Woodford Hawker Siddeley Shop Stewards’ Statement
FURTHER vacillation of armament strategy cast a shadow of apprehension over thousands of Aircraft Workers and their families, here at Woodford and throughout the country, when word leaked that the HS681 and the TSR2 military commitments are under review. The employers clearly recognised the va'ue of the influence of mass action by workers in the industry, to affe-t a change of heart on the Labour Government, The active encouragement proffered by managements to ensure that some form of demonstration coincided with our lobby, resulted in what was described as the most impressive ever staged by Aircraft Workers. It is a matter of conjecture as to the nature of the representations made that day, at least those on our behalf. However, the sympathetic and full coverage afforded by the Press and TV to the activities on this occasion, ensured the vital amplification so sadly missed on previous crusades against redundancy. In short, so ardent was the response of all parties interested to some extent, that official delegates from the Tory Party could not have seemed more conspicuous had they taken the liberty of participating physically. We must not allow ourselves to be marshalled into the vanguard of an undignified fracas to pick the bones of fellow taxpayers but come out strongly with an alternative policy which will put an end to the economic cannibalism which is exterminating the industry and crippling the nation as a whole. Foreign Aircraft Workers in this Industry must categorically reject any suggestion of the purchase of Foreign Aircraft, either on a Do It Yourself or Cash’n Carry basis, The outdated policies which suggest such unpalatable imports must be revised.
Alternative Work—No Redundancy— National Prosperity The now familiar cycle of Compensated Employer and Redundant Worker must be terminated by the pending review. The most commercially practical alternative is civilian aircraft. A selection of the many attractive projects now under development or production must be sponsored by the Government, for export at terms which make purchase a certainty, rather than a miracle as under the present selling arrangements. Apart from providing work of a nature helpful to the national economy, these measures can be financed at no additional cost to the taxpayer, by the saving of hundreds of millions earmarked for the orginal projects. £325,000,000 for last year alone, represented the taxpayers’ contribution to the aircraft industry's turnover. With the Concord we have established an undoubted lead, which can only be of value commercially, when reflected on the production lines. Despite the fact that comparably scant attention is at present devoted to the trading aspect, £135,000,000 was earned, by last year’s exports from the Industry, what vast potential remains untapped? Common Ownership of an Integrated Industry In an Industry with such expensive outlay and dependence upon public money, it is not in the best interests of the nation, for the available talent and resources to be engaged in competition for private gain. Wasteful duplication of research, development and production techniques must be replaced by co-operation under central control. The present short period of Labour Government has surely provided ample confirmation that big business of any description will not show even restraint, let alone co-operation, and must be recated to serving the National. Only Common Ownership, lubricated by the fullest consultation facilities, will enable these essential measures to be implemented, these worthy ends to be achieved. Unrestricted Markets It will be necessary to reject an outdated and politically sponsored economic prescription, insisted upon by a Nation, which significantly is virtually self-sufficient.
No further orders must be lost,
because the customer is regarded
with suspicion on a philosophical
plane.
A basis for these changes has been
created by ‘the return of a Labour
Government. Our influence, properly
organised and united can be decisive
and must be utilised to offer encour-
agement and promote a_ bold
Socialist outlook, to solve immedi-
ate difficulties and provide for the
future. The Tories have fallen, the
time is ripe for change.
Steel veteran
is fed up
S iam letter appeared in the Janu-
ary issue of Man and Metal, the
journal of Iron and Steel Trades
Confederation:
Dear Sir and Brother. — I have
firmly made up my mind to cancel
Man and Metal. The reasons for
doing so are: That I am entirely dis-
satisfied with the tremendous rise in
Government and M.P.’s salaries, at
the same time attempting to stabilise
the rest of the workers. This is, to my
thinking, absolutely impossible. The
Government hasn’t a leg to stand on.
I have just read that the Electrical
Trades Union flatly rejected the three
years’ agreement on hours and wages
offered. Can you wonder? It won’t
stand thinking about. Ye Gods, it
doth amaze me, and all other old
stalwarts.
I have been a trade unionst all
my life and I think that the country
should be governed for the benefit of
the whole of the people and not for
the rich few. “We are many, they are
few,” as Shelley says. So no more of
that.
F. LANGFORD
The editor of the journal com- ~
mented:— We hope that Bro. Lang-
ford — a greatly valued reader who
joined the British Steel Smelters’
Association in 1898 and became a
superannuated member in 1938—has
not made up his mind about cancel-
ling Man and Metal so firmly that
he is unable to change it. If it will
help, we can categorically deny all
responsibility for increasing M.P.’s
salaries.
We trust, therefore, that Bro.
Langford will continue reading Man
and Metal and that, when he feels in
the mood, he will write to us again.
oe
THE WEEK — Feb. 10, 1965