The conference endorsed a 'declaration' prepared by the organising committee, which stated that: *only mounting rank and file action can influence the trade union movement to use its full strength to bring about a fundamental change of [Government] policy based on expansion of the economy — the only way to cut unemployment. Only action can restore the eroded real wage by ending the Social Contract, ensure a return to free collective bargaining, and reverse the Government cuts in spending * A day of national stoppages and demonstrations on the day after Parliament reassembles after * Solidarity and support for workers in whatever action they take for the right to work, wage on the social services'.
the Easter recess. called by the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions.
This mounting rank and file action was spelled out as:
* Maximum support for the 3 April Leyland Stewards conference on wages. * All out support for action against cuts by public sector workers.
demands, a shorter working week and equal pay. * Local committees to conduct an ongoing campaign on all these issues. * The TUC to declare that the Social Contract must not be renewed or extended. * No hastily reconvened TUC before unions have met to decide their own policy.
Below we take a look at some of the lessons and implications of the conference. tract up to now'.
Dixon, plattorm at the few weeks ago. calling tol traint, after class peace. Let's not go into the reasons why the movement didn't respond to the imposition of the Social ConThese were the words of Les summing up national Broad Left meeting of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers a Instead, let's pretend that everything is as it was, and go on as we did before. That is how the Broad Left leadership approach the problem of building an organised left wing in the union to mount & rigau against the Social Contract. And that is why they chose Bob Wrigh neither as their candidate in the AUEW this autumn. Bob Wright is again an ere to ware •ICS will -two years of doing nothing to fight the wage cuts of Phases 1 and 2. The Broad Left leadership is again asking AUEW members to rely on these lefts'. In the Broad Left Engineering Bul letin, the 'voice of progressives in all sections of the AUEW, , they put forward policies to gain unity with these left leaders' - but thes are policies which offer no real alternative to the Social Contract.
They call for the implementation of Labour's election manifesto a document which embodied the Social Contract and its policies o They call for import controls and an expansion of investment in British industry - but nowhere set out a programme around which to fight for workers control over the And they call for a return to free collective bargaining OLE nowhere outline policies around which a struggle can b launched to regain the wage cuts of wages against inflation.
Nor has the Broad Left leadership proposed to take any action. wrignt is quite preparea to sup port a pressure campaign to influence negotiations over Phase 3. bu when it comes to organising a fight back against Phase 2 he makes no challenge to Scanlon's justification British Leyland toolmakers' strike - that a bargain made is a bargain kept' Wright's candidature offers policies nor action around which to fight the Social Contract. What is needed in the AUEW is a candidate who - a candidate who can contribute to the building of a class struggle opposition in the union which will mount an effective fight against the right wing. If the Broad Left is to make a contribution to building such an organised left wing it must cease relying on 'left' leaders like Wright, and instead be prepared to organise independently so as to force these 'lefts" into united action.
An immediate step in this direction would be for the Broad Left to commit itself to building the lobby of the National Committee demanding the submission of a national wage claim.
It is for these reasons that Red Weekly beneves tnat it is necessar argue within the left in the AGaw or an ate maave candi date, a candidate who can take forward the fight to build a class struggle opposition.