to put forward the demand for the £20 basic?
We have been putting forward a claim for an increase in the basic wage for two and a half years. This is consistent with the Devlin recommendations: in 1967 Devlin said that the minımum guarantee should be commuted to the basic wage, i.e. the E16 and E17 (in London) minimum guarantee should in fact become the basic wage. The employers accepted Devlin with alacrity, but they have chosen to ignore this particular part ot his recommendations. Three or tour months ago, the trade union negotiators decided that they must revise this claim and ask for a E20 a week basic. There had been great changes in the docks, containerisation was causing unemployment, the cost of living had risen since 1967. The employers, however, maintained their adamant attitude. They couldn t see, they told us, now they could meet this demand. They gave various excuses: the dockers had high earnings, the highest after the printers; the demand would put 50% on the wage bill; and what was probably the main point for them, they thought that an increase in the basic rate would intertere with Devlin Phase Two negotiations.
We have had 4 delegates conferences on this issue. Last week on July 9th, the delegates thought that they must reach a decision as they d allowed the negotiations to go on long enough. They had to meet the employers obstinacy with a challenge Therefore the docks delegates conference decided on total action. Alter the weekend's meetings at the Ministry, the employers came up with a puerile offer; there is no other word for it. The offer was put to the delegates' conference yesterday (Wednesday the 15th). The delegates gave it all consideration, listened attentively to Jack Jones and others, but after much hearton a total national dock strike until their justifiable claim was met. Jack Jones has said it is a "modest claim"; it is.
Can you tell us more about what the claim would mean?
In answer to the employers' constant lie, it should be made clear that we are not asking for any increase in piece-work earnings. The employer has put this lie about. We say our claim would put about 10% on dockers' wages. It affects the hourly rate, the overtime payment, and holiday pay; not piece rates. The employers offer doesn't match up to this at all. The minimum guarantee giveses nothing; everything (including piece rates) is calculated on the E11.1.8 basic wage. The only time he would receive the E20 would be when he was unemployed for a full week; i.e. they are offering to increase the daily guarantee by 12/-. We are definitely not asking for anything at all on piece work. They claim that dockers might ask for it later; this is not so.
How is the claim for the £20 basic related to Phase 2 of Devlin?
We don't relate the claim to Phase 2. Except in the sense that there is always a release clause in a productivity deal; this might be used by the employers; it it was used, dockers would revert to the t11.1.8 basic, unless we had renegotiated it. Also the employer, when calculating wages under the productivity deal, uses E11.1.8 as the basis of calculation; in other words it we won our claim, it would intertere with the implementation of Delin in the sense that and are proposing that small ports should negotiate individually; they are attempting to split the national effort; unlike the employers, we say, and we stated clearly at the conference yesterday, that the better-off dockers have an obligation to the others, and there must be a national united fron for an across-the-board increases in the basic.
What is your attitude towards Devlin Phase 2?
Having read all possible iterature, collected all the information I can, about the changes that in the docks, containerisation and so on, I think we've got to accept that change is inevitable. But it doesn't mean that we should accept less than what the changes are worth to the employers. All the delegates are far from satisfied with what has been obtained in London Phase 2. But we have a position again where the employers are saying that cost-wise they can go no further. We recommended the Phase 2 document to our members on the basis of the clause which gives us the right to review the situation if there are changes in methods and increased productivity.
What will happen if the troops are sent to the docks?
Nothing, in so far as the dockers are concerned. We accept that the troops must carry out orders, there will be no attempt to stop them physically. But if the troops are sent in the trade-union leadership is prepared to take action in discussing with other trade unions and other groups in the T&G. We would bull Federation; Tim O'Leary is chairman of the section of the ITF.
What do you think about Jack Jones's in appealing to the dockers to return t before the delegates conference had b to decide on the employers offer?
Jack Jones was in order in appealing for return to work. But in my opinion the appe ill-timed. He should have waited for the dele conference. But the appeal was in order. Do you think it was contradictory that T&G official leadership both threatene a strike if Devlin Phase 2 was not imple on time, and made the strike for the f2 official?
It does seem a little contradictory, I agree you don t enter into an agreement like Phase leave the unexploded bomb of the £11.1.8 be We must safeguard our membership in case th termination clauses in the productivity agreen implemented. * A rank and file docker in the Royals told us if troops were sent in dockers would overturn lorries taking goods out of the docks. Another worker said that when the troops were last ser maintenance men fixed the cranes so they exp when troops tried to use them.