Workers Press no. 756

workers press Liverpool dockers extend blacking

TORY JUSTICE

MERSEYSIDE docks stew- ards have decided to extend their fight against the loading and unloading of containers by non-dock labour. A meeting of 100 stewards at the headquarters of the ASTMS secretary Clive Jenkins leaving ye

CLIVE JENKINS,

general secretary of the Association of Technical and Scientific, yesterday Managerial Staffs used the Industrial Relations Act for the first time in a dis- missal case. before the He appeared Industrial Tribunal for Mr Anthony Hinton (24), who, he said, was wrongly dismissed in February from Burroughs Machines, Hounslow, Middlesex.

Mr Hinton was dismissed because of his union activities, claimed Jenkins. "The major part of our case is that our members' right to belong to a trade union and to play a part in democratic office holder has processes as an been prejudiced,' he said.

ASTMS asked that Mr Hinton should be reinstated without loss of pay and that the company should withdraw its claim that he was dismissed because of lack

INCORPORATING THE NEV

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

Transport and General Workers' Union in Liverpool yesterday voted by a small majority to claim as dock work all 'stuffing' and 'strip- ping' of containers, including that done at factories.. leaving yesterday's Tribunal of capability. If Hinton was not reinstated, he should be paid compensation. Jenkins said that Mr Hinton had been employed by the com- pany as a service engineer for six years and was given no reason for his dismissal. After- accusations were made wards about his capabilities. And, he added: "There had been a series of exchanges within trade union the company on recognition. A highly satisfactory state of affairs developed in which a promised ballot on recognition had been withdrawn.

*Mr Hinton's appointment in November to the of post honorary group secretary of the union was a factor in his dis- missal.

THE NEWSLETTER • THURSDAY MAY 4,

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

This is a dramatic exten- sion of present policy which did not include claims over container work done at the point where the goods are produced. The policy extension was

BY OUR INDUSTR

THE Transport and General Workers' Union yesterday formally ended its boycott of the National Industrial Court by Relations S making its first appear- ance before Sir John Donaldson. At the same time union officials went to nearby Bow St magistrate's court and paid the £55,000 fines imposed for contempt charges. Yesterday's capitulation to the court ended the TUC's short- lived opposition to the NIRC, which only came into operation on February 28, nine weeks ago.

After a day-long , hearing Sir John agreed to adjourn the action against the union until next Tuesday. Union leader Jack Jones did not attend the court but sent along a trio of legal experts- Peter Pain, QC, Professor K. W.

Wedderburn of the London School of Economics, and lan Hunter. confrontation Meanwhile in Liverpool a meeting of 120 Merseyside docks stewards agreed in shop a private session not only to affirm blacking of containerized goods-but to extend it through- This means the out the area. Liverpool dockers are now in a headlong confrontation with the court and their own leadership.

When the court opened, Pain immediately offered an apology for the union's previous non- appearance: 'It will be my case that it has always been union policy that court orders, however distasteful they may be, should be obeyed, full-time and through the officials the union has sought to have that carried into effect.'

Later in proceedings court welcomed president Donaldson the appearance of the lawyers for the union. He noted with assurance that it pleasure the always been the union's has policy to obey court orders.

the court for a Pain asked MAY 4, 1972 • No. 756 • 4p

IE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

incorporated in a series of increase (un- an in pay six demands to be met before specified), a 35-hour working any further work is done at week, four weeks' holiday, the new Seaforth container an increase in sick pay, full dock at the North End of the fall-back guarantee based on Liverpool docks. average pay and no redun- The demands also include dancies.

| INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID MAUDE

meanwhile? he asked. 'We are ten-day adjournment the union could file evidence to deal uphold the concerned to with allegations of blacking made authority of The our orders. against it. industrial situation does not stand still. There is a major problem After adjournment short here-a human problem- -one on Donaldson told union's the which feelings are running very The difficulty we feel lawyers: high. about your application is that it The problem was not limited produced no adjournment of the to the haulage firms who had industrial action. It is he added. court, come The court orders were, on the a national problem. face of. it, still being disobeyed.

Donaldson said that ten days See Court outside the time-scale WaC which the court geared. was What would happen during the adjournment *a vital was question'. happen 'What's going to Socialist Labour League and Young Socialists

ALL OUT

DEMONSTRATE ON

Sunday May 7

HANDS OFF THE UNIONS

Defend democratic rights! Defend the right to work !

Withdraw troops from Ulster! Release all internees !

Victory to the Vietnamese workers and peasants!

MAKE THE TORY GOVERNMENT RESIGN !

ASSEMBLE: 1.30 p.m. The Embankment, Charing Cross Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford MARCH: via Trafalgar Square, Street, Tottenham Court Road, Euston Road MEETING : 4 p.m. St Pancras Town Hall G. Healy (Socialist Labour League National Secretary) J. Simmance (Young Socialists National Secretary) M. Banda (Socialist Labour League Central Committee) (In a personal capacity) Frank McCabe (NUM) Roy Battersby (ACTT) A. Thornett (Deputy Senior Steward Morris Motors)

CHAIRMAN:

C. Slaughter (Socialist Labour League Central Committee)

workers press Liverpool dockers extend blacking

TORY JUSTICE

MERSEYSIDE docks stew- ards have decided to extend their fight against the loading and unloading of containers by non-dock labour. A meeting of 100 stewards at the headquarters of the ASTMS secretary Clive Jenkins leaving y

CLIVE JENKINS,

general secretary of the Association of Technical and Scientific, Managerial Staffs yesterday the Industrial Relations used Act for the first time in a dis- missal case. appeared before the He Industrial Tribunal for Mr Anthony Hinton (24), who, he said, was wrongly dismissed in February from Burroughs Machines, Hounslow, Middlesex.

Mr Hinton was dismissed because of his union activities, claimed Jenkins. "The major part of our case is that our members' right to belong to a trade union and to play a part in democratic been prejudiced, hes holder has processes as an ASTMS asked that Mr Hinton should be reinstated without loss of pay and that the company should withdraw its claim that he was dismissed because of lack

INCORPORATING THE NEV

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

Transport and General Workers' Union in Liverpool yesterday voted by a small majority to claim as dock work all 'stuffing and 'strip- ping' of containers, including that done at factories. - leaving yesterday's Tribunal of capability. If Hinton was not reinstated, he should be paid compensation. Jenkins said that Mr Hinton had been employed by the com- pany as a service engineer for six years and given was • no reason for his dismissal. After- wards accusations were made about his capabilities. And, he added: "There had been a series of exchanges within the company on trade union recognition. A highly satisfactory affairs developed in state which a promised ballot on recognition had been withdrawn.

'Mr Hinton's appointment in to the - November post of honorary group secretary of the union was a factor in his dis- missal.

THE NEWSLETTER • THURSDAY MAY

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

This is a dramatic exten- sion of present policy which did not include claims over container work done at the point where the goods are produced. The policy extension was

BY OUR INDUSTR

THE

Transport and ten General Workers' Union yesterday formally ended its boycott of the National Industrial Relations Court by making its first appear- ance before Sir John Donaldson. At the same time union officials went to nearby Bow St magistrate's court and paid the £55,000 fines imposed for contempt charges. Yesterday's capitulation to the court ended the TUC's short- lived opposition to the NIRC, which only came into operation on February 28, nine weeks ago.

After a day-long hearing Sir John agreed to adjourn the action the union until next against Tuesday. Union leader' Jack Jones did not attend the court but sent along a trio of legal experts- Peter Pain, QC, Professor K. W.

London Wedderburn of the School of Economics, and lan Hunter. confrontation Meanwhile in Liverpool a meeting of 120 Merseyside docks stewards agreed in shop à private session not only to affirm blacking of containerized the goods-but to extend it through- out the area. This means the Liverpool dockers are now in a confrontation with the - headiong court and their own leadership.

When the court opened, Pain immediately offered an apology for the union's previous non- appearance: It will be my case that it has always been union policy that court orders, however distasteful they may be, should be obeyed, through the full-time officials the union has sought to have that carried into effect.'

Later in proceedings court president Donaldson welcomed the appearance of the lawyers union. He noted with for the assurance that pleasure the been the union's always has policy to obey court orders.

Pain asked the court for a 1AY 4, 1972 • No. 756 • 4p

IE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

incorporated in a series of increase six demands to be met before specified), a 35-hour working any further work is done at four weeks holiday, Seaforth an increase in sick pay, full dock at the North End of the fall-back guarantee based on Liverpool docks. average pay and no redun- The demands also include

: INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID MAUDE

meanwhile?' he asked. ten-day: adjournment so the union could file evidence to deal concerned with allegations of blacking made against it. industrial situation does not stand a major problem After a short adjournment human problem-one on Donaldson told the union's which feelings are running very lawyers: 'The difficulty we feel about your application is that it The problem was not limited produced no adjournment of the to the haulage firms industrial action. face of cit, stir bring disobeyed.

disobeyed. Donaldson said that ten days outside the time-scale to was which the was geared. What would happen during the adjournment vital was question'. going to happen 'What's Socialist Labour League and Young Socialists Defend democratic rights! Defend the right to work !

Withdraw troops from Ulster! Release all Internees I Victory to the Vietnamese workers and peasants!

MAKE THE TORY GOVERNMENT RESIGN !

ASSEMBLE: 1.30 p.m. The Embankment, Charing Cross MARCH: via Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road, Euston Road MEETING: 4 p.m. St Pancras Town Hall G. Healy (Socialist Labour League National Secretary) J. Simmance (Young Socialists National Secretary) M. Banda (Socialist Labour League Central Committee) (In a personal capacity) Frank McCabe (NUM) Roy Battersby (ACTT) A. Thornett (Deputy Senior Steward Marris Motors)

CHAIRMAN:

C. Slaughter (Socialist Labour League Central Committee)

BETSELF

PAGE 2 Workers Pross, Thursday May 4, 1972 WEST GERMANY's German territory top political leaders

BY A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT

The Christian were again in Demo. treaties crats reject the ference yesterday to The art! conference opposition in their present form on and break the reach Christian try tries Democrats grounds that they compromise formula seeking parliamentary dead- contes one division analyse „Tre which would allow the from Brandt lock over Chancellor Germany. government to continue treaties Willy Brandt's State Egon their right Bahr, chief Neither government Germany's reunification eastern treaties. nor now under

IICCULIALUI

LIC

The treaties at present The Bundestag, which absolute

MOSCOW

cultalus Ehmke, fessor Horsi have opened cholle Brandt's right-hand man, debate the stag, making it impossi- European boundaries on ble parlia- and effect yesterday, was sus- to conduct Lave mell Valentin bassador Falin while sended mentary Dublicab Gualie discuss the which Soviet the overnmen! to acknow- ledge German reserv- Unless the agreement by today, the plans to ahead way with the te bare. Defeat,

BY JOHN SPENCER

certainty without agree. SOUTH VIETNAM'S president Nguyen Van Thieu would precipitate yesterday named two scapegoats for the disastrous the tall of the Coalliol government and a new rout of his armies around Quang Tri.

He sacked Lt-Gen Hoang Xuan Lam, commander of the First Military Region Demili- just south of the tarized Zone, and Brig-Gen Vu Van Giai, commander of the Third Division which ran from Quang Tri. An investigation has been opened into Brig-Gen Giai's actions. The sack- ings, however, will fool no- body about the real cause the liberation forces' victory at Quang Tri-the complete bankruptcy of the South Vietnamese puppet regime. Thieu's armies simply the melted under liberation oI the of offensive. Now town Hué, the old imperial capital, is wide open the next stage of the Mad-chopper rush to escape NLF advance attack. American officers attached to South Vietnamese forces have virtually abandoned hope ol Salvaging anyuning trom tne unequal Their worst expectations about the course Vietnamization NIxon S policy have been realized.

"This cannot papered withdrawal sualcoll anything ese one

SANTO M

US officer said. In addition to the defeats on the ground, the liberation also

LI00DN

•ale undermining the morale of the US flyers Yesterday they shot down two helicopters over Ouang Tri province with a new heat- seeking fired from a hand-held weapon. the coast of rartner aown advisers troods were force to beat a precipitate retreat trom bases

BY A FOREIGN CORRE

Binh Dinh province. They 30 sea after on than Viet- cent McGovern Ban Ditto troops had deserted. Binh has 1ong batin been the of stronghold Liberation Front. PRELIMINARY results in largest number of votes he has Three large districts in Binh Dinh, combined ever gained in a northern state.

the Indiana and Ohio primary about 200,000 Ohio, the elections were populalion yesterday have fallen to the NLF in the elections confused by allegations of vote. gave reat resistance from the Souty two weeks without but it appeared trom evidence of the further early two top Tine Vietnamese divisions. Humphrey and polarization and The main Saigon unit in the -were the 40th Regiment, has .within the US Democratic running neck and neck. 'failed every faced has Party. Wallace and McGovern repre- last fortnight, according In The sent opposite ends of the Demo- to US reports. industrialized -Wallace is deep- heavily cratic Party- Governor George while McGovern soulD racialsi • MORE than 300,000 home- Wallace of Alabama was narrowly is a liberal who has opposed the less and frightened refugees beaten into second place by Vietnam war. pourning the roads former vice-president Hubert The Democrats' crisis Vietnam to get away Humphrev-but Wallace won the symptom of sharpening class provinces. Choking the provincial capital of Hue, are They severely impeding South Viet- efforts bring PROPOSALS at the UNCTAD The plan opposed Manicoc among others, Finland, Denmark, mentorcenarus. conference in Santiago, Chile, Many of the refugees have Sweden, Britain, Switzerland, for a central fund to distribute from their homes been driven France, United States financial aid on liberal terms to Jalall

LIC

and the Nether lands the 25 least-developed countries bombardment of liberated areas The Group of 77 particularly or coyed in the North. Many head- were turned down yesterday are tries are annoyed the ing for Da most powerful capitalist Nang. Where there con- is a big US military base.

countries. ference on the monetary crisis THE DECISION of the Industrial Tribunal to grant recruiting rights to the Telecommunications Staff Association in Electra Housenerve centre of British telecommunications—reveals the grave threat of the National Industrial Relations Court to the trade unions.

While one arm of the law seeks to cripple unions and intimidate shop-floor leadership with massive fines and sequestration of property, the other arm could well be preparing for a General Strike situation by recognizing bodies such as TSA who worked during the postmen's strike. The extension of this precedent into other industries vital to the economy, such as power supply, is being encouraged by Tory Central Office.

In 1925-1926 the Tories, led by Churchill, Joynson- Hicks and Sir John Anderson, consciously prepared for a General Strike by setting up the Organization for the Maintenance of Supplies-a euphemism for scab, herding on ta massive scale.

Thousands of middle- and upper-class reactionaries were either deputized as special constables or or- ganized to do essential work through OMS under the benign protection of the army and navy.

This organization played an important role in break- ing the strike, but not as vital as that played by the TUC General Council. Today, however, the Tories intend to use existing law and state institutions to facilitate the organization of scab unions which could be called upon to work™ in the event of a hational stoppage.

The reçognition of TSA is the surest sign that the Tories-despite the capitulation of the

TUC

General Council-are preparing for a General Strike in Britain with a vengeance. The NIRC, far from being exclusively a court of industrial law is, in fact, the mailed fist of the capitalist class which organizes all the counter-revolutionary forces against the unions.

Those union leaders who recognize the Court and violate their own solemn decisions are participating in the preparation for their own execution.

Let Tuesday's decision be a warning! The TUC must be recalled to reaffirm last September's decisions and an immediate campaign must be launched to make the Tories resign and elect a Labour government which will be forced by the mass movement to imple- ment socialist policies.

GN CORRESPONDENT

Wallace struggle in the United States. It for political purposes shows the poses the urgent requirement for ruling fears class the develop- a break with the big • business ment of a Labour Party. representatives who dominate the The trade chiefs are Democratic and Republican nOW engaged chauvinistic and the formation parties of for campaign. protectionist legis- Labour Party based on genuine lation to keep foreign goods out the trade unions. of the US. Union leaders have worked George Meany. president of might and main to tie their mem- the AFL-CIO, the largest union the bers coat-tails of the to confederation, yesterday an- Democrats, but there are clear nounced the formation of a task- that this signs corrupt relation- force to support the erection of ship cannot endure. tariff barriers around the US.

The recent court decision to He said the unions would try mineworkers' leader penalize to educate Americans on the Tony Boyle for using union funds the proposed Trade virtues of Bill the grounds that on would create more jobs at home.

He said 'can provide

JASHED

the both immediate remedies and long-term answers to the inrush outflow of of and the imports attended by top US and Euro- capital and technology'. representatives in pean an Oxfordshire country house.

Meany's support for this This decided to form a small reactionary legislation indicates steering group representing the how closely the union leaders draft main capitalist countries to are involved with big business proposals which could then be and their efforts to subordinate US submitted the International the working class to capi-. Monetary Fund Board. talism's requirements.

Militants suspicious of Clyde sack -and - hire plan The inconsistent Conway 'UPPER CLYDE shipyard workers may stand that there … are proposals ior allowing re-training to increase craft mobility. be asked to accept redundancy notices

FROM STEPHEN JOHNS ON

Rumours also abound about the Marathon in lieu of employment at the two new

CLYDESIDE

deal. ношенну Heels wanted firms who want to take over shipbuild- American-style contract with no-strike ing at the former UCS yards. point out, once the labour force has accepted clauses. They also wanted to pay bonus on these, the stronger a half yearly new companies are in a basis. y cally This will enable them to receive redundancy than would break and

HOW

WILO

SURES

practice payment before getting employment at Govan mean permanent redun- mean that a man would have to maintain like ana inis may Shipbuilders or Manufacturing, the dancies. consistently high each output week Texan oil-rig builders who are planning loy there Chem estimated 6,300t the period collect me Donus over take over the Clydebank yard.

Shop stewards have told Marathon how- between trem an estimated Workers at the yards held departmental that force that is 500 less than at that they want pa mest ever meetings yesterday to present near a progress report at the yards. week-by-week basis. the Marathon and shipbuilders addition the problem Govan of the the

LICIC

Workers expectea somelme

TONATES

'Shape' will end of next week when the Marathon and Lakeover or tie JabouT Iorce. Maranon The prospect of redundancy payment is at want fewer fitting-out trade than Govan proposals will be put to labour the first workers normal shipbuilding operation and I under- attractive. as some yard torce. 'During the past month we have We must regard the Act as seen the piece short-term legislation true Mature The ver- which will to yet Industrial Relations Act.

prove be one bal camouflage around the Act Irritant the has been stripped away unions and employers. Wherever possible rever a лакеа piece or repres sive anti-union legislation. It Is encourage employers to ignore . of our whole Industrial system the thing | as one party political ralduons Delng destroyed'. Irrelevancy. Best advice — • know about the Act, but anore it and continue to operate trade union activities as before.' The Thoughts of Jim Con The Thoughts of jim con- way as of February 28, 1972 editorial in the in special all wav an circular to

AUEW

'Journal' on May 4, members 1972. union. Advice on Tory union law changes again

BY OUR INDUSTRIAL STAFF

TRADE

UNIONISTS

once calls for action to the national interest. Act mercilessly Roberts' supporters 'The wielded, Conway says deprived of their legal have had field day recall wendons out the Duri Con way set up. were bound is a sign the Tory pointing right to strike past incon- allay month, eventually be used. It "losing writes, government have to take 'alterna-

SOLCICICS

conway S the good putting statements. we nave seen arue oul- the Tory In- Many engineers will nature of lets up a gun and then Conway, general secre- if some- understand Relations Act." being correctly In particular they tary Amalga- that the have drawn attention to of gets person losing a naked hurt.

DICUC

VILe mated. Union of Engi- How anti-union ditterent is the grip redress ve

FIS

„one over conway s CLosC neering Workers. legislation' Conway today compared thate . Tim Conway. with pro- lions The But, The Tories had with the Conway of two Common Market writing the pre- ing a vital ballete esent tac- his latest viously months who for the and friend- Lilal 'ignore' •AUEW Tournal, he no- secretaryship ship Rov workers retained

MIS

menDers to genera wilt Tenkis. where specifies what right to strike, but the the Act! the union. His, strongest leader of the right-wing Employment Secretary But far from describ- challenge faction which betrayed assistant courses pinning ing the and while Ernie was DUSILIOn sort face Roberts, who has broad the the blame the lory decare any Ine trade voted Wille government he industrial action against union movement as the left support. last October 28.

ALL TRADES UNIONS

Telegraphists condemn

ALLIANCE MEETINGS

Thursday Community May

OLOUGH:

Slough Centre, p.m. Farnam Rd. Speakers,

LONDON

lomany, tele- TUC co-operation Overed Omes Faulkner. Balley graphists have overwhelm-

AUEW

(in personal capa- The Industrial Relations ingly passed a resolution city). Act. condemning the decision of Recall the TUC the TUC General Council to convening of the Blackpool TUC Industrial co-operate with the National Relations Act as Expel the traitors collapse before the lorv govern conference to reairm its Make the Tories resign Industrial Relations Court.

POLICY

ment. oI non-co-operation and calling of non-so-operation agreed The "This decision violates for this emergency ree Union

SW LONDON:

m Manor Baths, Union policy Tory government and be Clapham Manor torwarded replace it p.m. Post Workers' with Clapham Manor St, SW4.

TUC

luce •eorenoer s

DACKDOOI

LaDOul conference, called for conference Industrial pleaged to repeal

N KENT:

May convening of the Trades *By capitulating to the National Relations and to carry out p.m Industrial Dart- reaffirm policy Relations Court, the socialist policies. nouse, ford. Act. non-co-operation

TUC

The London Head Office Over- WIre genders have nanaea unions over to the Tory state Operators also branch seas basic rights and condemned

UPW

general DAGENHAM • tuesady stated: given our Co-op Hall, Fanshawe Ave, p.m Tom Jackson for conference condemns law-enforcement his become Iclals Barking. the decision of the TUC General officers. intention to appear belore Council to co-operate with 'We therefore call for the re-

NIRC.

the May p.m. Ruskin House, Coombe Rd.

CROYDON: Thursday

LONDON FARES UP AGAIN!

N LONDON: Thursday May 11, Bricklayers Arms, Totten- p.m.

MORE

High Rd White Hart ham between and vices operaling шо sa lour were Lane). Transporn in due 8 p.m. Deptford Engineers' journeys. ane undergourd services, New Cross Rd (opp New Cross And Minimum Tares were weeks, Salon. 0r8 Press, Thursday May a, 1972 PAGE 3 THE 50 STRIKERS at the small firm of D and E Plastics, Coventry, are con- tinuing their strike for higher pay and proper overtime and holiday payment. Talks held on Tuesday between the management, shop stewards and a Transport and General Workers' Union official produced no offer at all from management.

The firm is employing a small number of people who are carry- ing on limited production. a Pickets turned three lorries away from the gates yesterday and factories are beginning to send • collections for strikers. in The Amalgamated Union of

COVENTRY

Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers district committee has. endorsed a resolution from Coventry No 8 branch which welcomes the union's decision calling for a recall of the TUC. The same meeting decided to call a special district committee next Tuesday to hear a report from National Committee dele- gates Phil Povey and Jim Grif- fin and to determine its stra- engineers cursuing the national Until now the committee has been content to let convenors claim in individual table the plants and after two months of this feet-dragging have merely asked them for a progress report.

Engineering Workers district committee endorsed the strike four it has women members among the strikers. It has also donated £10 to the D and E Plastics strike fund.

A leaflet handed out by the strikers to those working inside the gates states: 'By staying inside, scabbing you are not only hurting your- selves. You are also hurting us.

Chambers [the owner] can only hold out as long as you few inside carry on working. If the work stops he gets no money. He is sure to give in if the work stops. It is not too late to join the strike'

SHOP

representing • stewards 3,500 from the Preston men division Aircraft of British Corporation met yesterday to discuss management's latest pay proposals. The men have been strike for 12 weeks for a on cost-of-living increase with no strings attached. The stewards discussed the proposals and have agreed to call a mass meeting at the Public Hall, Preston, at noon on Friday.

David the "The said: convenor, proposals are a definite improve- ment and we The seven-man strike com- mittee has unanimously recom- mended acceptance. BRITISH - LEYLAND Triumph's axle builders in Coventry voted yesterday to end three- week night shift resumed last night. A union spokesman said the 35-minute meeting had im- accepted an proved company pay offer. The strike by 80 men crippled pro- duction and caused big lay-offs.

PAGE 4 Workers Press, Thursday May 4, The fourth in a series of ar Maude, our industrial corresp dockers' leaders, official and Devlin 'modernization' schem conditions. Dockers' most basic rights threatened by the are National Industrial Relations Court, now one of the chief organs of the capitalist state.

All policies which do not have as their central consideration the there- question of state power,, completely fore, today are treacherous. Restricted wages struggles, the walling-off of port from port, and secret productivity dealing with the port em- diplomacy ployers--all extremely prevalent in dockland in the last two years —will have to be broken from.

The fight for nationalization un- control is now workers' der central.. Devlin Phase Two was finally in London's enclosed accepted in September 1970, the docks month port employers began pre- their future tactical posi- paring tion with a series of behind-the- scenes talks with union leaders Jack Jones and Tim O'Leary.

The scheme was accepted after half-day series of abortive an strikes started by Royal docks stewards in August 1969, shop steam-rollering of the 'blue' union's opposition to the

T&GWU

scheme, two secret and the betrayal of a ballots national strike. • deal has A Phase Two now also been signed in Liverpool.

The stewards' demand for the half-day stoppages in London was not outright opposition to Devlin, piecework guarantees but new •which would bring average earn- ings up to £35 a week. Earnings of this order would difficult for the 'make it more employer to sell Phase Two', I waş told by one leading Com- munist Party steward at that time. The thinking behind this policy was opportunist to the core. And it allowed the T&GWU leader- ship to proceed unhindered with its policy of setting up a sub- committee with the employers to shift-work agreement in draft a the teeth of NAS&D hostility.

As 'The Newsletter' commen- in one of its last issues: ted 'When Jack Dash's liaison com- mittee was disbanded, its claim for eight for a £6 guarantee hours' piecework and £8 for ten went into procedure - hours was rejected by the where it employers. Instead of increasing the claim and linking it to the fight to defeat the Devlin proposals, the stewards simply reduced it, re- submitted it to procedure and called the strikes as "pressure"" Far from pressuring the em- campaign ployers, the half-day encouraged them by quickly los- ing support. Yet a similar policy was soon in operation in Liver-' pool. early October, the Liverpool In men's leaders banned work on a • US-Mersey container service new run by Sea-Land Inc. neither Again. the principles • nor containeriza- of Phase Two were challenged. The ban tion was intended as pressure for a new £16 basic wage which would price out the employers' Phase Two offer of f21 to buy out all existing bonuses and commodity differentials. ay May 4, 1972 s of articles in which David correspondent, shows how the al and unofficial, allowed the scheme to destroy jobs and These policies were continued November, following a when in ballot rejection of the employers' latest Phase Two offer in Lon- don, OCL-ACT stepped up the pressure by threatening to pull out of their banned Tilbury berth.

Jones' immediate response was that unions and employers should table, the negotiating rush to while the Communist Party trailed in his wake. "The em- ployers could have ended this dispute long ago by making a all the pay offer acceptable to London dockers,' it said.?

Tim O'Leary So within a fortnight of the London ballot, Phase Two talks had been re-started, while Liverpool a special sub-committee up which eventually was set ended the ban on Sea-Land.

The ban at Tilbury ended in April the following after year, Phase Two proposals had been accepted by a second secret Jack Jones of the Transport and General ballot. The NAS&D was forced Ph to drop its opposition to shift- Lo working the following month.

Still, however, there was noth settlement of the container issue.

The Bristow.. committee, re- porting to the government earlier in the year, had suggested a ten- mile corridor either side of the Thames within which containers be dockers' work. The would proposal stayed on the table.

Within five days of the Tory election victory in June, Liver- pool had staged a one-day token demanding futl hattonatization of the industry under 100-per-cent workers' control, an end to the jobs and no further use ot non- dockers' registered labour on work. And a T&GWU dock delegate conference gave notice of strike action over their claim for a new national fall-back rate of £20.

The strike threat gave rise to - desperate attempts by employers and T&GWU officials to get id General Workers' Union in implemented Phase Two London before it broke out.

These failed. But throughout the two weeks of official action, Jones and his friends refused to * raise the Devlin issue. And again : behind; the the CP trailed along 'Morning Star' failed even to Devlin until the day mention before the strike ended on terms recommended by Lord Pearson's inquiry into the dispute.

Phase Two came to London on September 21, but by early 197.

the employers were claiming it 'a disaster'. Since had proved three weeks after the Tory elec- tion victory, however, they had been preparing their counter- attack. newly-appointed On July 16, Iransport Minister John Peyton MP met one of the most in- fluential figures in British Ship, ping, Sir John Nicholson, chair- Steam- man of the £140m Ocean ship group. What was ended in port labour relations, the shipping magnate told the Minister, were 'terms of giving greater employment stability and responsibility. In other words hire and fire.

A few days before Phase Two started in London, Nicholson, Sir and George Andrew Crichton Tonge, the Hay's Wharf director who is chairman of the National Association of Port Employers, met Jones and Tim O'Leary.

In an interview with Workers Press on February 23 last year, O'Leary claimed that the purpose of these talks was 'to get some line on where the employers were going, and to see how we should defend ourselves'. the employers' This was not impression, however. the year Peyton was Later in to be told that Jones was quite prepared to discuss the em- ployers' ideas, as long as nothing was said about them in public before Phase Two had 'bedded down' Briefly, the ideas under discus- sion were these: 1 Establishment of a go-between • body between individual port authorities and the government with drawing up charged and implementing a strategy for the industry's development. 2 Steady reduction in the num- ber of port employers-pro- vided there was no suggestion that businesses might be bought up compulsorily. 3 Replacement of the 1947 dock labour scheme, with its statu- tory, guarantee of docks Jobs, by 'normal industrial agreements' policed by the industry's joint negotiating committee. The men Jones was talking to are possibly the most powerful in the industry, and are all now at the very centre of the current row over containers and surplus labour. Ocean Steamship is a major direct employer of dock labour, both through its subsidiary Ocean Port Services and its associated companies OCL, Liverpool Mari- time Terminals, Renfrew Steve- doring and Metropolitan Ter- minals. It also has an indirect interest in Southern Stevedores which is proposing to shut down in Lon- don next month and return 1,500 to the unattached labour men pool. The. chairman of Southern Stevedores, Henrik Karsten, is an Ocean director. Crichton's position has already been outlined yesterday. Proprietor's of Hay's Wharf, Tonge's firm now faces the black- ing of its UK Cold Storage and Dagenham Cold Storage sub- sidiaries. But it must also have considerable smypathy with the road-hauliers who have taken the • it has T&GWu to court, since many interests in that industry, too. The employers' strategy since these talks has been to use the trade slump quite deliberately to create the conditions for imple- the policies discussed menting with Peyton and Jones. Despite the present jobs crisis, however, the national port shop committee has never stewards' openly challenged Jones on his secret talks with the employers.

One London steward even used the paper of the so-called Inter- national Socialist group, 'Socialist Workers' , to deny that they had ever taken place. Even more important, the stewards have followed the T&GWU bureaucracy in shelving their demand for nationalization of the ports under workers' control. Yet this demand, which would, of course, presuppose a fight to make the Tory government sign from office, is now crucial.

Any other settlement of the questions now facing dockers must be a betrayal. 1 'The Newsletter' August 28, 1969. 2 'Morning Star' November 28, 1969.

TRADE WITH FRANCO

Greece and Spain are agreed on many things: the repres- sion of trade unions and of communist parties of the their countries and the need for the Common Market. The Greek deputy Foreign Minister Xanthopoulos Palamas, on the eve of his visit to Mad- ria, revealed in an interview with Spanish newspaper another point of agreement: 'Greece supports the point of view expressed by Lopez Bravo [Spain's Foreign Minister] which is favourable to the European Security Conference which the Soviets want to organize and in participant will be which each able to put forward his own theses.' glowingly then Palamas described his government's rela-.

tions with the Stalinist bureau- cracies of E Europe: 'Relations with Yugoslavia are satisfactory since especially my visit to Belgrade last year. It is desirable that these relations in the Balkans should function in a way, although that multilateral mean necessarily the would not reconstitution of the Balkan Pact.

'Our relations with remaining communist countries are good.

We have normal relations with Russia? arrived in of When Palamar Madrid on April 23, he could certainly be sure of a friendly welcome from Franco's men • the from old friends in and Stalinist bureaucracy also on a visit to Spain. 24 in Barcelona On April began the fifth pleanary assembly the bilateral Spanish-Yugos committee of business- lavian men, under the patronage of the city's Chamber of Trade. section had The Yugoslav spent the previous week in pre- paration in Belgrade, since they were worried about the balance of payments deficit with Spain.

this year Yugoslavia Already has ordered from Spanish ship- yards seven ships (about 190,000 tons tọ the value of $53m). The Yugoslav national railway com- has also ordered 1,000 pany 20 sleeping-cars, freight wagons, 25 diesel engines to a total value of $25m. The delegation in Barcelona was made up of representatives of the chemical and pharmaceuti- cal industries, shipbuilding, heavy industry and alloys. Their three-day visit was not a dull affair-they were enter- with a cocktail party tained given by the Barcelona Chamber of Trade and shown 'the pictures- que spots on the Costa Brava' week before a delega- The tion of Hungarians spent two days in Bilbao at the invitation Indus- of the Chamber of Trade, try and Shipbuilding of Bilbao.

eight-man The delegation, Czigany headed by one Gyula showed special interest in the Basque eléctricity industry in the In the south of Spain province of Huelva the vice-Min- ister of Agriculture in Hungary, Kaalmar Kazarecki was touring the factories and timber yards in the province. had no The Spanish fascists need to be told by their Greek friends of the great possibilities in of relations with the Stalinist bureaucracies! The Hungarian Minister for Joszef Foreign Trade, in Madrid on Biro, touched down April 22 en route to Budapest from a tour of S America. On the 24th, he made the following statement to the Hungarian press on his talks with the the Spanish vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade: and Hungary 'Spain must improve the possibilities for eco- nomic co-operation. That is the conclusion from my talks and from the last two years of our Cu Top: Papadopoulos, Greek Prime Minis foreign minister. Above: Franco and helr.

trade with Spain.' the 22nd, the In Warsaw on Polish government showed that it had not at all broken its rela- tions with Franco by signing an lines transport agreement on between the two countries - including a passenger line that journey makes the return and Madrid between Warsaw three times a week. os is fitting that saline A ria de.

Stalinist trade- most seeking with fascists will be con- ducted in 'Ilyushin 62' passenger aircraft of the Cuban Aviation Company which cover the routes Madrid from Havana to Prague, Madrid and Santiago de Chile. flight inaugural The was manned by mixed Russian- a Cuban crew. The planes are Workers Press, Ime Minister with Manescu, Rumanian owned by the Russian company 'Aeroflot' and are at the mom- ent being with rented skilled crews to Cuba as a step towards to Castro's selling such planes better government. What trial run than a run to Madrid!

The brazen contempt of the for the Stalinist bureaucracy Spanish working-class as they hurriedly cement their counter- revolutionary alliance with the Franco is clear in the fascist advertisement for holidays in Rumania figuring prominently in Spanish newspapers: 'Discover Rumania Bucharest, the Black Sea ... for informa- tion write to the Consular and Commercial Representatives of the Socialist Republic of Rum- ania.. Madrid: • Avenue Alfonso 13th ara Press, Thursday May 4, 1972 PAGE 5 Kwame Nkrumah, who died in Rumania while undergoing medical treatment, was one of the first generation of African nationalist leaders.

of power, During nine years his regime became increasingly corrupt and dictatorial. It was overthrown by a • military coup while he was visiting China on February 25, 1966, and put paid to his political career. Nkrumah had returned in 1947 to what was then the Gold Coast after some years of study in the United States and Britain and rapidly rose to the leader- ship of the Peoples Convention Party, which he had founded on a programme of immediate self- government. Imprisoned for a while in the.

closing stages of British rule, he emerged the leader of as new state of Ghana when it be- independent in March, came 1957. In the following years his rule became increasingly despotic with well-orchestrated personality a cult. Despite his socialist phraseo- logy he acted as the guarantor of imperialist investments in Ghana, playing off the divergent interests within of pressure groups the country against each other.

He was hailed as the 'Osagyefo' (victorious leader), the redeemer even as a 'modern-day and Christ'. Ghanaian 'socialism' consisted of no more than the steps which the state in an underdeveloped country was bound to take to encourage modernization and in- dustrial development. At the same time it protected private investment and sought and en- couraged foreign investment.

Opposition Nkrumah's regime grew in the 1960s and a number of attempts were made on his life. The mass of the population which had supported him originally with enthusiasm, increasingly lukewarm. became His enemies multiplied as his personal rule became more extravagent. After his overthrow he took refuge with a friend and admirer Sekou Toure, who ruled Guinea and spent the rest of his life there as an exile, hoping one day to resume power. Last year's Ghana showed coup in that there was no longer any support for Nkrumah. Nkrumah displayed all the limitations of colonial nationalism the countries. Despite left phrases, he was afraid of the working class and dependent upon im- perialism which needed * politi- cians like him to ward off the revolution.

By John Crawford your threat and strike, then you and they 1 remember vividly Robert Smillie labour leaders, weril. 'truculently will defeat us. describing me an interview Robert told me. if you dn so," went on •"But the leaders of the Triple Alliance determined they

KOL

Lloyd Mr David Lloyd George talked over by the seductive and George, had Welshman' this weighed 1919. The strategy the strike will be in defiance of the Bob's eyes twinkled in his grave clear The miners leaders was government of this country and under Robert Smillie, the strong face. 'He was quite frank will precipi- Robert with on fre said to usise KOn ou les vert success port WorKers of "Gentle- tate consumona Williams, and the National nor have fashioned, in the of Railwaymen under Thomas, men, you if a force arises in the formidable Triple Alliance formed most than the state which is stronger combination of industrial workers represented most state itself, then it must be ready powerful history of Great to take on the functions of the They had agreed on the demands state or withdraw and accept the to be made on opinion we are at voir mercur Gentle „naca vere state. The army is disaffected and can- employers, knowing well that the , asked the Prime Minister not be relied upon. Trouble has men", government, would be bound to aniel ou have de conseade "have already in a number of conscorer early stage occurred be involved an al We have A great deal Ano so zi nanvereu of industry was still under gou- ie me were beaten Robert Smillie, ernment war-time control and so and wer thes we ere. was immediately im- sacrifices, ana we ur e General Strike ine position to satisfy them. In the plicated. of 1926 was really an anti-climax?

circumstances, if you carry out Lloyd George sent for the Office, show that he did his job This quotation from Aneurin action.

STOCKS

WCIC

extremely low. Allied with Well. Place of 'Under any circumstances, he Bevan's book 'In and transport railwaymen Fear' has been reproduced told the union a strike would 'with chiets the miners were in workers. like : yours, body Workers Press severai In thing that the most serious times. But a strike gain some time could be imagined. the unions It expresses from the stand- when state calling

1TSP 1

announced the He poe sidaten following essee war, -the essence of entirely different National Industrial 27 wiere the situation February where unions on lessons for the vital Suis sindi going to HaS and employers acase working class today. this avoid would to

CISCUSS

way struggles of 1919 sas not wages What stake in splendid thing for who employment and improve work- wanted to upset the decision ebyhe detisitional ing conditions. work, class these malters power. The labour leaders were means. If the other method had more terrified of this issue t succeeded, sucernent would be ripostae parliamentary the ruling class. It was the ability

INQUIRY

of the most far-sighted capitalist was one or une scussion politicians to grasp these facts at polite and very irienaly, that time that decided the course Thomas, always, cringing of the class struggle for. half a century. The With leaders were the This cut little ice with most which had taken tion. workers, of course, but his other place in the same room two days Russian workers, the upsurge in divérsionary when workers' move- was more earlier. Then, the The mle allulai ment which 1914 had interrupted he met the the Cabinet had con- Il tall. 13 miners' leaders on February of a Strikes sidered the Prime Minister suggested the Bill, cestondi settini les already up of a full-scale inquiry shaken by the whose first clause provided for war, watched which industry coal arrest of anyone calling a tne

ILLO

of the nervously for signs strike which could be : declared a infection of the union. 'conspiracy against the state'. Th Bolshevik 1n and among the return- Perhaps it was at this meeting factories second police had The that Smillie heard the arguments inse do wen a strike in August soldiers. he recounted to Bevan. 1918. Winston Churchill had given 1919, mass demon- were persuaded Farlv in his opinion that 'words should be strations of soldiers and outright A special along with the inquiry. introduced which would allow the navy. pick and mutinies ACt was rusneo marourn Dalld. government to negotiate Office to be arrested' who should choose hu Chyde, executive and Sailors' However, it is doubtful whether suspend the strike decided Belfast the taking part in the and workers which their members hac March 22 STrUCK notices, discussion on amicable for the voted for by nearly six-to-one.

would nave altered their unofficial Industry : Commission militant Coal week even had they been aware of the uncer was chaired by Sir John Sankey leadership. prepared by their was measures a High Court judge, and included hosts. (In the event, the Bill was the pres ferment. the working three coal-owners, three indust- nowhere never needed.) DuL toreales class was there anything.

like the three miners eaders anc rialists, One very they wo class. of the leal se tirs uline Smillie Smillie three Labour economists. was taken to his The official leaders turned made it welc InTO •robaraniud Triple capital phe coal-owmshich to denounce agents nationali outrigh1 covernment And the woolly-headed liberals. coal-owners. would accept the findings of th who were When WITh left-wing Sankev 'in spirit and zezders Sankey Commission cowardic by the Russian Revolu- inspired enough. Tette MFGB Conference Lloyd trick of almost bereft turned out were The theoretical understanding of the repre- The met March decided The ( in favour of the situat Willy Gallacher, leader of further suspend the strike notices sentalves oune sittings miners' claim. yankev ane te the Clyde movement, said later- and nant ade members months, nominees recom- government government's proposals, With hours on employe. when it was too late, of course clear recommendation for accept- mendea Concooluls sentative 'We were carrying a sunke making ance should have been nationalization: present when making a revolution.' system of stands ownership• moucune of the m most delicate was their conclusion, .condemned

OTI

complim The problems faced by however. Tne coal-owners onIv

RESPONSIBLE

at a late was in the industries which to small improvements under state con- hours and wa came the crucial decision.

been

DUI

Commis especially trol during the Now wal. public. min 1919, and the railways. Were the miners to continue both miners and collaborate with the Commission January

JOUI

SEp the strike t to take place out lodged demands foI raliwa vanen Was Lloyd George's trick had come the wage increases. On une meus aisu MarCO off. He had gained sufficient time demanded six-hour working execute leaders toi Downing and nationalization Downing of the went prepare Ior a strike ane toi to carry ady responsible the mood the workers of this mines. February 12, the Lloyd George under It Mine- come betore t On conterence workers Federation Great Bonar Law took his place. The ruling class. innuence decided the viously lost in uncharted waters, executive minutes neeting but Duitain had found out how to manage been idl available at the Public Record members on strike Ther obert S had been engaged on their pro- militant nembers: paganda performance. Coal stocks system of ory, and had been built up. A scab transport by road was pre- pared. at of a coal During May, the 'Daily Herald' on averted published a secret document War Office instructions on political giving leaders, the use of troops against a strike.

d off the But the

MFGB

leaders still went on as if Lloyd George was nmission. amed its going to carry out the govern- For Sankey. On two ment's ments romy signe ard epre- they signed an agree- and the repre- ment on piece-rates liance in seven-hour day came into oper- ings into ation. wnership But the mine-owners were ject of a now ready for a fight. In York- George shire a strike was provoked, continued which into August fore the without national backing. This was referred to by Lloyd George ere made were at the Cabinet meeting on July but eight 21. (Of course, we only know now that the minutes are ers came this ationaliz- revealed.) ent going 'The present strike is practical, nd letter" not theoretical Bolshevism' said the Prime Minister, 'and must be weeks dealt with with a firm hand.

answere fight but the had to come be certain government had had not to that they were on firm ground n leaders d. H. Thomas; Str John Bankay, Willam Gallachor, Ramsay and had public opinion behind The whole future of them . stake and if the country was at it would result the miners won Soviet A in government. similar situation might result to of the first days of the that Russian Revolution and although the perli parliament would men, might parliament be at the headquarters in Russell Square'

CONFLICT

Navy stokers were sent, four divisions prepared for return from the Rhine army. Before Lloyd George made his public statement on the Sankey the conflict with the Pope lion cas broughth the Inter smashed For ever and tind strike called head. The ! Gallacher, Ramary MoDonald, Winston 18, the Prime On August out. Confident Minister spoke that the miners' leaders had lost the initiative completely, he ruled of nationalization. out all talk When the MFGB Conference met on September 3, there was no discussion of strike action. In- stead, resolution was over- whelmingly carried which 'invited that the the TUC declare to fullest and most effective action be taken .. • In other words. the delegates accepted the burial of Sankey. Now the government could turn its attention to the railway- men. The rail negotiations had been dragged out since February.

In August, a separate deal was made with the footplate men. Lloyd George and his henchmen, the Geddes brothers, were ready to deliver the knockout blow to the NUR. In September, Sir Aukland Geddes produced an offer which involved wage cuts for some his grades. In announcement, Geddes deliberately used the word 'definitive' instead of 'definite'. Lloyd George declared that the resulting strike decision n Churchill; Lloyd George.

Below: Workers demon was 'an anarchist conspiracy, 'a wanton attempt to hold up the community'.

DEPUTATION

On September 25, only a few hours before the strike was due to begin, the NUR executive sent a deputation to Downing St.

Lloyd George pretended not to have known that negotiations had reached breaking-point. But his phrases carefully oily were organized to give the railwaymen no way out of a fight. Thomas's pleas for a loophole 'It unanswered: is went no secret to anybody, certainly not to my executive, that ... they look upon me as rather a con- servative leader, he told Lloyd George-an understatement ever there was one. And he con- cluded: 'Disagreement should not accepting prevent any man a tribute to a genuine effort which Vorkere demonstrating In Georgo Square, 1919 we believe was made by you avert what unfortunately decision.' And yet, to prove once more that it was not the militancy of the working class that was lack- such ing, under even 'leadership', the railwaymen government's feated the Despite the deal done by their locomen leaders, backed up the NUR. Every effort was made by leaders of the transport to stop men in sympathy, coming out even this did not keep the heavy lorries moving. The Co-op massive support to the railway- men. At the end of a week, the government gave in. No cuts were to be made and every victimized worker was stated. The complete rout of the trade union movement had been prevented. Nonetheless, the main of the struggles of remained. The post-war wave of revolu- had passed. The tion weaknesses the workers' movement had been probed by the enemy. The government had Workers Press, Thursday May 4, 1972 PROR 1 valuable experiencé in obtained is the coping with large-scale national strike action - it was the scab organization transport put into operation in the rail strike that laid the basis for the pre- parations made later for the 1926 putrid strike. plans. Above all, the ruling class had learned, or perhaps divined, that solidly the labour leaders would unhesi- tatingly choose to retreat when the with the issue of power them Even if the British communists, but who only formed their party at he end of the following year elatedly started to understand 1923-1924, this Stalinism in smothered all such understand- ing before 1925 was out. The wage betrayal of the General Strike was thus prepared seven years rein- before. Building a revolutionary party to lead the struggles of the work- results is inseparable today 1919 from the fight to draw the theo.

practical lessons of retical and 1919. No degree of militancy can answer Lloyd George's chal.

basic 'Gentlemen, have you considered, and if you have, are you ready?'

PAGE 8 Workora Prose, Thuraday May 4, 1 By Gerry Healy, national secret The determination of the Tory government to utilize the legal provisions of their Industrial Relations Act has fundamentally changed the relationship of class forces in Britain. Even the capital- ist press admit that things can never be the same again.

When Sir Iohn Donaldson pro- nounced judgements the on Transport and General Workers' railmen's 'go- Union and the slow, he shattered for all time of compromise structure which has dominated the rela- since between the classes tions the days of Chartism. For the affairs of trade unions are no longer to be decided by their presided over by the Tory wielding enormous judiciary legal power in the interest of the capitalist class. There has been understandable file confusion in the rank and created by the open capitulation to the National Industrial Rela- the right-wing tions Court by Labour and trade union leaders.

be only effect can But this temporary. The thrust forward of the crisis and political economic the Court's which motivates rulings, will quickly act as forcing house to push the masses into greater battle against the Tory government. fight for more wages The which embraces millions of trade unionists, as well as the resist- ance of tenants to the Tory Rent Bill, can no longer be waged in isolation from the main political of the day. Central to issues these is to mobilize the working to make the Tory govern- class ment resign. All major struggles ahead will almost immediately de into political trials transformed of strength. у мау 4, 1872 For revolutionary Marxists the decisive test is how to analyse intervene within the work- and ing-class, taking advantage of the considerable changes which are now taking place. Britain is the home of trade unionism. From the Industrial have workmen Revolution orgahized together in their craft in their societies and later unions to protect and general improve their wages and work- ing conditions. of war, Engels 'As schools wrote in his 'Conditions of the . Working Class in England', 'the unions are unexcelled. In them is developed the peculiar courage of the English.' This pioneering role of trade unionism has its negative aspects; strengthened in .. that it tendency towards individualism within the working class rather than class consciousness. In those where trade unions countries, founded by social-demo- were cratic leaders, the working-class much developed more pro- a nounced class-consciousness.

which they The zeal with fought against the brutal in- rise of justices during the inter-mixed with capitalism was the determination of the Puritan tradition which has imparted cer- tain contradictory characteristics.

One of the most important of these is a conception of fair and social justice. play' form takes the appearance this of an aggravating conservatism when contrasting with the revo- lutionary elan of, say, the French working class. find, even today, - One can pockets of working-class opinion which will talk abstractly about for employers. 'fair play' even But such backwardness needs to with an earlier ex- be negated land of the small perience of the 16th and 17th holders century. bour League It wasn't that they coveted the land owned by the aristoc- racy so much, but they fought like tigers when the same aristu- crat and his middle-class kinsmen of the towns tried to evict them from their small holdings and the common lands. Fair-play and social justice then the symbols of large- became scale peasant uprisings. Trade unionism is today vir- itself. tually the working class When they see the role of the NIRC as one which destroys the unions then, like their ancestors, workers will fight tooth and nail to resist the legal bandits of the Tory government and the class it represents. Of equal importance is an understanding of the historic re- lationship between the working class and parliament. French working Unlike class in the Revolution of 1789, its English counterpart cam- paigned in the latter part of that century for its representatives to sit in parliament. Following Combination the Laws (1800-1824) this campaign in the Chartist was renewed Movement (1837-1848). The cam- successful, paign was not only but the main points of the itself were eventually Charter legislated by parliament.

The evil fruits of imperialism, which provided the resources for initiating such reforms, now placed what seemed to be the all-powerful obstacle of approxi- mately 122 years of class com- promise before the working class.

Here lies the reason for the parlia- powerful reformist and mentary traditions which con - stantly aggravate the confusion idealists. of impressionists and Within this reformist tradition, however, is its opposite-the age conception of rights and social justice. Now that the Tory govern- Top: Chartist demonstration at Kenning Above: Engels who wrote 'As schools excelled. In them Is developed the peci ment has dropped the parliamen- tary mask by deciding to legally destroy the trade unions, which have built, the working class those features of reformism and class collaboration which in i the past have restrained the working from taking the revolu- class tionary road, now become trans- formed into their opposite.

Workers see the Tory govern- ment as their main enemy and this destroys the individualism which in the past has character- ized the sectionalism wages struggle. They see their democratic rights being taken t Kennington Common April 10, 1848.

s schools of war the unlons are un- I the peculiar courage of the English'.

vokes the rev futionary aspects justice. of fair play and social So the English worker is well on the way to becoming a poli- tically, class-conscious worker as distinct from his previous trade union, reformist consciousness. Herein lies the essence of the great change ushered in by • the Relations National Industrial sponsored by a Tory Court, itself plunging Government, and deeper into the deeper depths of an insolable economic crisis.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

Paul Newman In 'Never Give an Inch'

BY GUEST REVIEWER, TIM HO

Once before we have seen a remarkable example of how an avowed liberal can turn a profound hatred towards the working class and its organizations when under pressure-this was in 'On the Waterfront', made by Elia the period of Kazan in McCarthy's witch-hunts in the United States. Now, in 'Never Give an Inch', who Paul Newman, we see directed the film and stars in it, doing the same-though under different pressures. The basis of Newman's film is a novel by Ken Kesey called Notion'. a Great 'Sometimes Kesey, a pioneer of LSD and a writer, falling somewhere 'beat' and between Jack Kerouac Timothy Leary, has been revered by the hippie drop-out set as a "revolutionary' writer, particularly by that section which consciously aligns itself to extreme theories of anarchism. It seems, without too deep an Kesey's political analysis, that somewhat like that of bias is Max anarchist writer early Stirner. He believed that each individual was in battle against everything and everyone else, and the only possibility for that . a be the 'stable' would society all organizations, abolition of followed by a fight in which the weakest would go to the wall and his own the strongest, each with bit of property to defend, would an atmosphere of co-exist in mutual terror. , therefore, is Kesey's novel, quite openly anti-trade unionist.

Its background is a strike in the timber country of Oregon. The Stamper family, driven by pride and honour (they family have signed a contract, and they must fulfil it), work on in defiance of the strike, answering sabotage with violence, and despite the death of the father and one son, fulfil the contract, go on to dragging in a drop-out son who came home from the big city on the way. Here, already a clear con- nection has been drawn between

TIM HORROCKS

'work, the right-wing, nihilistic, sleep, eat—what else is there to for?' philosophy live of the Stampers and that of their way- longhaired prodigal son. out, The novel, of course, supports this and ends with the surviving Stampers towing their logs down river while the strikers, powerless to intervene, wander disconsolately down the bank.

The didacticism of this story comes out when one considers the implausibility of some of the plot. At the end, for example, why do the strikers (who like many people in Us timber country are presumably armed) not force the Stampers to sub- mit to their demands? Is it because the Stampers have won their respect? This point is far from clear, and so are many others. Newman, himself a liberal rather than an extreme anarchist, has brought such a fuzzy and impressionistic vision to this story that the only thing which emerges from it with any clarity is right-wing anti-trade unionism in the first place, and hatred of the working class as individuals in the second. The base in individualism-the thing which theoretically unites extreme anarchism and fascism— is, it seems, the only thing the liberal Newman can seize upon and give any vitality to.

In doing so, he only confirms the confusion of liberalism in the face of the contradictions of capitalism and the analysis of its present crisis. Many ex-acid-freaks are now Jesus-freaks. Many liberals would towards fascism if its move strength grew decisively. Extreme anarchists may go the same way.

What unites them all is fear and hatred of the working class and its organizations. the film are The workers in presented as boorish layabouts, prone to violence, dependent, and so on. At one stage they are even shown to depend on the Stampers for a rescue operation.

The whole moral weight thus falls decisively in favour of Henry Fonda as the father (who incarnates all the redneck values of the Stampers) and with the liberal prodigal son, Michael Sarrazin. ter ous bread on or sides.

• sides, butter its bread has Sarrazin criticize scabbing and tempt the two wives in the family (both ineptly cast, by the way) to leave. One actually does, but Sarrazin helps Newman, after the father's death, to get the logs down the river. Blood, it seems, is thicker than water. Grudgingly I must point out that film has good two sequences. One shows Sarrazin's first day of hard work cutting down trees. Here the editing and shoot- ing, which emphasize the small- ness of the men as against the threat of danger posed by the gigantic and trees powerful machinery actually manages to convey quite well the struggle of these men against nature.

However the sequence pro- ceeds only by repetition rather than development, and fizzles out. The other shows how Newman attempts to save his brother, who is pinned underwater by a log, from drowning. Here the acting is excellent, but the shooting is impressionistic and vague, and the only attempts to bring out the possible richness of its con- tent consist of pretentious cut- backs to extreme longshots.

The whole film is characterized after by sequence sequence which, however well or badly shot, fail to develop dramatically precisely because of Newman's inability to find coherent a point of view which draws out the inner workings of the plot.

All that stands out clearly is the right-wing union-baiting and Newman's confusion. Anyone who can should see this film, however, as it provides a good example how the capitalist crisis is affecting liberal elements in Hollywood. If you feel that's not a very good reason for going to see a film, there's only one thing to say-that there's nothing new in cinema that isn't reflecting the crisis in one way or another. In this context, even bad films can be important. Worker& Press Interesting sidelight on the power of the press as wielded by his eminence, Lord Thom- son of Fleet. This is a report of an exchange in the House of Lords: Lord Shackleton said that Lord Thomson of Fleet had said it was not true that news- influence sound paper broadcasting would result in a slanting of the news. 'But looking at "The Times", its report was so selective that Lord Denham (the govern- ment Baroness spokesman, Phillips (Lab) and Lord Orr.

Ewing (Con) among others, A portrait of premier Edward Heath, painted in horse man- ure, is on show at Liverpool's kora Press, Thurary. M were not reported at all, but one of the two columns of extraordinary report, by an coincidence, gave Lord Thom- son's speech. 'I know that his editors enjoy freedom under his con- trol. I accept that, but it does cause some of us a little bit of concern, said, amid he laughter. Thomson intervened: Lord 'He should give considera- tion to the astuteness of the editorial direction of "The Times" in picking out the very important contribution I made to the debate' (Laughter).

I am fully experienced in these which Lord matters, Shackleton is not, and it was very important that the things I said have been should recorded in full Medici gallery. The painter, Brian Burgess, said: 'It pro- duces a remarkable subtle quality-and no smell.'

LEON TROTSKY:

Germany 1931/1932 Paperback £1.25-cloth £1.87% Where Is Britain Going ? Paperback 37}p Revolution Betrayed Paperback 62}p—cloth £1.05 Problems of the Chinese Revolution Paperback £1.124—Cloth £1.874 Permanent Revolution : Results and Prospects Paperback 75p In Defence of Marxism Paperback 75p Lessons of October Paperback 60p Postage 10p per book, 3p per pamphlet. Order from :

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PAGE 10 Workers Prose, Thursday May 4, 1972 POLLING takes place today in the local council elections in England and Wales.

SALTLEY

At yesterday's polling in Scot- land, the Labour Party made a 77 net gain of at least seats. Only Scotland's 25 of major burghs are now in the hands of anti-Labour groups. Their biggest victory was in Glasgow,. where they gained 13 them record seats, giving majority of 47 seats on the coun- cil. The Scottish National Party lost Shettleston Ward, their last seat in Glasgow. remaining Turnout, however, was down.

Only 38 per cent of people turned out to vote compared with 40.2 per cent last time. REVENUE for evening news- SALTLEY: The coke depot where the paper advertising in 1971 was the police could not budge.

at its lowest for several years, retirin channer chairman of the Eve- Advertising ning Bureau, G. F. L. Potter, announced in London yester- day. bureau's Speaking at the said that annual meeting, he 1971 was one of the worst years, for classified adver- particularly The most serious concern tising. however, cal advertising the sub- of all, was stantial fall in However, the bureau last year of trebled the value advertising laced through it to just space ver £324.000 in 1962, The bureau, set up 83 has 58 of Britain's evening sub- newspapers its scribers. Moscow Trials Anthology Paperback, 624p

MAX SHACHTMAN:

Behind The Moscow Trial Paperback 75p

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LEON TROTSKY :

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186a Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UG. The dally papor that oads the flaht against the Tories. £20.28 for 12 months (312 lasues) £10.14 for 6 montha (156 Issues) {5.07 for 3 months (78 lasuos) If you want to take Workers Press twice a week the rates are: £1.56 for 3 months (24 issues) £6.24 for 12 months (96 issues) Fill in the form below NOW and send to: 186a Clapham High St., Circulation Dept., Workers Press, London. SWA 7UG. I would like to take out a subscription to Workers Press.

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BY OUR OWN REPORTER.

THE basic right of striking worke work was attacked yesterday at the conference in Glasgow. Insp Rona the conference that politicians sho it require several thousand picket handful of persons to refrain from In a call for tighter laws Munro asked: on picketing 'Why should the laws govern- ing such an emotional and volcanic Unions should be responsible for the actions of pickets. 'Let's at least place some of the onus the democratically-elected on office bearers of the strikers.

They are the persons who call their members out on strike. It is they who call on their members to carry out picket duties.'

Praising policemen who re- mained silent when castigated, kicked and spat on, he warned menacingly that this silence was not a token of acquiescence.

Police came in for more praise from Munro for their perform- ance during the recent miners' strike. They had showed the 'utmost impartiality' while trying to uphold the law. "To those who express the opinion that police officers are "tools of government" , I say they are talking blithering sheer rubbish, he said.

• BUT A

police tie com- memorating battles with picket- ing miners outside Saltley coke Birmingham, during the depot, miners' strike gives the lie to Munro's claim. 500 of the ties have been ordered by members of the City's police. The ties cost 75p and are dark blue emblazoned with a scroll stating shovel over 'Saltley 1972'. They were first ordered by a group of policemen to mark the Midlands working class mounted a picket ig workers to picket their place of ay at the Scottish Police Federation isp Ronald Munro, chairman, tola clans should ask themselves: 'Does d pickets peaceably to persuade a ain from working?' ed: five days when they faced strik- ing miners who came from all over Britain to stop scab lorries from collecting coke. Arthur Scargill, Yorkshire miners' executive member, said the police were only com- memorating their own defeat.

'We will remember always Saltley as our victory. If we ever have a tie made, the helmet will be where it belongs— beneath the crossed pick and shovel.' Reyrolle return

FOUR

THOUSAND

manual workers on strike from Reyrolles electrical engineering works at Hebburn, Tyneside, returned to work yesterday. The men stopped work and sat-in at the factory on Friday after two welders were suspended.

They then continued on strike until the suspension period ended yesterday when they decided to return. THE 43rd annual conference will of Conservative women devote much of its time to lack of morality in the entertain- ment industry and the nation's morals. These are pet subjects among the ladies in flowered hats from Berkshire and Folkestone.

The conference wili be held in London on May 23-24. At Westminster's Central Hall the ladies will be discussing about 100 motions covering aspects of life, government policy and the nation's morals. One motion suggests classifica- tion of TV programmes like those

BY OUR OWN

REPORTER

WAS Commander Kenneth Drury, head of Scotland Yard's Flying Squad, pushed, or did he jump? On Monday night he announced that he had 'resigned' from the force. But on Tuesday, when Metro- politan Police orders were pub- lished they showed Drury had 'retired'. It is normal procedure for an officer retiring to give notice of at least a month. In Drury's case this was not done. Because he was already under suspension when he left the 'retire- orce, use of the word means that no further ment' disciplinary action will be taken against him. His suspension resulted from newspaper evidence that he and his wife went on holiday to Cyprus with lames Humphreys, a Soho strip club owner. Humph- reys was a former inmate of Dartmoor prison. Although Drury claims the holiday was part of a topline investigation into the missing Ronald Train Robber Great Biggs, he did not tell his senior officers that he was making the inquiries at a holiday resort in and Cyprus with wife Humphreys. Drury: Biggs in Cyprus? CHANGES to the £100m Picca- dilly Circus development scheme proposed by Westminster City Council were suggested and son- day. • for the 'safety con- venience of pedestrian versus motor cars'. The suggestions were made by the Crown Estate Commissioners, ground landlords of the Criterion site south of Eros, and of Regent St and Lower Regent St includ- ing_ the Swan and Edgar corner in Piccadilly Circus. The Commissioners want to ensure that pedestrians can move *freely and easily between the Circus and Piccadilly and Regent St, Second Commissioner W. A.

Wood said in a statement.

used by the British Board of Film Censors. Another old favourite that will be cropping up is pena retorm.

One branch urges that a 'physical' deterrent be made available to of violence courts cases against the individual. Prime Minister Edward Heath will address the meeting on the second day and James Prior, Min- ister of Agriculture, also iS expected to speak. Prior was recently made deputy chairman of the party. Replying to the debates will be Chancellor Anthony Barber, Secretary of State for Social Ser- vices Sir Keith Joseph and Min- ister of Posts and Telecommuni- cations, Sir John Eden.

The engineering battle-MANCHESTER

FROM PHILIP WADE IN THE NORTH-WEST

AFTER SEVEN weeks of struggle by engineers in the greater Manchester area, the big employers are still resisting the most vital demand for a shorter working week. To date some 38 agreements have been reached on the a 35-hour-week and an extra week's district claim for £4, holiday. None of the leading employers however, has given way on hours. The sit-in of 450 workers at Laurence Scott, Openshaw, concluded this week on the basis of a £3 rise backdated to December and two days extra holiday. Amalgamated Union of En- district Workers' gineering face officials have now come face - with the monopoly to combines the who area 10 refuse to concede on a reduc- tion in hours. At GEC-AEI, Trafford Park, where negotiations have resumed after a return to work by 3,500 locked three workers out for weeks, no offer has been made on a cut in the 40-hour week.

In fact the big federated firms Hawker Siddeley,

GKN,

like Linotype and GEC have united of sanctions by imposition 200,000 workers on March 27.

their determination to resist 'Even modest this demand. we get Both district officials and the hours at

GEC,

reduction in it admit will be something of a victory,' employers' association that the Trafford Park talks are he added. the most critical the whole But as far as the employers there dispute. were concerned, was no 'Once the big firms concede of any concession in this sign on hours it will give us a licence direction. all A spokesman told me: make similar settlements Tocher, 'Without doubt hours over the place, John are

AUEW

divisional organizer told for national negotia- question tions. The situation is somewhat me. critical at GEC. But there are The employers had made con- basic rates of sensible workers there so and cessions on the lot holidays, he said, since the I'm hopeful.' on

BBC 1

9.20-9.35 On the farm. 9.38-11.38 Schools. 12.55-1.25 Arall fyd. 1.30 Joe. 1.45-1.53 News and weather.

2.05 Schools. 2.25 Chester races.

3.55 Working with youth. 4.20 Play school. 4.45 Jackanory. 4.55

ITV

Blue Peter. 5.20 Boss cat. 5.44 Hector's house: 5.50 News and 10.20-12.00 Schools. 1.10 Time to remember. 1.40 Schools. 2.32 weather. Good afternoon! 3.00 Houseparty.

6.00 NATIONWIDE.

3.15 Joker's wild. 3.45 Marcus

6.45 WHERE IN THE WORLD.

Welby. 4.40 Nuts and bones. 7.00 SPY TRAP. Girl in Waiting.

4.55 Secret squirrel. 5.20 Magpie.

7.25 TOP OF THE POPS.

5.50 News.

8.00 THE GOODIES.

Guest

6.00 TODAY.

Stanley Baxter.

6.35 CROSSROADS.

8.30 THE FRENCH WAY. Then 7.00

FILM: A FINE MADNESS'.

Turn Not Pale, Beloved Connery, Joanne Sean Jean Seberg. Woodward, Snail. Comedy about a frustrated 9.00 NINE O'CLOCK NEWS and who cleans carpets for a living. weather.

9.00 LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR.

9.20 PLAY FOR TODAY: 'ALMA

9.30 THIS WEEK.

MATER'. lan Carmichael.

10.00. NEWS AT TEN.

10.30 CINEMA

10.35 24 HOURS ELECTION

11.00 SOMETHING TO SAY

SPECIAL.

van Mage

2.00 THE GEORDIE BIBL

11.45 Weather. I would like information about Fill in the form below and send to NATIONAL

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LABOUR

186A CLAPHAM HIGH ST, LONDON, SW4 7UG.

Name Address a shorter week and mean a real incre John Dougherty, convenor at 950 Mirrlees, Stockport, where workers are in the sixth week of their sit-in, commented: 'It is more than just a fight to increase our wages. 'The employers here are backing the government, which is trying to reduce our standard of living. That is why they refuse concede on hours or con- to ditions. ... •: 4•1 •Wage increases can be quickly eaten away by the rising cost of • Bowl' bes Henry James' 'The Golden BBC-2 tonight. Gayle Hunnicutt (left) Townsend as Maggie Verver are in part

REGIONAL TV

WESTWARD: 10.20-2.32 London.

3.55 Gus Honeybun. 4.05 Yak.

4.18 News. 4.20 Funny face.

4.50 Skippy. 5.20 London. 6.00 Diary. 6.35 London. 7.00 Film: 'No Name on the Bullet'. 8.30 This is your life. 9.00 London.

10.30 Report. 10.59 News.

11.03 Theatre. 11.55 Faith for life.

SOUTHERN: 10.20 London. 3.00 Afloat. 3.30 From a bird's eye 4.15 4.00 Houseparty. view. Leprechaun. 4.30 Crossroads. 4.55 Lionheart. 5.20 London. 5.50 London. 6.00 Day by day. 6.45 7.15 Film: "My Simon Locke. Blood Runs Cold'. 9.00 London.

11.00 News. 11.20 Drive-in. 11.50 12.20 Weather. Stuart : Gillies. Voyage to discovery. ANGLIA: 10.20 London. 3.15 Randall and Hopkirk. 4.05 News.

4.10 Jimmy Stewart. 4.40 Rupert.

4.55 Captain Scarlet. 5.20 Lon- About Anglia. don. 6.00 6.20 Arena. 6.35 London. 7.00 Film: 'Against the Wind'. 9.00 London. Whipl Workers Prea increase in workers living. But a shorter working week and extra holidays mean a real increase in workers' stan- dards of living. "The membership in my factory is getting more determined each day, however. Two weeks after sit-in have the they might accepted a reasonable offer.

'Management's in hardness dealing with the shop floor has harma peoprocat @ffeotu..They.

want some real concessions on hours now, said John. Bowl' begins as a six-part serial utt (left) as Charlotte Stant and Jill re in part one, 'The Prince'.

10.30 Sailors of fortune. 11.05 Cinema. 11.35 Elections. 12.15 Epilogue. ATV MIDLANDS: 10.20-2.33 Lon- Shir .00 don. 3.10 Yoga. 3.35 Horoscope.

6.35 London. 7.00 Sky's the limit.

7.30 Film: 'Brushfire'. 9.00 Lon- don. 11.00 Today. ULSTER: 10.20-2.32 London. 4.30 Romper room. 4.50 News. 5.20 London. Forest rangers. 6.00 Reports. 6.15 Tommy. 6.35 London. 7.00 Simon Locke. 7.30 Film: "Doctor In the House'. 9.00 London. 11.00 What's it all about.

11.20 Avengers. GRANADA: 11.00 London. 2.30 Saint. 3.25 All our yesterdays.

3.55 Camera in action. 4.10 News.

Peyton Place. 4.40 London. 4.55 Make a wish. 5.15 London. 6.00 News. Police file. 6.25 | dream of Jeannie. 7.00 Sky's the limit.

8.50 Sylvester. 9.00 6.20 7.25 Film. London. 11.00 On the line. 11.30 Jon. Whiplash. ors Prose, Thuraday May 6, 1972 PACK 11 Mirries workers are in the sixth week of their sit-in NEGOTIATIONS over the sack- ing of 130 canteen and cleaning • at Kent University staff open today. Yesterday a meeting of 1,850 students and staff voted not.to accept the redundancies.

Another mass meeting is planned for tomorrow.

BBC 2

11.00-11.25 Play school. 6.35-7.00 WORKINg WITH

YOUTH.

Self - Governing and Self-Programming.

7.05 OPEN UNIVERSITY.

7.30 NEWSROOM and weather.

8.00 EUROPA. The world today.

8.30 THE GOLDEN BOWL.

of Henry Dramatization James' novel.

9.20 SHOW OF THE WEEK:

HARRY SECOMBE SHOW.

Guests Nicol Williamson, Anne Evans, Roy Budd Trio. 10.05 NEWS ON 2 and weather.

10.10 WORLD CINEMA: 'LUCIA'.

First of three films made in Cuba since the revolu- tion. TYNE TEES: 11.00 London. 3.00 Sound of... 3.15 A good play.

4.10 News. 4.15 Crossroads. 4.40 Scarlet. London. 4.55 Captain 5.20 London. 6.00 Today. 6.30 Shirley's world. 7.00 Popeye. 7.10 Film: "Move Over Darling'. 9.00 London. 10.30 Sportstime.

11.00 Police call. 11.05 Cinema.

11.35 News. 11.50 Drive-in. 12.15 Revolving chair. SCOTTISH: 11.00-2.32 London.

time. 3.45 3.30 Once upon Crossroads. 4.10 Dateline.

Fireball XL5. 5.20 London. 6.00 Cartoon. Dateline. Stuart Gillies. 6.55 Film: 'Alvarez Short story. 9.30 Kelly'. 9.00 10.30 Love thy neigh- London. Late call. Cinema. 11.35 Beagan gaidhlig.

GRAMPIAN: 11.00-2.32 London.

3.35 Job look. 3.45 3.34 News. Women today. 4.10 Julia. 4.40 Rumblie jumblie. London. 4.55 5.20 London. 6.00 News and weather. 6.10 Other Lindisfarne.

6.35 London. 7.00 Plus tam. 7.30, Film: 'Our Man In Havana'. 9.00 Londth. 11.00 Viewfinder. 11.30 Survival. 12.00 Epilogue.

PAGE 12 Workers Pross, Thursday May 4,

FROM IAN YEATS

IN SCARBOROUGH

THE 1,400 technical staff working-to-rule at C. A. Parsons' Newcastle factory will decide in the next few days whether to continue their action. Production workers threatened with redundancies at the 8,500- plant have strong generator already agreed to work normally for a management in return promise that there will be no sackings this year. Six hundred technical staff have been dismissed for imposing sanctions on the company in a bid to prevent substantial redun- dancies due to take place in June. Alternative employment for in the New- highly-skilled men • would be almost castle area impossible to find. Now many workers are saying Parsons' determination to have their way, coupled with the threat of the Industrial Relations choice but to cut their losses appears to leave little and resume normal working.

• Technical staff-all members of the Technical and Supervisory Staffs Association of the Amal- gamated Union of Engineering shown their Workers-have willingness to fight for four months in support of a closed shop, now illegal under the Act.

Stalinist But TASS officials are urging the men to accept a 'no-redundancies-in-1972' formula along the lines of the agreement the reformist leaders signed by of the clerical and manual unions.

as a means of resuming normal work. International Socialist group members in the factory leader- ship say there is no further action they can take, adding that if the anti-union law is rised against them the union will appeal to the TUC for help. IAN YEATS will Tomorrow. reveal details of how reformism, and Stalinism revisionism is ganging un on the fight against redundancies at Parsons.

LATE NEWS

EMPLOYMENT Secretary Maurice Macmillan has invited transport union Jones, Jack leader, to meet him to discuss the dock situation before today's dockers' delegate meeting.

LEADERS of the TUC and the Confederation of British Industry are concerned the Budget will not have the desired effect in reducing The unemployment. TUC said at a meeting of the National Economic Development Council under the chairmanship of Heath yesterday that they government's welcomed the decision to go for more reflation.

But they would have preferred to see more selective measures to reduce unemployment directly.

The CBI was not only con- cerned about whether the Budget would reduce unemployment, but whether it would also doubted contain inflation. The meeting was to have been devoted entirely to the Budget but a good deal of the talk ranged around low incomes and profits. day May 4, 1972

BY OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID MAUDE

WHEN adjourning contempt charges against the Transport and General Workers' Union yesterday, Court pesident Sir John Donaldson said he was dis- appointed the union had been unable to offer any corresponding adjournment of the industrial action at Liverpool. Asked by Donaldson if he could help on the efforts the union would make to adjourn industrial action, Mr Peter Pain, QC, for the T&GWU, replied: 'No, I am afraid I am not able to help you on that. Donaldson went on to virtually invite the intervention of Tory Macmillan dispute. Secretary Maurice Employment Macmillan should not be inhibited from taking immediate action', he said. Donaldson refused the union's application for a ten-day adjourn- refuse to appoint new represen- until next Tues- ment and choose men of like mind gave tatives, understanding that day, the the incumbents on to present the evidence before the all vote in stewards who were even Friday Court reached Pain by more radical. morning. There was a risk of the dispute Yesterday's hearing arose as spreading one But the result of applications on Monday can't although control Heatons Trans- and Tuesday by everybody in the would docks'. Helens) Ltd and officials, (St through its full-time port Craddock Bros of Wolver- take steps to try to prevent the hamptor, alleging that blacking spread. their vehicles had continued It would be idle to suggest imposed fines the since the on that we can do that at Liverpool effectively, and it would be naïve

T&GWU.

to suggest that we could persuade Earlier in proceedings this stage to said Court's them Donaldson evense their policy.' on the face of it, orders were, But other ports something still being disobeyed. may be done and 'we are quite When Pain replied. that it was prepared to do that'. not in his client's power to stop Asked whether he was attack- Liverpool; blacking the the at principle of the Court's ing the

NIRC

president asked whether judgement simply their or produced evidence would be Pain said it was the application, the union's dock showing that latter. He would want to examine and road transport had the question of removing creden- been called together and that tials against the background of officials the national had seen the Liverpool docks, he said.

dock shop stewards. 'Is it your case that the union shop unable to control its stewards and that it is unwilling withdraw their credentials to because the consequences would be even worse?' he asked.

If stewards committed shop to the law, it was acts contrary dissociate the union's duty to itself 'We have from them. spelled it out at least twice,' he

BY OUR OWN

added.

REPORTER

credentials Withdrawal of effects, Pain would have two would said. No be left to one TWENTY-FIVE people were and deal with local problems there could be a crop of unofficial indicted in Madrid, Spain, The membership could disputes. yesterday on charges in con- nection with clashes between

WEATHER

pofice and strikers in which two workers were killed at EAST and South East England El Ferrol two months ago.

and the Midlands will be East cloudy, England with rather perhaps Armed police opened fire on Western little drizzle. 3,000 shipyard workers demand- Wales, Northern Ireland, and ing higher pay, shorter hours and West and North Scotland will be recognition of the illegal Workers mosaid SitaNoell East Commissions. The shootings Eastern Scotland, North widespread sparked off strikes England and the West Midlands along Spain's northern seaboard. will be cloudy with some rain in Temperatures will bles a firm The said the prosecutor normal, but it will be near demonstration political and was rather cold in the east. dispute that forced not a labour Outlook for Friday and Saturday: the police intervention 'to repel the and Dry north west. aggression'. Occasional rain in the east and The bloody incidents occurred south. Temperatures near normal March and climaxed rather cold except in РАСТОЧА series of stoppages at shipyards England. building centre in the major ship of El Ferrol which is also the birthplace Spanish of fascist leader General Franco. 'The 25 accused: 17 of whom have been ordered to be held in at the Post as a newspapeorker" _ondon.

pending a public order custody published Press. charged with trial, 186a are Street,

PIOUAN

illegal association and propa- 800 pham 1 dondon. (TU). ganda, sedition and causing High Street, public disorders.

SWA 7UG.

Richard Yorke, Heatons' QC to industrial commonsense' possibly unfair to the stewards themselves. Pain's admission that he was challenging not the principle of the judgement but their applica- tion was crucial here, since this to what shifted the argument action should be taken over the powers of the shop stewards.

I shall be asking you to say that the shop stewards did not have the union's authority for their actions and that these circumstances do not put the contempt,' he told union Donaldson. The judgements given by the Court, he said, were open to two interpretations; that shop stewards' powers should be so limited that it was clear that they did not have the power to act in the way they had, or that should their credentials be removed for going against union policy. He would be arguing for the first alternative.

MAY FUND

STARTS

WITH £81.09

THIS MONTH we are determined to make an early start for our May Fund. Last month was our greatest effort so far when you raised • the l magnificent amount of £2,105.50—1855.50 over our target. Once again, therefore, we would ilke to make a special appeal to you all. Our costs have risen enormously and they continue to rise. We are asking you to make a sacrifice and help us this month raise another £500 over our £1,250 target. We feel that the action of the Industrial. Relations Court changes everything for the work- ing class. In this serlous political situation all our determination to fight the Torles must be mobilized. You more than raised this amount last month and we have every confidence you will raise It again. So start today. Post all your donations to : Workers Press May Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High St London, SW4 7UG.

BY OUR OWN

REPORTER

DELEGATES at the annual conference of the National of Old Age Federation Pensioners yesterday unani- mously rejected recent calls for voluntary euthanasia for old people. Meeting at Douglas, Isle of Man, they passed an emergency condemning resolution an article by Baroness Stocks (80) in the magazine 'Age Concern' supporting the idea that old people have the right by law to an authorization for a sign doctor to carry out a mercy killing on them. •We don't want people to be liquidated at the stroke of a pen, said Leeds delegate, 75-year-old former male nurse, William Rees.

'Huge slices of the elderly could be liquidated' population he said. 'It would give a boost to the economy of any govern- ment in power if they did not financial same heavy have the liability for old people' National President Arthur of Fleetwood, Lancs, Parker, commented: 'Some people seem to think and we are living too long becoming too much of a liability on the country. We should show them our contempt and our protest.? Executive council member Mrs Bishop condemned for his idea that Durham a system' should be 'points established to decide whether a patient should be kept artificially alive. It was a disgraceful suggestion for a Bishop, she said. shipyard 100,000

BRITAIN'S

yesterday workers won an average pay rise of over 30 per cent on basic rates over the next two years. In the agreement receive a lower-paid workers minimum £20 a week wage-the TUC target—in a year's time.

receive rises of Craftsmen £2.75 a week from May 15 this year and another £2.75 on May 21 next year, giving them a new basic rate of £24.50. labourers At the same time get increases of £2.50, bringing them up to £20. The seven semi- skilled rates ranging from £16.63 to £17.15 have • been condensed into one rate of €19.50 from this May and £22 from next May.

Three days' extra holiday over the next two years were agreed.

MRS Barbara Castle has re- gained her in Labour seat Shadow Cabinet by beating Liverpool MP, Eric Heffer, by Ill votes to 89 in a Parliamen- tary Labour Party ballot.

More than 80 backbenchers to vote in the failed contest caused by the election of Edward Short as deputy leader in place of Roy Jenkins. The 80 non-voters are believed to be Jenkinsites who regarded 'left'. both candidates as too When she was Employment Secretary Mrs Castle introduced of Strife', the fore- 'In Place runner of the Tories' Industrial , Relations Act.