British workers in rebellious mood

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33155, 20 February 1973, Page 13

British workers in rebellious mood

(.V ZP.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. February 19. Car factory workers, gasmen, hospital manual workers, train-drivers, and schoolteachers are making things uncomfortably warm for the British Government’s wage-and-price freeze policy aimed at curbing rising inflation.

teachers in the Outer London area have today begun the first wave of stoppages in their programme of selected strikes over a cost-of-living allowance claim, and perhaps as many as 40.000 children are likely to have their schooling seriously disrupted as the teachers join thousands of disgruntled gas workers in taking positive action against the Government.

Rotating strikes and a go-slow by the gasmen have caused a serious reduction in gas pressure in many parts of the country, and concern about the possibility of explosions in homes when taps are left on after gas cuts.

The British Gas Corporation has made a special plea to housewives to forget their ovens and grills, and to cook single-burner meals. It has also suggested that instead of the customary hot lunch, they could try an evening meal: if some changed their habits, it says, the demand for gas would be spread over several more hours.

As on previous days since the gas workers began their guerrilla disruption campaign. more than 3 million of Britain's 54 million gas-fed households had their supplies reduced yesterday, and the traditional British Sunday lunch was missed.

A glimmer of hope in the gas workers' pay dispute has emerged from their union leader, Mr David Basnett, who says that he is prepared to listen to constructive proposals from the Government, after an offer by the Minister of Employment (Mr Maurice Macmillan) to expedite talks with the Pay Board that will be established soon under the next phase of the Government’s programme against inflation. Postmen, hospital workers, miners, printers, car workers, and railwaymen have also

joined the rebellion: their union representatives voted in favour of a one-day general strike at a mass meet-! ing in Coventry yesterday. Some train-drivers have] already begun a non-co-i operation policy by refusing! to work overtime and by I working to rule. British Rail! hopes to run normal services; today, but there is concern ’ that peak-hour commuters j will be faced with delays. I Yesterday, about 52,000 ■ car workers at 21 Ford factories in London and Coven-; try announced that they! would begin an all-out strike! from March 1. The 15 unions! involved have rejected Ford’s ] latest offer, and have voted unanimously for a stoppage. Industrial observers see! March 5 as a possible make- 1

or-break date for the union movement. On that day, the Trades Union Congress, a grouping representing about 10 million workers, is holding a special meeting to consider its annual economic report. Pressure from union militants may be such that a motion demanding stern action against the Government may have to be accepted. In spite of the Government’s freeze on prices, some (food prices have been going up because of the fluctuation in the cost of imported goods <and seasonal products. However, the Government hopes to continue to control the rise in the cost of living by laying down guidelines for wage increases during the ! impending phase two of its 1 programme against inflation.