General Workers the engineering industry.
'Delegates to. our conference felt 10211 UHC employers are asking too price for reduced hours commented Fred Howell, T&G national secretary for power "This would not improve employment prospects and our delegates are suspicious of the motives behind the new procedure proposals.
The T&G decision comes shortly after move by Teleclo GMB and TASS On 6 October the EETPU will hold its national delegate conference to consider the proposed deal. Three regional EETPU meetings have been held in the run-up to the national Each has jected the proposed deal. -WiL full-time officials arguing for rejection.
This leaves the AEU leadership isolated in its support for further IKKS with the engineering employers around the package. The AEU is the major union in the industry and has a onedelegate majority on the executive of the • Confedera tion of Shipbuilding Engineering Unions has voted unanimously against the proposed deal covering work practices for (CSEU) which negotiated the deal with the employers federation (EEF)
Bill Jordan, AEU president, won support for fur ther talks at the union's key policy-making Hallullal committee by a majority of 69 votes to 49. Strong reservations were expressed at the meeling malaung those who favoured further talks aimed at reaching an agreement.
The successful resolution argued LOCL the reconvened talks, the AEU should 'press TOI the removal of contentious clauses and the overall improvement of the enabling conditions'. Ballot After negotiations, the resolution provides for a postal ballot of CSEU members in which two questions will be pul one on the ratification of the agreement, the other asking prepared to take industrial action for the 35-hour week in the event of the deal being rejected.
Following the nationa Bill Jordar pressed his hopes that tre talks employers would remove a clause from the draft agree.
ment which allows white- collar and supervisory stati of skilled to do the 100s shop-floor workers on new technology machinery.
Jordan hopes that in the absence of any serious camaround the 35-hour paign week by the union leaderships, the removal of his clause combined with the threat of industrial action would result members reluctantly acp.
But the objections to the draft agreement go way beyond the •question shop floor/staff tion.
rangement workers themselves and stringent measures for allowing total utilisation of Plai management's behest. The machinery facility in the package of 'seasonable working' could result in weekend working at normal rates.
Under the catch-all phrase of management's right to manage, the deal would eliminate mutuality arrangements a wide range of areas traditionally bargaining.
Under current procedures, 'status quo throughout such negotiations.
The deal also provides ex- the possibility for management withdrawing recognition from certain federated unions — thereby fitting inproposals currently under TUC renew UST OUR Manchester engineering workers and supporters marching in solidarity with Senior Colman strikers.
. was started when management sought to unilaterally impose new working practices and single union deals Even that section of th agreement which engineering workers stand to improve their conditions the reduction working week of 1½ hours , over three years - is collultional on no added costs. 10] The nine month old strike agreed.
Employers given right to determine how the alc reduction should be worked out, reproducing absurd arrangements reached in number of firms 1979 when the move to a 39-hour ' week was sometimes conIz minutes pe isacked four workers who, in line with union policy, refused to implement inem management tactics will become increasingly Similar commonplace if the new flexibility deal is the day!
Deep felt opposition to the deal resulted 250-strong lobby of the national committee meeting in Eastbourne. A major lobby is planned for the CSEU executive meeting in London on 5 November. wants to see bargaining being tied more closely to the 'business needs of the different sectors of the industry.
The proposals are understood to be related to the move to chances in working practices under consideration by BRB. This includes the new train crews concept which blurs previous demarcation and increases job 'flexibility It is also related to plans for departments to be individually profitable and to possible future privatisation plans.
One of the sectors -freight - • has recistera an operating profit of 925m this vear and forecasts profits of £53m in 1989-90.
Another, the engineering sector, orders worth f56m three days after announcing 3000 redundancies.
Longbridge : UNION leaders at Austin Rover's : Longbridge plant have threatened strike action from Monday. 12 October if a sacked shop steward is not : reinstated.
Two workers were sackea lor le sallic alleged time-keeping : misconduct. One na been reinstated but the i company has so far refused to reinstate the steward
O R AN
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A NATIONAL delegate conference representing 300,000 engineering members of the Transport and
ting the proposed deal. Flexibility
AMALUAMAIED UNIO ENCINEERING WORKERS MANCHESTER AND DISTE