Incoves Policy - Back the I.g.w.u.l

The Economic Committco of the General Council of the T.U.C. has decided by 8 votes to 12 to recommend” that George Brown's "early warning" legislation be endorsed, True, the Canmittee also recommends that the Bill be amcrded to compel prior notification of dividerds: but this measure will not, even if it is accepted by the Government (which is unlikely) redress the undemocratic balance of the new law. 4s is made perfectly clear in the letter by Professor Fogarty in the Times of last Tuesday, which we reproduce on page 12, the Government has shown no signs of recognising that "companies concern others besides shareholders and creditors." Our often repeated call to the unions that it is imperative that no negotiations take place on the question of incomes policy until the accounts of industry are completely available to union inspection has not yet been heard by most members of the General Council, even though the TGIU has valiantly taken it up, The now company legislationn at present travelling through the House is pitifully inadequate to meet the needs of the unions in this respect, Even if the Prices and Incomes Board were to scrutinise company accounts before dividends could be sanctioned, this in itself would not protect the unions from the attrition of their powers threatened in George Brown's menacing Bill. This, by imposing a 30-day standstill on the implemerlation of wage agreements, constitutes a fierce attempt to control "wage drift" (that is, the advance, - by local negotiations, beyond nationally agreed pay rates) which is responsible for a key element in the economic strength of workers in the dominant sectors of Britain's economy. In turn, its sanctions will be directly deployed against shop stewards, without whom there can be no effective trade unions in our present set-up, The fact that these sanctions are to be held "in reserve" is small comfort. The members of the General Council are reported’ to have sought an agsuranee that they will not be held legally. responsible for actions in contravention of the new law. Whether Mr. Brown gives such a cynical pledge or not, union members most certainly will very rapidly decide to call their errant officers very firmly to account, once theimplications of the Bill are bourne upon them. Harry Nicholas is reported to have stood firm against the new Bill, He is completely right to do so, and must be supported by every socialist. Every pressure must be brought on the other union officers to bring them into line with the policy of the TGWU, At the same time, MPs must be warned that this is a line which must not be crossed. ,Those MPs who have threatened the whips they will not vote for this BilI/ Pegs Vengo Gn BRET 4s