The party is over... | IMGpapers 1968

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page 7 of the scan

...but for whom?

need to take up the fight for a sliding scale of wages been so necessary.

What is facing the working class movement is the stark question - who shall pay for the crisis? The ruling class and the Labour leaders have given their answer. They are quite emphatic that the working class must pay. What is more, they are taking every conceivable step to ensure that is exactly what happens.

The answer of the workers' movement must be equally decisive and determined. Collaboration with the employers and the anti-working class policies of the Government must be rejected. The crisis is due to the capitalist system. It is not the responsibility of the working class to bear the burden of that crisis.

A determined offensive must be launched whilst the trade unions are at their strongest. Such an offensive should have as its central aim the winning of the sliding scale of wages so that immediate compensation is obtained for every single point increase in the cost of living. This means a nil-norm threshold guaranteeing a 70p increase for every one point rise in the cost of living.

Taking up the fight for such a demand spells out in no uncertain way that the labour movement does not subordinate working class living standards to the needs of capitalism. It can also unify the entire workers' movement - thus making sure that the less strong, less organised, and weaker sections of the working class are drawn into the mainstream of the struggle. The demand should also apply to pensions, unemployment benefits, etc, and be linked to a national minimum wage of £40 for employed, unemployed and pensioners.

The working class movement has the strength and the power to fight back and defeat the ruling class. The fight for the sliding scale of wages is a vital step towards winning such a struggle TABLE: LOW PAY SETTLEMENTS WITH AND WITHOUT THRESHOLD DEALS 1 MARCH 1974 - 28 FEB. 1975 With Threshold CUOlIG Private yvages Increase Sector Sector Councils Above average Below average Average Without Threshold Above average Below average Average