BETRAY GASMEN FIGHT MUST GO ON

The traitors in the TUC and union leadership have dealt a grave blow to the working class's fight against the Tory government's pay laws by getting the gasmen to call off their industrial action by means of the secret ballot which loaded the question in favour of accepting the Phase Two pay offer, sweetened by a few pence off the men's pension contributions.

The TUC must now be forced to end at once the treacherous postponement of co-ordinated action in support of the hospital workers and other unions in struggle. It must be made to carry out the special Congress decision to lead united trade union action to defeat the state control of wages.

There was never any doubt that the working class, if given clearly. He knows that the economy is in such an appalling a lead, would be ready to engage in a mighty mass strike state that the government dare movement to create the neces- not make the slightest concessary industrial and political con- sion for fear of a British finanditions to force the Tory gov- cial collapse. ernment to resign. Feather, Jones and the rest Now there is even more of the General Council are evidence from the struggles of determined to head off the the hospital workers and General Strike movement b:

others and despite all the be- playing down the present trayals, the resentment against struggles and getting them the blatant class bias of Tory called off rule and the determination to That was the reason for the get rid of the government is imposition of a secret ballot on daily becoming more powerful. the gasmen despite all their Following the arrest by police delegate conference decisions t› of two shop stewards from the reject the offer and go for allpicket line at St Mary's, Pad- out strike action. dington, came a flood of deci- That was the reason for desions by other hospitals either laying for two months the special to come out immediately or to Congress decision for a one-day come out if the court chose to stoppage. punish the two men. That was the reason for the massive demonstration by ancil blatant stalling that has gone on over co-ordinating action in suplary workers from 30 South port of the hospital workers and Yorkshire hospitals supported by others. miners, engineers. That was the reason for the Among civil servants, more futile talks at the TUC about strikes than ever before were who would dare to strike after reported, and in Newcastle, the Phase Two legislation be15,000 civil servants stopped comes law on April 1, ignoring work to coincide with Heath's the clear fact that thousands are visit to the city. striking, and millions more But while all this action was would strike if only given a taking place, Victor Feather lead, regardless of any laws.

was flouting the wishes of the Is Feather interested in leadtrade union movement yet ing the trade unions to beat the again by getting ready for still Tory government and its pay another forelock-tugging visit laws as Congress wishes, or is to Downing Street to ask the he opposed to this policy? It is Prime Minister next week if obvious he is flouting TUC he would kindly agree to a policy.

public inquiry into the hos- This brazen betrayal is all pital workers' case. the more reason for trade Even as this totally futile ex- unionists to mount a massive ercise was being prepared.

campaign for calling the Heath's hard-line Health Service henchman Sir Keith Joseph was General Strike and instructrepeating for the umpteenth ing their leaders either to time that there will be no carry out the call or to make inquiry.

way for new leaders who will Feather, course, understands th point absolutely abide by union decisions. nospital Pickets Don Steadman,