Industry Unmoved by Union Proposals : E100m. Pay Claim
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LITTLE interest has been aroused in the industry by the resolution passed at the annual conference of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, last week, calling for the nationalization of the Associated Commercial Vehicles group and the establishment of a development council for the remainder of the motor industry. Neither A.C.V. Sales, Ltd., nor the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders had any comment to make.
The proposals for State control were contained in the Confederation's "plan for engineering," about which discussions with the Trades Union Congress
general council's engineering advisory committee are taking place. The plan is not a conclusive declaration of policy, but indicates the direction in which the unions' views lean.
Introducing the scheme, Mr, Jack Tanner, president of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, said: "We do not subscribe to the policy of certain members of the Government that we should mark time and that there should be no further nationalization or public control of industries in this country."
This declaration conflicts with a recent statement of Mr. Arthur Deakin, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, in which he deprecated extensions of State control.
The conference also decided to press wage claims for an extra £1 a week for all workers in the shipbuilding and engineering industries. The Confederation is to demand that increases be made on the basis of a 44-hour week and that they should take effect from the date of the claim. Merit and craft rates and district differentials should be maintained.
An approach to employers' federations may be made about the middle of next month. If fulfilled, the claim would cost over £100m. a year.