revort by J.Hubbard. Tony Topham opened the mecting by outlining the pattern of wage negotiations. These fell into two groups: those ‘ concluded at Netional Level; @hose concluded at Local Level, which give rise to what is termed a» Wage Drift. This depends on the bargaining power of the workers! situation and the activities of the shop stevards in exploiting this situation. He pointed out that wage drift is an important part of total wages. It was concluded that the employers regard a package deal as a means of stopping this wage drift by removing the controls of shop stewards at local level. Package deals wome first negotiated in America, with the worker givin: up certain richts in order to obtain a shorter working week, Discussion took place eround whether or not package deals were a good thing or not. Should the unions strike a big biow at part of the package deal? Could a package deal be solved locelly or not? Should productivity be included in such a deal? Esso was the first com any to introduce a package deal here, at their Fovley works, to halt the wage drift, and to cut away the militancy of shop stewards. They concluded a package deal which included a substantial wage increase in return for more discipline on the workers, such as control on demarcation disputes and problems end the elimination of overtime, to cenerally elininete those areas where the shop stewards eat into managerial prerogatives. Part of the Fawley deal wes to do away with piece work, one area where che shop steward has a wide area of influence, end vhe worker hus a measure of independence inasmuch as he aeteonines his own level of working accordin; to his fincneial needs, in other pack:se deals anti~strike clauses are included. Nonetheless it was generally felt that because of the continued hich level of employment, shop stewerds were introducine new measures of controls, even where package deals were accepted. The seminar concluded that in any vackase deal the following snoulc be excluded: anti-strike clauses, those attempts to take control away from the shop steward, the clog ed shop type of package deal where the union can be used as an instrument to Giscivline the workers (such as has been concluded by the Municipal and General Workers! Union at Tlford). It is necessary to work for « stratery of positive gains for minimum concessions, to miic.countver=-dem nds for a shorter working week and e« slidince seale of hours, e.g. 30 hours vork for 40 hours psy. All who accept package deals shoulc be aware that the chief dangers could well lie in ch future. Shop stewards in particular should be careful in considering the implication of "buying out’ their controls for cash benefits.
Jack Jones has put forward,in Tribune, a policy of high wages for high output; Its conditions include:- 1 Elected shop stewards sitting on boards. 2 Scrutiny of the books. 3 Joint pay and production committees. 4. The right of trade unions to report backward employers to the little N.E.D.Cs. The seminar felt that there was a great danger that the shop stewards may be caught up in management. That if trade unions were to be represented they must be elected from the floor and have the right either to veto or at least to disassociate themselves from the decisions. 2 was generally egreed,with the policy of opening the books for inspection. They should not remain secret, . guarded. from the workers. On 43 it was felt that to gear pay to productivity alone means accepting the status quo in regard to the division of the national cake, This no socialist can do. There was little comment on proposal 4. It would not mean anything if the books rem@ined closed. In general we recommend that the unions ought to participate on any councils which defend workers' interests,but should not take any responsibility for management. further we recommend that any deal to increase productivity must be paralleled by increased safety measures, and negotiated agreements on the construction of new machinery and. the pace and conditioné in which it should run.