All this messing about by the AUEW executive is in complete contrast to what the response to the NIRC fine has shown is possible, Here mass inge were held to discus the question and decide General strike factory meetings and local shop stewards' meeton action. The result was overwbelming. Meeting after meeting decided to come outin many cases unanimously, In Birmingham 400 shop stewards, representing 40,000 men voted to strike. In Glasgow close to 800 stewards (the largest turnout for a stewards' meeting in more than 10 years) voted overwhelmingly for unlimited strike action in the event of any further attacks by the NIRC. In Manchester 800 shop stewards, representing 250,000 workers, voted to strike on the 5thwith oniy 15 against.
It was this type of mobilisation which has given the strikes agrinst the NIRC tremendous backing. A similar mobilisation-and more - is gumg to be necessary to win the engineers' claim. The real question which everyone is asking is whether it is possible to win, Both the engineering and minem claims, if met in full, would punch a massive hole through the Tories" Phase 3. This would, at least temporarily, keep the workers ahead of inflation, send the Tories reelng, and quite possibly start a process that would force them from office. But isn't the into the employers and Tories sausage machine one by one the ruling class has a chance of sucose. If they go in united the working class 15 poung to win.
Undoubtedly the best way to launch a centralised atlack on the ruling class and its policies at present would be for the TUC to call a General Strike and have done with the Tories once and for all. Precisely such a demand must go up from the working class movement. But, even the present leadersbip of the TUC, such a strike isn't likely to be called by them. People who are still prepared to sit around a table with Heath while he works on his plans to attack the working class are hardly likely to organise a mass general strike to force the Tories from office.
But if the TUC is not prepared to act, it is still possible to forge links at other levels for united struggle. This occured in practice during the last miners' strike most nolably at the Saltley Coke Depot where, after police harasment of miners pickets, 40,000 cngineers struck and organised a mass, united demonstration 10.000 strong whuch closed down this vital depot. This wis we Baal swaw los tae sories -toey were brought to their knees and forced to give in to the miners' demands. and articles: a concerted drive to build such unity must be launched immediately. Two steps Alan Jones