Solihull threat to sack the strikers.
Encouraged by the statement that the "T&G was here before BL', that the unIon would not be blackmailed, and inal cawardes would make no concessions, many workers WCIC convinced that Evans wouldcall anall hours this But within LOS militancy was exposed as empty boasting. Evans collapsed like a pricked balloon. Money The agreed statement that emerged from the talks with the company means acceptance of the five per cent pay rise and 92-page document which at e imposes new working conditions in return for the restoration of participation and the introduction of a 10-day period or consulaton verore majo changes are introduced.
The clauses in the document which provoked the strike are There will be mutuality on staffing levels or mobility of labour. Trade union control of job allocation and oyertime disappears. Relaxation allowances will be cut.
The ten day period of consultation is nothing more than 10 days notice of intent; and of course the five per cent pay 'increase' remains, because as the TGWU statement puts it:
"We were unable to extract more money from the company because it was a fact that there was none'.
The union/managementagreed statement refers to PAT HICKEY • Senior Steward SDI, Rover WITH more than 18,000 British Leyland workers on strike and the numbers growing daily, Transport union leader Moss Evans went to meet BL, declaring that the full weight of the union would be used if Edwardes went ahead with his '"prior consultation' and 'maxusing arcas But the reality is that Edwardes has made no concessions. The re-establishment of participation expresses BL's confidence that TOOT has been undermined giving national union officials greater control, The bureaucrats and their cronies, like the CP's Morning. Star, hail this as a great victory on the grounds that the company has withdrawn its sacking threat subject to the tion of normal work.
There was never any question of sacking in the event of normal working - that is in the event of complete surrender. Lead The sell-out by Moss Evans is even more pathetic in view of the situation which when Evans ment with management. It wa likely that Cowley would have joined the strike and that even Longbridge, where the works committee was But Evans dispirited and demoralised the most militant plant, Solihull, which had given a lead last week.
Now BL workers will have to pick up the pieces from Moss Evans' cowardice and betrayal. The company will push ahead in re-organising working conditions and attacking militants. For BL workers, it's a fight for survival.
agiccuncil .
opensalol much resumpexisted made his agreeholding back, sabotage Rover on er sell - out'