Wilson the Wage Cutter

For the first time since 1945 the average wage in manufacturing actually fell. Figures issued by the Ministry of Labour show that the average weekly earnings fell by 3s 10d to £20. 15. 6d - a fall of 0.9% We are, of course, familiar with the famous average worker who gets this £20 a week, But these figures reflect a real process which took place in a year when the cost of living by over 4% (from 114.1 mid-December, 1965, to 118.3 mid-December, 1966). This amounts to a wage cut of some 4 to 5% for millions of workers. This is a remarkable achievement, especially as it was done without any real resistance from the working class - with the exception of the heroic geamen's strike. First and foremost the right wing leaders of the unions must take credit for this state of affairs. But secondly, we must ask ourselves why it was that many sections of the working class which are not under the influence of the right wing leaders did not fight back either. The answer to this question is both revealing and sad: it is because the traditional left leaders of the unions did not, by and large, inspire a fight either. To blame the apathy of the workers is at variance with the facts. Where leaders have made a call there has been a response: witness the seamen's strike and other actions called for by the TGW. What is more, in many cases victories, or at least partial victories, have been won once a militant stance has been taken, There is no doubt that as the affects of this actual wage cut 2re increasingly felt that resentment and discontent will grow. The worker who is told by his employer and union leader that he must be patient and make sacrifices will find it hard to put this to his wife, as she feels the strain. Thus the potentiality for a struggle will definitely grow. We must in this situation resist two temptations: one to reject fighting through the unions altogether; and two to place excessive reliance on the union leaders initiating a struggle. To think that either spontaneously arising rank and file committees or left wing union leaders will do the job of leading the fight against this Government is to have big illusions, We must demand of the union leaders that they must fight, we mst be very firm, but patient, with those on the left who feel isolated when they make a call for a fight, and we support every single aspect of struggle. The key factor must be seen that of stimulating a response through the unions themselves. And it is interesting that those who are most active in the shop stewards committee and on the shop floor recognise the importance of working in this way. It was Bill Jones and Clive Jenkins that the London Shop Stewards Defence Committee asked to sponsor their conference, On February 2lst there is to be a union lobby of Parliament. Between now and then .The Week will do all it can to build support for this lobby. This campaign with the right orientation could help to break the impasse,