erpool Trades Council is holding a delegate conference *to organise opposition to closures and unemployment Merseyside give a future to our people and youth', It has been called in the wake of massive redundancies and sures, writes MARK TURNBULL.
Only last Friday Western Ship Repairers announced that they would be sacking almose their entire work-force — 625 people. And earlier in the week 60 distribution workers in the cicy centre were also given notice of redundancy.
If the planning meetings for the conference and sponsorship list are anything to go by it will be an extremely large gatbcring. But without a clear programme of policies action, the conference will be yet another talk-shop.
The proposed closure Trumph 2 Plant Lucas are likely to dominate the discussion as tocy are par! of large national combines and involve almost half the 8,000 workers on Merseyside due to SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 April 1978 page 4 THIS WEEKEND Liv- | be made redundant in the next And it these two factories that the idea of alternative production has been linked.
The suggestion is that the Lucas Aerospace on OTOOULE pollution-free, CORIC TO fitted into a new sports car ar Triumph lefts like Eddie Loyden are championing this idea to duck clo- the issue of a strategy to fight unemployment Al Birds Eye November by cering Union members led to the immediate lay-off of the, mainly Union producoon.
Just settled the engineers' pay claim they announced 456 redunThey then said that a return to work was conditional on the acceptance of these dancies, well as and productivity plan and work re organisation in the plaot. The immodiate COULS the traditionally of AUEW and TGWU members and to close ranks and declare their THE OR LOILDE But sheer militancy good intentions were totally inadequate. So when management sacked the is with no answer.
The went to begged for their saying they would accept the 456 redundancies WURSTS terms. The Board of Directors almost fuck or ek to reply to further rub wounds, and decided to let them back But a different response has been Deaign Centre in Kirkby. The WHOIC women workers have occupied strike last the place alter skilled Engin- multinational owners, Starlux, announced its closure. Already factories Transport including the KME workers coworkers. operative (Fisher-Bendix) have management offered support.
SLUMP If this occupation and the fight against Speke and other TLLUUclosures are to then a clear given by the Trades Council conference.
divided Western Sbip made it quite announcing 625 redundancies that the attacks on johs are due and resulted in substantial losses entire 1 amounting to over E800,000 D stewards committee the temporary management subsidy.
jobs back, and otbet lace of терва сарасіту.
the Fashion threatened redundancies. the Swiss in the area, redundancies.
bodies.
Policies SuccessIu lead has to be attacks include:
Repairers no loss of pay clear wben building capitalist crisis: шетріауте! This slump in demand has considerably greater but for *Every endeavour bas been duction, made to obtain work in the severe international competition and excess ship- need.
The conference will discus: CULLED policies to completely oppose all closures and redundancies, threatening voluntary or otherwise, and closure for occupations of all plants with closure or Action committees, democratically clected, if organused in all factories and workplaces and in the communities, would lay ancies hate to det Lette, bared of pro- the profitability but on financed by the Goverument, under workers *Nationalisation of all firmis (Stop employment subsidies to firms which simply go to boost school-leavers can be hired or cheap these fraudulent schemes).
the first shot, the Conference should one-day general •strikce Merseyside, with picketting to ensure effectiveness. fighting fund to finance this and all future action is vital.
Mark Turnbull is a delegate Conference from the 10 INC 61522 branch of the TGWU.