on theroad:
Yet the leadership of the Bakers Union seems determined to go it alone. toilet comes from Uganda, says: through the machines here. is improved.
large committee Birmingham have given BL — as Leyland is now known of answer which is needed throughout the combine, argues BL shop steward PAT HICKEY.
Both shifts at Drews Lane walked out of the factory on 3 November after management had failed to come up with a satistactory response to their pay claim. They overwhelmingly voted for indefinite strike action until BL's offer The difference between the strikers' demands and the management's reply is Drews Lane shop stewards submitted the claim drawn up by BL's combine left'. which is an increase of 30 per cent; a 35-hour week: immediate parity, and full shift guarantee.
The company replied as they have done to all BL workers — 5 per cent, if a accepted, and productivity strings. The grading structure is to be the basis for parity, which is meant to be achieved by The parity payments are to be phased in if and when productivity targets are met. Management has spoken of a 15 per cent improvement in efficiency. Given that BL's output is to remain the same, this can only mean one thing - a 15 per cent reduction in jobs.
STANDSTILL The Drews Lane strike has already led to a near standstill in BL with more than 25,000 workers already laid off.
More ominous for management, the Drews Lane strike is a direct rebuttal to those who claim BL's workers are not prepared to struggle against management's miserable offer.
Fortunately for that management, the union leadership in BL is doing its calm things GOWI The Communist Party leadership at Rover and Longorage pur resolutions to cave on BL's offer until 1 December. This was to 'allow time to But BL's boss Michael Edwardes has made it abundantly clear that there will be no negotiation as tar as he is Only Thursday, Edwardes maintained that not a penny more than 5 per cent will be offered.
But although BL's top boss has shown his intransigence, the one thing • the kind that could make him change his mind continues to be denounced by the union At the Longbridge meeting, combine convenor Derek Robinson attacked those who favour strike action as the lunatic left'. When Socialist Challenge spoke to Arthur Harper, the convenor Drews Lane, he declared his willingness to be part of the lunatic REASON Harper also revealed that the main opposition to strike action at Drews Lane came from a Communist Party shop steward. Yet there is good reason for militancy. Like other BL workers, those at Drews Lane have seen their wages decline steadily during the past four years.
From being one of the highest paid plants in Birmingham, ine strikers' wages have fallen to such an extent that they are now paid t30 less than those who do similar work at such factories as Salisbury's Transmissions.
Despite such an obvious cause for complaint, the workers at Drews Lane receive only threats from their union. The Engineering Union's East Distric Committee has instructed the strikers to go back Secretary Ken Cure has called a special meeting 'resolve differences, but such diplomatic intentions are not really Cure's style. In August he threatened to fill the striking SU toolmakers jobs with scab labour.
But if the union leadership is trying to smash the Drews Lane strike, other workers throughout Levland -art rallving to the struggle. At the Cowley plant, on a recommendation of their shop stewards, a mass meeting carried a resolution in support of Drews Lgne.
The Cowley stewards have stated that on the first day of normal working they intend to go one step futher by calling another mass meeting at which they will recommend immediate strike action in support of the full claim. It is an example that should be followed throughout BL.
Socialist Challenge 16 November 1978 Page 9