Feather cynically steps into pensions row

Workers Press no. 1069, 11 May 1973 · scan page 14

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October 1 in order to press their own pay claim.

He told the Civil and Public Services Association conference: 'Find some other way to express your anger and frustration.' Feather said the decision to withhold the increases, taken by a narrow, 17-vote majority at the conference on Monday, was 'out of character with you as individuals, out of character with the unions and out of character with the trade union movement'.

But it was Feather and his cronies on the TUC General Council who are responsible for any frustration over pay in the CPSA's ranks.

When the union asked for 'co-ordinated action' in support of its fight against the Tory pay laws, as promised by the March special Congress, the TUC Finance and General Purposes Committee refused on the phoney grounds the civil service trade unions were not themselves Hence last Monday's decision, which was taken because, in the words of mover Bill Calland: 'We with, nothing else left to fight Mr Calland said before Feather's speech yesterday that 'after much heart-searching' he had decided to recommend to his branch that the terms of its emergency motion should not be implemented.

Victor Feather And Bill Kendall, CPSA eral secretary, said the union cutive would be meeting Thursday to reconsider motion. 'I am confident whatever happens, the pen ers will not suffer at all', he genexenext that, sionsaid. MERSEYSIDE'S 7,500 dockers will be asked on Sunday to accept recruitment to a 'casual', supplementary register.

The recommendation to accept will come from the port shop stewards' committee, which took this decision under threat that shortage of labour could lead to to big trade loss.

Tory Ministers are firmly committed to stopping any recruitment to the permanent register of dockers--cut from 41,000 to 34,000 by the Jones-Aldington scheme introduced last september.

All Trades Unions Alliance Meeting What next after miners' ballot The fight against the Tory government CASTLEFORD Thursday May 17, 8 p.n Sagar Street Rooms Speaker: G. Healy (SLL nation al secretary)