6,000 in Mersey 'right to strike' march

On ANNUAL REPORT of the General Council, up CussIon nett Moiith s congress, makes it quite clear that the union leaders are determined to disarm the working class in the face of the Tory offensive.

While noting record postwar unemployment' over the past year, it is the strike weapon that comes under attack; while the Tory government hardly merits a mention.

In a section of the report on the structure and development of the TUC, we find:

It is essential that strikes should be properly thought out in tactical terms, and also that their use should have regard to their effects on other trade unionists • • It is precisely against such strikes which have 'effects on other trade unionists' and are therefore 'against the national interest' that the Tories hope to legislate as part of their Industrial Relations Bill.

It is no coincidence that the TUC takes up this position at the same time as the Tory press howls over the lay-offs in the motor industry.

While the press steps up the campaign to brand the working class as disrupters in order to pave the • way for anti-union laws, the union leaders want to avoid conflict with the Tories at all costs. tion and building sites on Merseyside - including major jobs at Runcorn, Widnes and Fiddler's Ferry-responded with a one-day strike to the call of the Stanlow, Durnal: Oil and Carrington site The 45 pickets are due to appear in court at Chester on Thursday and Friday.

A place of honour at the front of yesterday's demonstration was occupied by 100 ef the workers from Pilkingtoes St Helens glass factories sacked after a recent three-day strike.

'This demonstration is the answer to Robert Carr if he thinks he can push the unions around,' Burmah Oil convenor Bob McKenzie told the massive Pier Head meeting which followed yesterday's march.

Contingents on the march included Liverpool Trades Council, Pilkington's rank-and-file committee, boilermakers, miners' union lodges, Wigan EPTU, DATA No. 5 division, Liverpool CEU and workers from English Electric, Matthew Hall, Dista, PetroEngineering, Plessey's and Lucas-CAV.

One demonstrator summed up the principle at stake with a poster which read: "The right to strike, the right to picket, the right to work, the right to live'.

'SAME ENEMY'

Loudest cheers at the meeting were for Pilkington rank-and-file secretary John Potter, who was only allowed to speak after protests from the floor of the meeting. He said:

'The right to strike and picket was fought for by our forefathers under the threat of prison and deportation. We cannot allow this heritage to be los have to resist all employers and the government. We have to even resist attacks from our own trade union leaders,' he said, to loud applause.

'We're all fighting the same enemy and we can only win by standing together.'