Scope satire by tue Slefficld Study Group.
oA LOL ,Rhon Ort a
THe poss is site ted net Duebeatomenioveors ‘control into a notionaliscd stddl ” dndustre Jane dcutepataed by ba cxwobor J ioe specific factors - somo spceific GO UN etocl industry, others spocifie to-any neobiagglised~indusyry operating within ates GCONOMF.e torn i [4 oe
ThE fletotsispecifielte the stcelcindustry arot=
1. that the industry requircs carl, rational isttion,
involving the closing down of many cxXistrag plents aad
Acyoloprcits ef a°fow giant eomploxcs; 7
2. thet the industry is’Papidiycapnrcaching. a stage of
ayutomaticn- where co@tpuc- can bo! cxnan@cd with coimuch
rcduecd la sur foréo - ot léast of iptocess | workors and
Lebourcre’s
Se thet sere inhortent- ports: of the industryiscerm hakcay . to be cxeludcd from nationalisaticn but will nencthedcss
retpirse co-ordination withthe natisnaliscd’ scetors, in:
nattcrs or inyustmcent, pricing end'weges polleiés,
The: factors spegific, to: notiowaliscd.inudustrics, ino, mixc? economy arer-
1. thet such nationcliscd industricos are used ‘br rovern-
mounts for crits pursuit of COMETH}. eoonornic poli LC LES, Cee
price ote sllise ‘tion, inepneer policy, ibkvcestrent Hes g
peontrol.; ctes 5; which may run counter tq. the immedic
aircet tee ee ofthe. workers, in the industry iteoits
2a, thet.,such,natlionaliscd indussrics, arc subjict, therefore,
te powerful contral control through co hicrarchiceal |
Rather sthen dolcgate strueturc, of. cchmand end ultinatcly
subj cet) tc minigtoriel, decisions
3. thet-such nationalis cd industrics orc of the send vime
operating within on-cconemy where the pricc of capital
and thu priccs pf labeur ond, materials romain lerecly
dcternined by merkot fonccs; |
4, that in such netioncliséd indus strics Tredcs Unions, are
lixcly to be caught between their dcsirc to defend
nationalisation én igcncorab iprincinlo ind the idesire
to impreve thcir own imnediste ‘Iivine stondearas.
Ia the light of these factors, it might oasily be argucd that Tredc :-Uniows in notionclised industrics should avoid perticipzuion of any sort -in.management at any lévcl, soc ce Loavc thonscives cnbireLy, free tq can¢entrate on defensive action to ‘rrotect ‘inacdicte intercsts--;in wagcs and cmplornc of tleir-members. Severoi--of -the factors mentioncd. Above, however, stron¢gliy..misitatc egeinst even offcetive ea se c.ction Issclf-by Trades;Unions, 412 - thoy.dimit shepaslves.to purcehy scesicnai coongniac ackiyvity: =;
a
(a ) Increcsing outométioatisilikel; to reducc scverei: the b recinine power Of process workers one Of crereseon 665, ae oh" point oF yin MEAG pesok
| fom il i
Workers Control in a Netionelised Steel Industry continucd/ (b) Government-decistons-cupported by -Porlionent, ose. _'on retionuspisation, investment, income and pricing policies, cannot easily be influenced by sectional Trade Union action, nor con any decisions ‘involving redundancy iand retraining,which requires action outside jthe steel ndustry ebeeks | for their solution; (c) fihi1é the economic tower of trede unions nay have b6 be concentrated centrally in order to parallel centralisation of control in the vindustry, isuch power will be.useless unless it is based upon economic information on costings combines with local‘ Knowledge of conditions at plant Level. : From what has been seid se far, it is evident that the Trade Unions inthe stcéel industry must retain, under, nationalisetion their present dctiensive role of collective bargcining on behalfcofitheircnenbersoate= plant and national level. they will heave indeed to extend this role by cnsuring thet negobictions on wages and conditions! of cll werkers ine luding white coller stoff. becmeder only through the eopropricte-bona fide trede unions. It isino-less.evident that vhe Trade Unions will also heave to extend their: knowledge and influence both ct central ¢nd. ioacel plant level to enbroace the. advanced ,picnping Dr nenagensnt of the industry, so’as’ to overcome the incrensing weakness! in taking defensive cction only cfter eaten has made its dccisions without consultations * Those who argue, o.6 WeAClege did in''L New Approach to Industrizl Democracy", thet collective bhargaining itsclf is the condition of industriel @omocrecy, berause it dmplices opposition ad opposition is the essence of denocraecy, forget’ that the ssence of oppcesition is, that it is a -potenticy -governnent, not permanent opposition. if trade unions arc ‘not to Linit thenelves to permcnent opposition, ther they nust’ begin to prepare henselves to take part in government. So Long -f.s ‘they ethin zB aken tl r freedom of oction, to defend their niombers" interests ond the. last résort to pull out from c fremework of ‘ection in e “STI the cords arc stacked ‘ceeinst ene then there hight seen to be, no rerson why thoy sould not-elso Actuckl¥ begin to take part in govermicnt . ,
ct a fs C2. . 9