for renewed talks was shrouded in mystery.
announced to the press or the public.
explains.
The confusion it caused diverted attention from the fact CaSE meeting O ne union side of the National Neronaung Committed decided not to approach the CoDay our clains.
That meeting took place on Ene Mondav. November. following the rejection by mass MCCLES or rores so-calice 'final offer'.
It decided that the unions were only prepared to discuss *the claim we submitted on August', as Todd put it. 'We are not going to discuss the ABC of the attendance allowsaid Reg Birch.
Within ten days, they were back negotiating. It had been prompted, it was announced, by a new and important development which could not be This enigma was to serve a most useful function for Todd and Company. JONATHAN SILBERMAN Company spokesperson Reg Wheatly made it clear that the subject of the negotiations was precisely the ABC attendance allowance. nad Then came the 'explanation' of why Todd had apparently overturned his mandate and recommenced negotiations.
ARBITRATION ACAS had been in touch win me company. nrougn une government's arbitration vice. une trade union executives were trying to intervene in the SuKC Over tHe caus or ne Negotiating Committee.
In the 1971 UHOI leaders engaged many secured a terarn to work To avoid this firmly under their control, the negonators had renewed talks The powerful shop stewards committee on Thursday On hearing this explanation. they passed a resolution giving support to the action taken by their negotiators. the ANTICS One might be forgiven for thinking that this was just the green light the negotiators were waiting for so that — because of the stewards' fear of the antics of ACAS - they might win ratification for tions on a money offer way short of the full claim. ser- she oter completely fails to mention any reduction of the working week. There is, danger of a 1971-style sell-out Ford strike, by the union leaders.
They will be looking to play on the increasing hardship happening approaches.
MASS
Dagenham 16 November.
strikers. negotiahave counted RECALL moreover, still however, recommendation answer to Todd and Co.
the on TU Conference on Abortion THE CHANCES the "Sunday to quit for good.
*top appearing next Thursday are now remote. Along with Times' and management aims to stop publication by locking-out their 4,300 employees until a quarter of them agree The unions are being asked to sign draconian agreements on the introduction of new technology which would severely weaken shopfloor organisation.
JAKE ECCLESTONE. father of the journalists' chapel on "The Times' and vice president of the NUJ, GEOFFREY SHERIDAN years. supplements, about the in the industry over many Without more liaison and trust, management will pick us off more easily. But for me to propose joint action would be a Dil impertinent wen were nol the ones primarily threatened and when the journalists have always been in a privileged position. always seen as management's soft option.
Fortunately, the NUJ chapel at The Times has never been