Confed cannot

avoid Phase Three vote FROM DAVID MAUDE IN EASTBOURNE A MOOD of quiet contemplation settled over the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions conference yesterday morning, as delegates were urged to look 'deeper' at the problems facing their members.

Under the influence of CSEU president lack Higham, representatives million engineers and shipyard workers turned their attention away from 'stupid' government economic policies and 'bad' bosses to the 'other issues [that] have brought frustration into the life of the modern worker'.

Higham waxed eloquent on the subject of the blight in the towns, the despoliation of the countryside, the pollution of the environment and the increasing pace of modern life.

All these things, he complained, had 'disturbed the security and stability upon which peaceful conditions can survive and grow". What was more, takeovers, mergers, redundancies, new techniques, job speed-ups and a general malaise in management did not help to provide an atmosphere of calm in which reason could prevail.

When not presiding over the CSEU, Higham, who is an MBE, runs the 6,000-strong, Rotherham-based National Union of Domestic Appliance and General Metal Workers.

But the strange, contemplative note which he tried to introduce into the CSEU conference was not just a whimsical oddity, the meanderings of small union chief far removed from the burning issues confronting the mass of union members.

It appeared precisely because the issues are SO sharp-precisely because, as Hugh Scanlon burst out angrily last week, there can be 'no ambiguity" Hence the attempt to turn away.

Higham claimed that the hard-line policies of the Tories in industry were 'obvious stupidities'.

Combined with the other problems he had mentioned, he said, they caused unease and dissatisfaction among workers with their style of life.

The unrest would flourish SO long as these problems persisted.

The CSEU president's philosophizing, however. will not get union chiefs off the hook in today's debate on the TUC talks with the Tories. follow the lead of decide he engin- They must either to eers union and come down in opposition or to back these class-collaborationist discussions to the hilt.

Besides the talks, the conference is today expected to discuss a new approach from the Engineering Employers' Federation for talks on a national procedure agreement for the The CSEU executive has postponed decision on new approach until after conference debate.

Socialist Labour League and International Marxist Group JOINT MEETING Defend Basic Democratic Rights Support Shrewsbury FRIDAY JULY 6, 8 p.

Acton Town Hall

High Street, Acton Collection will be made Shrewsbury 24 Speakers:

DAVE JACKSON (Chairman Shrewsbury Defence Committee)

BOB PENNINGTOV (IMG) GERRY HEALY (SLL)