ivers do not feed Vs inflation
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ERENCE your Editorial "See >e on wages" (CM October 3, I) — your sanctimonious rings are only surpassed by arrogant statements made le Chancellor that workers accept a cut in living dards to beat inflation. hilst you only appear to n the standing to asophise through the lium of your Editorial, the ncellor has the means of :ling his misguided romic policy.
rur reference that the TGWU change its mind, is not due rur unawareness as to lay ibers' decision making in Jnion, but a deliberate ;imism, for as you will know r branch to our decisions n at our Biennial Delegates lerence, decisions are the nembers prerogative. The gation to the Labour Party ;ists of a majority of lay lbers who have the ogative for deciding how we I vote as a union at the rur Party Conference; at no I in our union can decisions ',forced on the membership. iur Editorial illustrates your 3teness from reality, for >ions at to items of claim to Jbmitted to employers were Jed late July, at the opriate Conferences, and regotiators and members nore than aware of the lomic situatior and its es.
e driver cannot be accused eding inflation by the level 3 annual pay settlements, as as always been conditioned a low basic rate of pay but 3 of overtime which
Jates dependent on work ability. If a realistic wage lad been agreed years ago, the annual increase being d for would not be open to ism by such as yourself if such criticism is uncalled If in your next Editorial you would take to task the Chancellor for his speech in the week of the Tory Party junket at Blackpool that he chose to make a major speech on the Thursday night at a Bankers' Banquet in London stating workers should take a cut in their living standards to beat inflation, this would be welcomed by my driver membership and lessen the feelings your Editorial raised.
My driver members will bear in mind the time and place his speech was made, for the banks have done very nicely thank you, from this Government's policies, and the call to cut workers' living , standards had no effect on the wining and dining that night. Not that many in attendance at that function by definition, are employees notwithstanding they deal in high finance; I have seen no reports as to any decision to cease holding such events for at least the duration of the recession.
Crusading journalism is commendable when taken up on behalf of an oppressed section of society or for projecting ideals, but I would recommend a more commendable use of your obvious talents in the cause of transport drivers who are clearly under-paid, who work longer and harder than many other workers, who are required to spend nights away from home often in substandard digs and who are often projected as greedy, grabbing individuals.
Such a change of direction may not result in a knighthood, but your personal satisfaction gain from the acclaim of transport drivers would more than compensate for the loss of a questionable honour.
J. AS1-immu National Secretary, RTC TGWU To ensure that we do not take Mr Ashwell out of context, this letter is published in its entirety. — Ed.