THE gramme modernisation proTelecoms (Post Office Telecommunications) will mean substantial loss of jobs over the next ten years unless the POEU fights for a progressive reduction in hours.
That was the argument behind THE bi-annual delegate conference of the building union UCATT took place last week in the wake of one of the worst sell-outs on wages in the union's short and inglorious history.
This deal gave labourers and tradespeople e to incread 22e per hour • LIDS increase rates to only £1.47 and £1.78 per hour.
This settlement was massive shor original claim - and that must be some sort of record.
The rise won't be paid until 10 July - 13 weeks after the dea was signed no hack-dating. On too of this get insurance stamps in holiday periods building workers will have to work four days a week instead of the previous three.
Some advance was made in the reductior of the working week. but the one-hour cut wil operate until November 1981: small comfort to the 200,000 ouraing workers on the dole.
attending the conterence some sort of revolt. The mood thi hundred delegates, representing 230,000 members, however, resigned and apathetic. The visitors were ficers from private companies, present at the invitation of the union exccutlvt There were some bright moments. Dave Ayars from the Worker group sul cessfully proposed a calling for union control ove the supply of labour Jinny Dunsconde, secretary of Hammersmith UCATT, made an excellent speech calling on UCATT to set up and encourage the entry of women into the construction industry Jerry runt, . convenor of l W Cliffords workers, who have been on strike for 15 weeks, spoke or Ine need. for union solidarity in the fight against unemployment.
the conference Otherwise was abysmal. Two anti-lump resolutions were passed on the but ther cactive member jumped up and attacked the resolutions saying it was somennes • necessary to recruit