Photo: PETE GRANT (Socialist Challenge) TRAIN drivers in the Southern on strike on after one of their colleagues had been sent for refusing work new rosters. British Rail has tried troduce the new rosters after cutbacks in trains on the Southern Region.
This action crucial time for BR. As a result of the steel closures and general BR's freight business has been crippled. 1980 budget, drawn up by BR planIners in 1979, estimated that BR would carry over 26m tonnes of iron and steel. In fact only tonnes were carried and 198's expected trattic 1s Region were only 19m tonnes. 5 January dusties, is to money from the to covernment ciencv of the industrv to in- ing to porce ine unions productivity deals that will result in massive job losses and a deteriora at hook line and o convince the government of th the need for a big cash injection into recession freight workers not to take action that wil unsel ine covernment now called in 1980, Thạt The reaction ol bk's board [aliWOrKCIS stry. They aretry- ine el Demands lo accen floodins quarters ASLEF has 1 sinker for the B sinker and stee They have joined ASLEF leader Ray Buckton has OII une Inreatened action against rail cuts planned for next month in favour of a joint ap industry to the Tories with the BR Southern drivers' important Although suspended it forced the ASLEF ex. regular ecutive to threaten national strike action unless the government came for London headcalled a mass meeting for the Southern Region drivers for 17 January, and it promises to be a Talk • Ul ine nole amance or miners. la cent -worker snow. pressure the unions are under to BR A major stumbling block to any 1112 Trusting action is the lack of any organised this weakness there is going to bete this weakness there is going to neal. as rallway and falling Passengers reading inis snourc contemplate the likelihood. if the destruction war i heal need centuckl train mignt not run nex time, or if it does . it might pile up in a heap of twisted metal because the essential track maintenance hasn' The Railways, Lt Col lan McNaughton HITS published blamed limits forcing curtailment of track maintenance as the cause of 85 per of is make derailk yes make break year for If no • then BR will end up like the steam engine. Ian) scrap yards — a smashed hulk.