massacre. union, the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, has tried to direct workers' attention to foreign imports as the real root of the problems they face. Waving his 'import control' flag, he has serenely watched nearly Steel Corporation jobs go down the drain in the last three years.
against the current threats to close two of the big five plants, foreign imports. BERNARD CONNOLLY, crafts convenor at Rotherham real answer to job loss in last week's Socialist Challenge.
against Sirs' ideas in June 1980. The arguments are just as relevant today.
Why do you oppose import controls?
Those who suggest that import controls are Ally CHIS WET ID the problems faced by steelworkers are misleading the working class. attention away from the real enemy. to our brothers and sisters overscas. It takes the heat or me succi managemen and their Tory backers.
What takes our jobs is imports, but the ups and downs of the capitalist economy over which workers have no control.
In 1973, projected capacity for BSC was 36m tonnes per year. Today the plan is for 15m tonnes Yet imports have hardly risen that period! They stand at TOTES The massive loss of tonnage is a result of the recession, and not the use of imported steel.
We hardly got out of one recession, and now we result of the last one, shipbuilding was halved: car production was down by over a third; and construction was cut by a half. ¿ nese and ounce maustries needing steel are taking a nose-dive. blem is. BSC would self be This is where the declaring redundancies if not another ounce of steel was imported. are facing another jobs Bill Sirs, leader of the main steel 100,000 As steel workers once again stir into action Sirs is at it again berating BSC, explained the This week we reprint an article he wrote Even if the tonnage level was maintained in the British steel industry, and if the entire national industry used only wouldn't guarantee jobs.
The bosses are com cerned about squeezing mOIC STOLS work of each individual. We can be certain that tonnage increases would go hand in hand with changes in manning levels, producing deals, and so LOn. This involves more job losses.
Wouldn't import condustry rough our trois protect inTalking about 'our' industrv is just a contrick to make workers take responsibility for the problems of the economy. only we hear talk about WHICH are losses, not when profits Once you accept the need for 'our steel make profits, you are drawn into slimline agreements, speed-ups and rises below inflation. Fords makes a massive profit but has just announced redundancies. Profits and workers interests don't go But wouldn't it give us just a breathing get the industry sorted out?
Sorted SOUL for whom? North Sca Oil was meant to be a bonus, and it could be. But who benefits just now? The oil companies with their record profits.
The only time import by the government is if the return would shi mean way. This ALLULAS on workers.
The reason the Tories won't go for this policy just now is because Britain relies on exports so much. Volvo takes more British war might develop if the CrISIS gets WORSE It happened in the '30s. But the depression certainly didn't help any workers I SHOW Surely accepting imports accepting super-exploitation other workers abroad? British steelworkers are Would it have helped l Have helped during our strike if Ger man workers stopped STUSE grounds that we are low paid? What we needed and what we got was solidarity. This What indian South Korcan workers need in order to fight their low wages only wish it had been have visited abroad during the strike. They would have seen that the bosses in other coun tries are trying to sell the same lie to workers there the problems they face are also due to foreign For me, it is a natural progression from organising cally internationally. You can do that with a policy of import controls.
So what is the answer? Steelworkers have to start from the need to save jobs. If there isn't enough work, then it should be shared, with no loss of pay. Overtime should be abolished.
We need a decent wage without overtime, and a fight to force management to take on more workers especially young workers. Train them. Give older workers time off to study. Lower the retiring But this would bankrupt the industry.
So the government will have to give a subsidy to have right to Wi 1980s, not the '30s. have to smash through the cash limits.
But don't forget. terest DELICILS he money lenders account for over half the by BSC This was nearly [200m this year alone. The cancellation of these debts has toe can ristiy can't stop there There is a market for steel.
we don' need ess steel than we did in the 60s, let alone the '30s. Wo need more hospitals, more schools, more roads, more railways, and more cars.
things TONY BENN (Parliamentary leader of the Italian Communist Party)