from J. Bedford The following letter was sent to the Prime Minister on 25th September: "At a recent meeting of the Ford Chassis, KD & Hot-Metal Shop Stewards Committee I was instructed to write informing you that the following resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority: - tThat this Shop-Stewards Committee condemns most strongly the disparaging and harmful remarks of the Prime Minister, and other members of his Government, especially the Minister of” Labour, Mr, Ray unter, about Shop Stewards of this country which have been given wide publicity in the national press in recent months.s ; tWe sadly deplore the fact that a Government that we helped to.. .eget elected, and of whom we expected so much, should stoop to laying the blame for our economic troubles at the doorstep of the workers and their trade unions, and especially the scapegoat of all, the shop steward, Ne believe that the Government would do better to emphasise to Bfectorate the inefficiencies of managements and the fact that low wages encourage those inefficiencies. That under= production is the fault of these inefficient managers and not the fault of the unions and shop stewards for repeatedly lodging claims for wage increases,' I am asked to stress that these attacks on the unions and shop stewards can only do harm in the long run to the Labour Government. That to pander to what appears to be popular at the moment - “knocking the trade unions and shop floor representatives" - is a dangerous way to be seeking popularity at the pollse
last to deny that our trade union movement needs reforming and bes ate et times to justified criticism, but let us reform ourselves and amend our ways ourselves3 don't threaten legislation. Let us see more legislation to curb the real threats to our economy and country, the one= sided distribution of wealth, the land racket, dividends, price increases, stock exchange gambles, rent rackets and such likes these are the things that need tackling. These people will never reform themselves, we have earerce Yours most sincerely,
J. Bedford (Secretary)