*The Government has said it was the public that pulled down the power workers. Mrs. Thatcher said public opinion would judge sirises Well we're prepared Ec gamble on that and say 'Look at this one' As far as we'te concerned, public opinion is with ''There is an cupcutive counail meeting this week in London, We are hoping - IT possiolc London. In the north of England fine officers in officer hune atready joined Mt the Government"
Peter Rockley, executive council the Fire Brigade We'te led up with being told there is anther enquiry around the corner. We're tired of beif fobbed off. We want a decent living wage and we're standing up to be counted.
-The firemen have a saying. Ir's that every year they are issued WITE TOTEC MIS CHUDAS D shoes and a public enquiry. And we are fed up with that. wint the results of these en Don Febeon, Chairpenion of the NolA MamEDU Now we The miners: "given pride of place at last Saturday's march'. Don Nelson, Cha araononnum oU beonoot!
Brian Simister LOLICH between dif- NOTEC working Very quie the cuts in the BOYCIIC the lead the battle once again.
AUE BENES Jibe NUM.
policies. strikers.
Noltingham and District Trades 'We all have to join the hartle to eno cals Movetcaents CEHEBBHsnuly sone bcined the Freyane policies. Everyone •LETOLT What are Mr. Whitlock and Mr.
Dennett doing in support of the firemen? They are keping wery, know that it's their policy that's responsible for the strike of the FRU, and the other HECIEKIN ORL BU UTLLI boullry — che power men, the engineers, and sometime in the Tune inksi they wove way. thet the miners micht have to come in LISALTCEI elect of the Nottingham Aren of per cent.
forthomming.
SiTuggles.
The Nottiagham Trades Council gave s magnificent lead to the entire labour movement when it organised a demonstration lust weekend to unite strikers from live different local disputes In a show of solid opposition aguinst Labour's pay Pride of place was given to the firefighters because as Joc Whelan - general secretary-clect of the Nottingham aren of the National Union of Mineworkers — explained to the rally, "The firemen are fighting a battle for the whole trade union movement. If they are defeated, then the rest of the movement fighting for better wages will also be defeated. But if they are victorious, then the rest of us will win our fight against the Government's policies."
With only six days" notice, members of' a number of unions not currently involved in struggles — including teachers miners, and local government workers — joined those fighting to maintain their living standards:
*Workers at the Stenton and Staveley plants of the Brilish Steel Corporation. The 1,000 workers are striking for E15 a weck claim with inflation proofing, plus average holiday pay and a restoration of differentials — a claim involving a 24 per cent increase. The strike is unofficial and was sparked off when management locked out the worktorce in response 10 a go-slow in support of the claim.
Officials of the union involved - the General and Municipal Workers" Union calling on other plants to scab by returning to work. Peter Radcliffe, a member of the strike committee, told Socialist Challenge that workers are hoping the strike will spread to other plants this week pressure on the union to make the strike official.
*Metal mechanics at Raleighs. Low wages and a meagre 10 per cent offer from management are what the strikers are up against, Les Chapman, convenor of the Joint Shop Stewards Council and a member of the National Society of Metal Mechanics, outlined just how poor wages are for the 4,700 He told marchers lust Saturday that the lowest paid worker receives a gross wage of E39.53, the semi-akilled receives a base rate of f36.41, and skilled rates are between £42.07 and £47.57, "Add 10 per cent to nothing, like management wants us to do, and you come up with a very low wage".
*Workers from E&H Architectaral Products. Sacked within 24 hours after strike action was taken, workers are protesting the withdrawal of union recognition. Eighty per cent of the small workforce is involved — 15 people — in the fight to be reinstated with full recognition of the Furniture Timber and Allied Trades Union *Metallifacture workers striking for a claim of over 20 per cent. The two hundred workers involved in chis official dispute are members of the Amalgamated Engineering Workers" Union.
John Peck, vice president of Notingham District Trades Council, explained why the raily was called and why every labour movement body up and down the country should be planning simiat actions.
"Today's march is a march by people who are linked by the common bond of opposition to the 10 per cent guidelines. This 10 per cent is something the Government is frying to dietate to the workers of Britain.
*It was never agreed to by the trade anion movement. In fact ut the Trade Union Congress the idea of any limit on pay increases was specifically and decisively rejected. The only thing that was agreed to was the But sow the Gorernment is attempting to impose this 10 per cent limit on all workers ap and down the country, If we accept the 10 per cent it would only mean a further decline in our standard of living.
Toduy, we ull need about a £10 a week increase in pay to take us back to where we were Iwo years ago. We are told that If pay is held down thea by this time mext year inflation will be at the single figure rate. We were told that in 1975 when the Social Contract was first initisted.... These last two years have exploded a myth - that wages canse inflation. We've bad restraiet but nevertheless inflation is ronning at a rate of 17 The Nottingham tally is a step in the right direction. The TUC ha showm where it Mands — four-square behiod the Goveroment's policies. In a statement issued last Wednesday not a word wa mencioned about the attitude of the TUC to the FBU strixe. It merely expressed its "'concern" at the "seriousness" of the dispote and offered ta help "to facilitato a negotiated settlement: The Labour Party national exocutive committee hasn't even done thal. Not a single statement has been issued by this body.
The TUC shoukl be organising sation action in support of th FBU and against the 10 per cent norm. Similarly, if the FBL leadership put out the call for nacional action, support would b Workers struggling to defend their living standards can't wast for the TUC. The best guaranee for victory for the firefighters is for the working class people to take the first sep of tollowing the lead giver by Nottingham. On-goung support commlftees to plan such actions are vital. The mis-leaders of the labour movement will act only if the) can't afford to maintain their silence and thereby the sabotage oi have sabotaged the strike, - a move which will exert more Opening the rally he said -and many of us disagree with that 12-month rule betreen pas increases.