There can be no doubt that the decision of the AUEW National Committee not to take action in support of the national pay claim until after the end of the three-day week, which means after the end of the miners' struggle, is a setback for the entire working class, If the engincers had added their weight to the struggles already being conducted by the miners and railwaymen, there is a good chance that the back of the Tory offensive could have been broken, along with the Government itself. Instead the Tories have been arded in their attempt to isolate the miners and take on the different sections of the working class separately, It is important that militants learn the lessons of this setback, and at once begin a struggle to reverse it.
Scanion was elected to the Presency of che AEU as a "left" who, in contrast with his witch-hunting predecessor Carron, would allow Che rank-and-file to pet on with the strugale. But Scanion has never taken a clear national lead in any dispule except in those cases when, as at Ford's be stepped in on the side of the matiagoment. A classic example of Scanton's tactics wus in the 1972 pay claim when, instead of 4 natimal stoppage, it was lell to the individual areas lo taku action, The result was inevitable. Faced with a co-ordinated nelsomal policy by the engineering employers those individual groups of workers who did go into strugelo, tor example in Manchester were severely defeated.
Militants in the ALEW should make use of Scunion's willineness to let the tank-and-file take local initiatives, Certamly they should avoid oquating Scanion with Boyd or The right in the AUEW. But they shoold understand, and campaten apainst, Scanion's refusal to lead national struggles at a time when the situation demands such action.
This is the policy which the International Marxat Group has alwas advocated in rclation to Scanion. It means voting for the supporlen of Scanion against the right, and using the decisons of tbe Exceutive to intrate local action - for example at the time of the NIRC fines on the Union. But it ilso means contin ually demanding that the Executive ibself give a dear lead on such questions as action aguine the NIRC fines, and for a national strike. A tevolutionary policy muse start from the needs of the struggle, over if it runs into conflict with the union tell'. The Communist Parte's attitude to Scanton has been quite different. Hiding behind the fact that Scanton is not the same as the rignt. the CP have covered up for the Talse policies el Scanion on natonal actions. This has boon the needs of the strupale.
Througiout the autumn the CP. in the Moening Star and in public mectings up and down the country, called for a wages offensive. They peterally think of the CP as a lighting orgin isation alau support such an offensive. However have resisted the nreasures noeded.to cany Red Weekly 11 January 1974 Page 10 through such a fight ugainst Phase 3. The CP was caught belween the caormous pressure Tor an offensive, on the one hand, and, on the other, the fact that, for the purposes of the "anti-monopoly alliance', they had to build up Scanion as someone who would lead a fight against the Tories. This attempt to square tho circule explatos the vacillation of the CP line.
Fist of all they were for withdruwal from the TUC talks with the Government. Hut wien Scanion announced that he was in favour of participating in the talks, the CP. at the AUFW National Committer during the summer, was prepared to wilhdraw a resol ation against participation, It was only when other militanis refused to support then that they relurned to their original pobes, which was then passed by the National Committee. This decision was circuimonted hy flie holding of the talks through the National Econome Developnsent Council, since Scanion is on the TUC delegation to the NEDC talks. But the CP has made no ral uniticismt of his narlicination in Thes talks with the Gotemment:
Scanion has made clear his opposition to a national strike fot the Engincers pay claims although, as many militants know, only a incuding a national stoppage. basis of the miners settlement. Hugh Scanion (right and Jim Conway immediately after lost Thursday's meetirg... Hiding behind the fact that Scanion is not of the right, the CP has covered up his false policies on national actions the AUEW National Conmittee to give a positive lead on industrial action up lo and Finally, at the ALEW National Commiltee last week, the CP. Jeft with no policy at all, put down a resolution for a national overtime ban. Hardly surprisingy, this was defeated Tastend it was decided to hold an overtime ban only after the three-day week, and therefore the miners' struggle, had ended This decision does nothing to aid the miners, and will strengthen the will of the Tories to fight the NUM, because they realise they will base to face a struggle with the engineers on the The CP aHempted to conceal the total failure of thesr policy in a huge Morning Star headline on 4 January: Engineers Decide Action on Pay' What a comment on a decision to do tulhing until after the outcome of the miners struggle. The justification individual CP militants pive for this is that che overtime han will bile as industry attempis to recover from the threc-day week, and it is therefore a very powerful weapon This is stupid septoralist nonsense. If the Goverment defcats the miners the demor alsation will be such that an overtime ban will mean nothing in face it is doubtfal whether it would even be implemented. The only way in which the engineers can he sure of victory as lo make sure that the migors win, this can still he achieved by a united nat sonal strike of both unions, But the CP has consistently opposed this police in its attempis to tantan an alliance with Scenion and the other lefts. Nevertheless it is taus policy for which militants in the ALEW will have to fight in the coming weeks.
John-Marshal
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What a comment on a decision to do nothing until after
can be sure of victory is to make sure the miners win'
*A huge headline in the Morning Star said "Engineers Decide Action on Pay" the outcome of the miners' struggle!'