

These six reached broad agreement and decided to approach other public sector unions.

It is clear that the bureaucracy are wasting no time in mounting a massive propaganda campaign in support of the plan.

NALGO's monthly paper Public Service, carried a headline story on the February discussions, lengthy editorial in favour and an even longer icle supporting