COnTEaLOUSIY. stewards argue there is nothing to report, so that there is no use in calling a meeting. Meanwhile. the Leyland management claim the strike has httle support and the only local paper, The Liverpool Echo has bad a field day with headlines of the Shut Up Warning to TR7 Rebels* sort.
TAUNTS The stewards have tounted by management to call a mass meeting for we will However, the stewarus printed their own leaflet, and the so-called "rebels" never appear when the workers call up cach Thursday for their lax they should appear on the picket line, highesr. faulted American Safely sion's standards. There ques tions and many more so far remain unanswered.
Only one week's production of the TR7 has taken place silice August 1977, and yet there are 400 TR7s still in the compound ar Speke. When discussed the boycotting of cars In thecompound, 100 or so were quickly pulled our to be stored been cisewhere.
Many of the stewards believe chat Leyland cannot give che have cars awas, which is why speke was chosen TOT the the adyLatage for manngement of WCIl thanks to Iny-offs.
Picket of Leyland'& Speke factory: shop stawards insist that only stewards covernment's Ex-communist Frank Chapple has been a consistent supporter of wage restraint. He supported the 1966 wage freeze Tory incones Tolowed and te litsi two phases of Labour's incomes Because of now opposition to Labour's 10 per ceit limit, Chapple was forced IO Cal tor a reluTo iD tro. collective bergaining at the last conferenoe of the EEPTU, But his approach to 'delending' his members living standards has not altered, In December his union negociated sel Jement for 30,000 olectricand apprentice: gave thetia 10 per cent Tise plus increases gained through local incentive schomies -within the goverament's pay guidelines.
"INCENTIVES' The effects of "incentive sebemes" will be the sarre as the increased productivityachieved in a poser industry in which A pay claim which would make nonsense of the *10 per cent limit on pay increases is currently being negotiated on behalf of 95,000 power workers. The main union involved is the electrician's union, whose general secretary, Frank Chapple, has been one of the staunchest supporters of incomes pelicy. RICH PALSER explains:
productivity schemes, policy which with little massive cent norm. *FRANCO ореп a wages which rank and bie mechad of operating BELLE Chappelle' nickname.
His leadership replaced by CrOcutive che union, 70,000 jobs have been last. But as with so many previous and incencive the prospect POWERS getting round the 10 per cen: limit by anocher such deal is nor reuily on. The pressure from his membership has Jett Chapple option hut threaten to challenge the 10 per Whether Chapple will turn question.
Icadership of the EEPTU is not kcown for paying sectous che views of Chapple's in his conference. union is rellected in tis Franco Chample EEPTU, which allows him 1o remain in oftioo until retire ment in 1985, began in 1961, when the ballot-rigging scandal toppled the Communist Parts from leadership in the muon Election of full time officiais stewards. clocled every 1wo years was an executive full-timers elected every fise; the machinery to appeal against olished; Communists were barred from holding office in arca contmittees were replaced with industrial conferences of purcly advisory capacity.
Although the left was unabie to reverse these attacks democracy at the Inst union tules revision conference, i has been growing in strength aver the past years. elections to the executive could end bis majority on that body. Chapple introduced new cules first rime gave hiroself - and National Secretary Charlie Lovell voting powers on the executive. Branch delegates who would have opposed these tbe mores were excluded from the points to the Stewan 3 a extensIon democracy in the union. But obly 4530789 powers — and as the Financiul The union Times remarked has shown in the past it can close watch the political activities of ils shop 3rd, That's why no reliance can be laid on the EEPTU leadership to win, the power workers' claim, A national conference of shop stewards in the industry must decide the strategy lor winning the claim, demand control over all becotations, and be empowered to accept or by management. To Jeave the strugale le the Chapple would be to invite disaster. FAMILY PLANNING CUT IN A new SOULOT CER affecting serrices for women, Enst Sussex Area Health Authority is planning to close down Eve Tamily planning clinies and diver the 28.000 people who attond them each to local GP's.
TCHE implemented, thir means chal tbousands of women will lose specialiser contaceptive advice and medical superNow local women's group and orhers including NAC, CF and IMG militants are lightin FPC Au anti closure petition bas beca supported, and successful lobbies of the Aren Health Authority Laro to be Tollowed by public
ONE OF the features of recent activities and discus- got to grips with properly SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February 1977 pae: