The first sparks of opposition to the latest round of rail cuts flicker- national level. ed out on British Rail's Eastern Region last week. Wielding the extinguisher was none other than Ray Buckton, "left' leader of the drivers' union ASLEF.
After repeatedly urging his members to return to work, he finally succeeded in negotiating a 'compromise with the Railways Board. BR should in future consult the men in the depots more carefully before implementing the cuts that Buckton and the other rail union leaders have were over 19,000 route miles and 600,000 staff. Only 11,500 route by 83 per cent. already accepted in principle at a ways, increasing the congestion and In the same way that ASLEF de- roads. fused the earlier threat by Southern Region drivers for 24 hour protest face the prospect of Crosland's dicstrikes against the cuts, Buckton effectively crushed the revolt on the Eastern Region by isolating it. What million for the next five years. could have been the start of a na- addition to straightforward cuts, tionally organised fight against the this means that old rolling stock will rail cuts - which rail union leaders be retained, trains will be shorter, on their own admission expect to and speeds slower. reduce the service from 11,000 miles to just over 4,000 by 1981 - was reduced to a shambles. waymen have also been doing their