(Cont'd. ) industry, in 1969-70, Some commentators confess themselves puzzled by the Government's apparently careless time-table, which will involve the industry in two major upheavals within two or three years. But in fact, from the point of view of the rationalisers, it makes sense. First, destroy the dual control exercised under the old Dock Labour Scheme. Undermine the leadership of the portworkers' committees, by strengthening orthodox industrial relations, hoping that that leadership will limit itself to purely trade-union-type demands which can be obtained, even at the price of considerable strikes. Then, having achieved this degree of control, cancel the one remaining barrier to ruthless rationalisation by the act of nationalisation. For it may well be in the government's mind to claim that after nationalisation the guarantee of 'no redundancy' = which was the price the T&GWU required in order to accept Devlin - does not bind the new Nationaiised Authority. The dockers and their leaders should remember coal, railways, and now steel, The steel workers face a rationalisation which will reduce their numbers by a third in the next few years. It was necessary to nationalise the industry, and to attempt to get union and worker loyalty towards the nationalised authority, in order to carry out this operation. The only effective challenge to this strategy is to change the priorities, and to challenge it in terms of control. This does not conflict with demands for higher wages, security, pensions, etc, If the above argument is correct, there is no hope of ensuring satisfaction on these economic questions, unless control is swung back again towards the workers' side, If the present drift continues, redundancy payments will be made, pre-mature retirement will be peid for, and in Britain's ports, as in Britain's steel towns, colliery areas, textile centres, and so on, Wilson's PERMANENT POOL of unemployed will increase, to the detriment of workers! bargaining power, and to add to the subservience of Britain's working people. The contradictions of the Government's strategy must be challenged directly. It has endorsed a Labour Party plan to nationalise the industry, with port-level operations to be conducted by elected workers' committees. ‘The dockers should demand and prepare for the implementation of this programme NOW. Author's Note: This article was written at the weekend, before the impact or nature
of the planned strike actions at the ports could be known’ and incor-
porated in the discussion,