As if to underline everything the left has been saying about the Government's vicious anti-trade union legislation, Fords have used it to justify taking our two biggest unions to court. Just now this matter is still in the courts and the Government is using this to avoid answering certain criticisms "because the matter is sub-judice". However, it is clear for all to see that the Government's policies will inspire all big business to take a much harder line with the unions. Thus the last shred of argument that the legislation is designed to help the workers is torn away.
This incident also stresses the urgency of the need to mount a counter-offensive against the Government's policies. The lead will clearly not come from the TUC - its "opposition" consists of telling the Government: "Let us do the job for you - if you are not careful you will be faced with a revolt which we cannot control." This line won a substantial majority at the recent meeting of union executives on February 27th - it was bad that the MW switched its vote. But even the opposition to the TUC's line was not based on an offensive strategy. The best that came out of that conference was really a call to go back to the "good old days" of free collective bargaining.
The coming conference on workers control is thus most timely. As pointed out by our editor in this issue, [illegible] conference has the opportunity [illegible] strategy. This is the best answer we can give to Fords.