MOLES EYE VIEW Let's Mole america G DOrS THE TUC last Friday held a national conference on working hours. ference was a proposal by Len Murray that unions should accept lower pay rises in exchange for shorter increases with shorter hours'.
Opposition to Murpolicy was led leader Arthur Scargill who argued: 'I do believe in the argument we should refrain from pressing for wage increases tor a cut in the working week'. Scargill called for a general ban on overtime to take 2 million people off the dole.
The Financial Times described Murray's comas 'typically realistic', greeted them with obvious pleasure. But only what's good for British capitalism pleases the Financial times There is no question that a crucial way to attack unemployment is cut working hours. But the key remains: at whose expense? At a time when inflation is beginning to heat up again wages will come under pressure, Murray's position basically that workers shouldn't pay the whole cost of a shorter week they should just pay most of it.
According to Murray getting millions off dole should be paid for out of the wages of employed workers, not the profits of capital.
Len Murray's attitude is in strong contrast to that of leaders of the German movement.
Ernst Breit, Secretary West German DGB union federation, has called for 35-hour week without loss pay reduce Germany's 2.5 million unemployed. Breit HENRY RO SHIPYARO RIVER FORTH Pickets outside the Robbs occupation The centre piece of the conworkers also called .for strong "social control' of the inof didn't create massive unemployment. This theme in Scargill's speech in which for technology to be used to cut down the working week, not to create more unemployment.
Len Murray's proposed policy for the unions is suicidal. 1 ract should enthusiastically embrace the demand for shorter working hours to unemployed. help division and disaster. Murray's policy for THE FIGHT to chairperson.
An occupation committee has been set up and special Ministry petence research submarine, when was in the yard for a refit, has been impounded.
Mr Day, • hatchetperson, claims that he was forced i close the yard because it has run out of orders. But it has been recently revealed that Robb's had a good chance of securing orders from the Suez Canal Authority, the Libyan RASCO Company and Cal-Mac.
Indeed the Libyan ambassador and the lllalids ing director of the Scottish Group who • own the Cal-Mac Ferry Company have issued statements expressing faith in Henry Robb Clearly the closure is particularly as save Robb's shipyard goes on.
Despite pressure from management, a substantial section of the workforce is resisting closure plans announced by Graham Day the British Shipbuilders' profitable section of the industry ana close dowi the smaller yards, in accordance with Mrs Thatcher's instructions.
While I have raised this matter in parliament, there Is no doubt that Robb's struggle as well as others can only be won by using the strength of the working class. The men on the other hand, feel betraye by the trade union leadership, who acaulesced the closure as part of an infamous productivity deal.
Unity Activists must rally round at this critical period. Obviously movement port during the next few days. Unity stil strength.
Shipyard workers
particular must put up. united front against the Tories. Otherwise they will continue to be picked off one by one, and destroyed Mr Graham Day has a hit list of yards which he wants to shut down. He is. after all the Beeching for the shipbuilding industry. And his medicine will I only create further probicins for th working class.
No yard however big i immune, as we have seer the crisis affectin! Scott Lithgow. This is wh the Robb men must not b forgotten.
• Send messages of sup port plus any donations t John Keggie, chairperso of the occupation commit tee, Henry Robb Lta Leith Edinburgh Scotland.
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hours. Murray rejected a direct pay cut to get shorter hours but stated: "There is a trade off here. It is a trade off between incomes and jobs choosing between pay increases alone or smaller pay