1977 has not been a gooc rear for the rank-and-file ir the Industry. While there have not been any really decisive defeals Inflicted by the employers, the trade union bureaucrats have been GOOGERCRACK tempts to break through the Government's pollcies of wage restraint.
Of course this has not been easy for the leadership AUEW. At British Leyland the Executive Committee had resort 1o joining hands with the management in supporting the sacking of the toolmakers in order to induce a retum to Work At Lucas It was the threat pay that had a lot to do with inducing the call off their 10 wook strike DE Nor have these wage cuts been inflicted without the suppression of trade union democracy. Despite a clear call for an immediate return to free collective bargaining at the policy making National Committee of the AUEW, Hugh Scanion neodod outside compulsion to allow the Executive Committee to TUC and vote in favour of the 12 month rule He resorted to the oldest Carronite trick in the book by refusing to let the tank and file delegation vote on the Issue.
But what about the Broad Left? The AUEW has had an organised left opposition for over ten years now but it is further away from achieving
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opposition in AUEW