Workers Press no. 816
1972 Read the scan at ETOL (PDF) →This text was read from the scan by machine and has not been corrected. Columns and stories run into one another, and words are misread. Use it to find things; for anything you quote, read the scan.
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workers press
AS HUNDREDS LOBBY OUTSIDE CONGRESS HOUSE
TUC INVITE TORIES
TO NEDDY TALKS
BRITISH
ALL TRADE UNIONS
ALLIANCE
BREAK OFF
ALL TALKS
WITH
HEATH
BY DAVID MAUDE OUR INDUSTRIAL C
TUC LEADERS yester- day invited the Tories to start talks in the National Economic Development Council on pay and indus- trial relations, after side- stepping the govern- ment's proposal for a spe- cial joint working party.
A two-hour meeting of the
TUC
Economic Committee ignored the demand of a 300- rank-and-file trade strong unionist lobby, called by the All Trades Unions Alliance, that it break off all talks with the Heath government. 'Extreme concern' was expres- sed at Heath's refusal, at last week's meeting with the TUC general council, to either repeal or suspend the Industrial Rela- tions Act in the national interest.
I understand however, that this was not the main reason for the rejection for the working-party proposal; the most telling argu- ment was that the union chiefs simply could not deliver wage restraint. Members of the 14-man com- mittee arrived at Congress House yesterday morning to chants of Recall TUC! Kick the Tories out!' and No wage freeze! General Strike!' Nearly every industry was rep- resented on the lobby. Delegates came from as far afield as the Midlothianshire coalfield, Scot- land, the North East engineering industry and building sites on Merseyside. Miners from Snowdon and Tilmanstone collieries in Kent; workers Ford from Dagenham and Halewood Liverpool; car workers from Birmingham and Oxford; London. dockers; and
INCORPORATING THE NEWS
DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL
MIT TRADE UNN
ALL TRADI
ALLING
MILN
FORCE
THE TORIES
RET
TO
RESIGN
LANCE
BREAK DFS
TALKS
HEATH
ISTRIAL CORRESPONDENT
actors union members from West End theatres were also present to swell the ranks. Among the first to run the lobbyists' gauntlet was Hugh Scanlon, president of the Amal- gamated Union of Engineering Workers. As he did so Phil Hunter, an AUEW steward from the Sovex factory, Erith, Kent, conveyor told me: 'We simply can': allow talks with the Tories to go ahead.
The working class is strong enough to force the Tory gov- ernment to resign. But in there they're going to be discussing how to save to it.' The Midlands carworkers were in the van of a surge to see Transport and General Workers' Union chief Jack Jones as he arrived for the committee meet- ing. THE Confederation of British Industry will present the Trades Union Congress with a voluntary concilia- paper on tion machinery in industrial relations today. It will be the two bodies' second meeting on the subject. Jones later told a large group of his union members that he agreed with the proposal to re- call Congress and had twice moved it on the General Council.
'But I'm only c** voice, he claimed. Under pressure to call a con- ference in conjunction with the AUEW of unions who wanted to fight the Tories he claimed that the important thing was not to split from the TUC. Print workers' leader Richard Briginshaw told lobbyists that he was not in favour of talks with the Tories.
"HE NEWSLETTER
THURSDAY JULY 13, 1972 • No 81
ENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABO
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ALL TRADE UNE ALL TALKS
WITH
ALLIANCE
FORCE
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HEATH
THE CORES LIS
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AIL TRADE
ALL TRADE UNION:
ALANCE
P
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ALLIANCE
CREAK OFF
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TO After the meeting he said: l've not been panicked by the black- mail pressures of the press and government ministers and I don't think anyone else has.' Speaking to reporters after the meeting, however, TUC general secretary Victor Feather made it clear that the proposed NEDC talks would involve not only dir- ectly economic questions, such as the proposal for threshold pay agreements to take account of the cost of living, but industrial relations as well. The working-party had been rejected because the committee though the NED 'an effective, established procedure of discus- sion and did not see why we should have a proliferation of committees'. Oliver Lewis, a clerical and public services association mem- ber from the London post office, summed up the teelings of most lobbyists about the meeting: 'I've seen all this before, he said. When Ramsay MacDonald crossed the floor of the House of Commons and joined the Tories.
'But what's different today is that the working class is pressing forward and won't allow these kind of deals. "The ATUA is to be congra- tulated on calling such a power- ful lobby at such short notice.
Dextrose— blame accepted EVANS Medical Ltd. of Liver- pool and the government yester- day accepted findings of the Clothier Committee inquiry into the deaths of five hospital patients contaminated from drip-feed solutions. The firm 'deeply regretted the circum- stances'. Jack Jones, • See p. 11. lobbied as he el
BASS
CHARR:
RADE UNING I
LANGE
ALLA
RCE
Na
ALL TRADE UMONS
ALLANCE
FORCE
THE TORIES
TO
RESIGN
of the Transport & General Workers' Union secretary lobbied as he entered Congress House yesterday.
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workers press
AS HUNDREDS LOBBY OUTSIDE CONGRESS HOUSE
TUC INVITE TORIES
TO NEDDY TALKS
ALL TRADE UNCA
ALLIANCE
BREAK OFF
ALL TALKS
WITH
HEATH
BY DAVID MAUDE OUR INDUSTRIAL C
TUC LEADERS yester- day invited the Tories to start talks in the National Economic Development Council on pay and indus- trial relations, after side- stepping the govern- ment's proposal for a spe- cial joint working party.
A two-hour meeting of the
TUC
Economic Committee ignored the demand of a 300- rank-and-file trade strong unionist lobby, called by the All Trades Unions Alliance, that it break off all talks with the Heath government. 'Extreme concern' was expres- sed at Heath's refusal, at last week's meeting with the TUC general council, to either repeal or suspend . the Industrial Rela- tions Act in the national interest.
I understand however, that this was not the main reason for the for the working-party rejection proposal; the most telling argu- ment was that the union chiefs simply could not deliver wage restraint. Members of the 14-man com- mittee arrived at Congress House yesterday morning to chants of Recall TUC! Kick the Tories out!' No and wage freeze! General Strike!' Nearly every industry was rep- resented on the lobby. Delegates came from as far afield as the Midlothianshire coalfield, Scot- land, the North East engineering industry and building sites on Merseyside. Miners from Snowdon and Tilmanstone collieries in Kent; Ford workers from Dagenham Liverpool; car and Halewood workers from Birmingham and Oxford; London dockers; and
INCORPORATING THE NEWS
DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL
TRADE UNT
ALLIANCE
BREAK OFF
ALL TALKS
WITH
HITH
STRIAL CORRESPONDENT
er- actors union members from West End theatres were also present to swell the ranks. Among the first to run the lobbyists' was Hugh gauntlet Scanlon, president of the Amal- gamated Union of Engineering Workers. As he did so Phil Hunter, an AUEW steward from the Sovex factory, Erith, Kent, conveyor told me: 'We simply can': allow talks with the Tories to go ahead.
class is strong working The enough to force the Tory gov- ernment to resign. But in there be discussing they're going to how to save to it.' The Midlands carworkers were in the van of a surge to see Transport and General Workers' Union chief Jack Jones as he arrived for the committee meet- ing. THE Confederation of British Industry will present the Trades Union Congress with a concilia- voluntary paper on machinery in industrial tion relations today. It will be the two bodies' second meeting on the subject. Jones later told a large group of his union members that he agreed with the proposal to re- call Congress and had twice moved it on the General Council.
'But I'm only c-• voice,' he claimed. Under pressure to call a con- ference in conjunction with the AUEW of unions who wantea lo fight the Tories he claimed that the important thing was not io split from the TUC. Print workers' leader Richard Briginshaw told lobbyists that he was not in favour of talks with the Tories.
• THURSDAY JULY 13, 1972
• No 816 • Ap
SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE
COMMITTEE OF THE
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ALL TALKS
WITH
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HEATH
ALL TALKS
WITH
HEATH
WII TRADE L
KLANCE
BREIN OFF
A TALKS
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HUTH
DE UMONS
ALLANCE
HANCE
WEAK Off
HALL TALKS
FORCE
THE TORIES
SMITH
CANCER
HEATH
ALl
RESIGN
ALL TRANr... After the meeting he said: I've not been panicked by the back of the press and man pressures government ministers and I don't think anyone else has.' Speaking to reporters after the
FORCE
TUC
Luccult. nowevel
THE TORIES
secretary Victor Feather made that the proposed
NEDC
talks would involve not only dır- TO econcnic ovestons. SuCh as the proposal for threshold pas
RESIGN
take agreements account of living, but industrial relations as well. The working-party had been rejected because chan committee the
NEDC
effective, though procedure ot why we sion not see ana did should have a proliferarion of committees'. Oliver Lewis, clerical and public services association ber from the London post office, summed up the lobbyists about the meeting: I've seen all this before', he said.' When Ramsav MacDonald crossed the floor of the House of Commons and joined the Tories. 'But what's different today. that the working class pressing To waite
WORT
kind of deals. 'The AlVA 1s to be congra. tulated on calling such a power- ful lobby at such short notice.'
Dextrose- blame accepted EVANS Medical Ito. of Liver.
pod and phed over mini yester- findings accepted Committee the Clothier inquiry into the deaths of five hospital patients from contaminated drip-feed solutions. The firm 'deeply regretted circum- _The Jack Jones, of the Transport & General Workers' Unton • See p. 11. lobbied as he entered Congress House yesterday.
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US tax fiddle heightens trade war PAGE 2 Workers Press, Thursday July 1 NEW FRENCH premier Pierre Messmer has declared war on the parliamentary opposition of Socialist and Communist Parties and said there can be no middle way between the opposition and the Gaullists.
Addressing Gaullist members of the National Assembly Tuesday night, he said there should not be a political 'no man's land' between government opposition made up of and people whose allegiance was uncertain. He warned hesitant govern- ment supporters that those who were in stood in this position danger because 'one is some- times led to shoot one's own friends in time of war'. warning The also was apparently aimed at members of Independent Republican Party, some of whom have been trying to mark their differences with the ruling UDR. Messmer's speech shows that the former War Minister who replaced premier Jacques Chaban-Delmas last week is out for a fight to the finish against the workers' parties. The Socialist and Communist Parties have just concluded a programme in common electoral preparation for National the Assembly elections next year.
seamen JAPAN's 160,000 seamen yesterday ended a three-month- old strike and accepted an im- proved pay offer from the shipping employers. The settlement, originand pro- posed by government mediators, split the difference between the shipowners' 'final' offer and the union's demand. It gives a wage rise of 11,550 yen a month (£14.5). strike was the longest The ever in Japanese history, tying up more than 1,200 vessels in 57 ports, including 70 per cent of Japan's merchant fleet. More than 2.3m tons of goods have been delayed by the strike.
The government was forced to intervene and settle the dispute following loud complaints from exporters whose trade has been disrupted by the strike. In Japan's present economic situation maxi- mum exports are vital if the big companies are to capture the markets they need. A MILITARY court at Sarafand, upheld Israel, yesterday validity of a confession made by Japanese terrorist Kozo Okamoto, despite the fact it was made only after he had been promised the opportunity to commit suicide.
The decision followed evi- dence on Tuesday from General Rehavem Zeevi who admitted he had promised Okamoto a revolver and one bullet to kill himself if he told the truth about the Lydda airport shootings six weeks ago.
A nine-point agreement signed by the general and his prisoner was produced in court. Okamoto has repeatedly demanded to be put to death or allowed to com- mit suicide. THE BRITISH government has accused the United States of provoking a trade war and endangering the pattern of international trade by giving tax concessions to hefty domestic exporters., The protest, in an official 'aide memoire' sent to Washing- ton by the Department of Trade on July 3, accuses the US of violating the General Agreement • Tariffs and Trade by sub- on sidizing its exports. It is the latest indication of ay Juty 13, 1872 THE UNITED STATES has been secretly seeding clouds over Vietnam and Laos for nine. years. New. Yock ..Tibe. By a Foreign Correspondent THE VIETNAM 'peace' talks reo amid speculation that the United S ditch puppet South Vietnamese pr in return for concessions from Han Reports from Washington indi- cated that President Nixon and his staff were anxiously awaiting some sign from the talks that the North Vietnamese are prepared to bargain with the US. Henry Presidential adviser Kissinger was said to be ready to fly to Paris at the first sign the North Viet- of a break in namese position. Diplomatic sources in Peking about reported speculation concession" possible American at the talks. The Chinese leaders have been involved in intensive secret discussions with Kissinger and Nixon. Their attitude towards the United States has become slightly less cordial over the last few days, apparently because Nixon maintaining America's still the special relationship with regime in Chiang Kai-shek Formosa. As a sign of disapproval, the Chinese leaders are now said to be allowing Soviet and East European military supplies their freer passage across territory to North Vietnam.
Previously China had refused rapidly-deteriorating relations be- tween the major capitalist powers as the monetary crisis worsens.
The US is discriminating against foreign goods in an its colossal effort to close balance-of-payments gap. Current estimates are that the batch balance-of- of next figures will show payments deficit of over $3,000m for the first half of this year. This is than the total deficit for more 1971. In order to reduce this deficit the American government is systematically smashing up the
BY OUR FOREIGN STAFF
as a weapon of North that the US hi The purpose of the rainmaking across the enti programme was said to be: hai
INDO
CHINA
talks reopen in Paris this morning United States may be preparing to mese president Nguyen Van Thieu rom Hanoi. to unload Soviet supply ships by American diverted blockade. The move indicates the cynical attitude of the Chinese Stalinists, for whom the Vietnamese revolu- tion is a bargaining-counter in a bid to wring better terms for a detente with the United States.
It leaves little doubt that if with Washington im- relations Peking will once again prove, tighten its strangle-hold on the Vietnam struggle. The diplomatic manoeuvres of the months, including past Nixon's visits to Moscow and Peking, have left the Vietnamese fighters in an extremely dangerous position. The shortage of supplies result- ing from the US blockade-un- challenged by either of the so- called 'fraternal' powers—has un- doubtedly siowed down offensive in the South. YESTERDAY nearly 200 puppet marines were lost in an intense battle outside the northern provincial capital of Quang Tri.
They have been trying to recap- ture the town for two weeks.
complex web of international agreements which has regulated international trade in the post- war years. These agreements depended ultimately on the now-defunct Bretton Woods decisions of 1944 the dollar's establishing con- vertibility with gold at $35 an ounce. The latest move is the estab- lishment of Domestic Inter- national Sales Corporations (DISCs) by over 2,000 US com- panies, which are allowed to defer their. tax obligations indefinitely, thus enabling them to undercut foreign competitors.
a weapon of North Vietna at the US ha ross the entr PRESIDENT Salvador Allende of Chile has warned that the will world economic crisis mean 'drastic economic mea- veritable wartime sures, a policy' on the part of his Popular Unity government.
would be He said Chile severely hit by a sharp drop in copper prices on world markets, rising costs of raw materials and imported equipment the and 'heavy load of non-renegotiated foreign debts'. Chile earns 83 per cent of its income from foreign exchange copper exports, mainly produced at five formerly US-owned mines nationalized a year ago. The president also said the economy had been hit by a series of earth tremors and violent storms which had damaged crops and cut back industrial produc- tion. Signs of economic crisis have been obvious for months in Chile.
The currency has inflated by 25 per cent over the five months since January 1972, while the : have foreign exchange reserves dropped seriously. On the black market, the dollar commands a much better rate than is given by the official central bank.
The British aide-memoire says the tax concessions could lead to 'a damaging and costly competi- tive struggle between trading countries which would be in the none. What interests of this simply means is that British exporters' interests would be hit, since the measure clearly benefits their American competitors.
The government also protests that the scheme gives an unfair advantage to US shipping and aircraft companies and could undermine 'the efforts that have been made to restore order and profitability particularly on North Atlantic trade routes.
said he would Allende not yield in his struggle to lead the country on the road to socialism.
But this is so much empty rhetoric: last with the month support of his Stalinist coalition reshuffled his he partners, cabinet and entered into secret negotiations with the opposition Christian Democrats to trim the vital nationalization programme.
This move to the right was accompanied by vicious denuncia- tions of the Popular Unity's left- wing opponents. Agreement with the opposition was only thwarted by pressure from the extreme right on the Christian Democrat leaders. Now the Popular Unity gov- ernment is off trying to fend opposition- attempts the dominated parliament to legislate against further nationalization of private industry. The Stalinists, who occupy a number of key posts in the administration, have repeatedly demanded that the nationaliza- tion plans be slowed down, under the slogan of 'consolidating' the coalition's position. The aim of the opposition is to force Allende into a referen- dum before his term of office ends in 1976. Among the workers there is growing discontent at the government's failure to keep its promises and its demands for more sacrifices in the 'national interest'. Right-wing and even fascist groups are allowed to organize openly often under police protec- tion against angry left-wingers.
The latter, to judge from the tone of Stalinist denunciations over recent weeks, will be the first target of Allende's 'wartime' measures to combat the econo- mic crisis. Allende has spoken of 'legal subversion' orchestrated by 'fcreign plotters' and warned that there is a danger of civil war. At the same time, however, he has stressed that the Popular Unity government will not go beyond the bounds of legality.
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DR RAINER BARZEL,
leader of the Christian Democratic opposition party in West Germany, yes- terday lunched with Prime Minister Edward Heath to the forthcoming discuss Common Market summit., The meeting is at present scheduled for October, but Bar- zel wants it postponed until after the US presidential elec- November. The mone- tions in tary crisis, sparked by Britain's decision to float the pound, has created deep . uncertainty about the future of the talks. Labour's so-called opposition Common to the Market was exposed for the fraud it is by Dr Sicco Mansholt, president of the European Commission in Brussels. He declared at a Financial Times' seminar on the Market: "There can never be any ques- tion of Britain renegotiating the Common Market treaty.' This confident declaration by Mansholt is completely at odds Harold Wilson's assertion with that a Labour government will renegotiate entry and even pull out if necessary. Meanwhile British banking and firms investing pressing are with their drive into ahead Europe. A investment trust new specializing in European shares being started by Cannon Street Investments, the banking and investment group, and mer- chant bankers Charterhouse Japhet. A total of 4 million shares is being issued at 50p a time with between 21 per cent and 39 per going to Cannon Street. A cent public shares offer is being made later this week. The company, called Walbrook Investment Trust, have a multi- currency loan up to the equiva- will buy lent of £2m and shares mainly in Common Market companies. A one-day European talk-in is planned by the London and Brussels Stock Exchanges later this year. The conference will examine and discuss 'the many difficulties to be overcome and obstacles before a truly European capital market evolves'. The conference, in the Hil- ton Hotel, Brussels, on October • jointly by be chaired 11, Will Sir Martin Wilkinson, head of the London Stock Exchange, and M. Jean Reyes, president of the Brussels Bourse. Stock Exchange members and banks throughout Belgium, Hol- Germany and land, France, Luxembourg will be invited to attend. OVER 4,000 Tobacco Workers' by Union members employed Player's in Nottingham struck for the day last Monday in support their £3.50 across-the-board of national claim. No pickets were down required to close Player's factories in the city for the day. About 12,000 tobacco workers took part in the national strike. SALES and profits of Imperial and Tobacco, the John. Player.
Wills tobacco combine, continue climb, despite the to . anti- smoking campaigns. The group announced yesterday that protits in the half year to the end of April were a record of £40.5m with £35.8m in the compared same period last year. Sales moved ahead by more £40m to £658.6m. The than directors expect full-year results to beat last year's best ever pre- tax profits of £68m, despite rising costs which are "biting hard into profit margins'. A PRINT union leader yeste to be on the look out for coppe spies following disclosures in Relations Court that private de against the dockers. Mr Richard Briginshaw general secretary of the National Society of Operative Graphical Printers, and Media Personnel, added that men should also be on their in pubs and guard streets near their work. union's In a leaflet to the Mr Briginshaw 51,000 members, said the executive council will 'tighten up' on information sent out through the post. The leaflet said: 'We have students from various universities working on projects and most of them are probably genuine; however, behind one of these disguises we must now look for the coppers' nark. The had long- executive standing suspicions of journalists organizations knew and workers this was a favourite guise for various spying organizations.
'We will now ask all those who write to us officially to first pre- some credentials and we sent probably will ask for written authority from the TUC before we will ever engage in any cor- a continuing respondence of nature.' He said they would be doubly Poll opinion suspicious researchers, overseas newspaper and periodical representatives and industrial welfare organizations.
• The National Union of Journalists Central London Branch unanimously passed • a Tuesday resolution on con- recent impersona- demning the tion of journalists' by private detectives. THE INTERIM report of the Jack Jones-Lord Aldington committee will be ready in time for the docks delegates' meeting on July 26. The committee has been hold- ing secret sessions over the past month since the national dock strike was called off. In the breathing space pro- 'high-powered' vided by this committee, the employers have been, busy in the courts-the National Industrial Relations Court, the chancery division of High Court, the Appeal Court and the House of Lords.
Aldington, chairman of the Port of London Authority, is a Tory banker. He is deputy chair- man of the GEC combine which has sacked tens of thousands of workers since the big GEC-AEI merger five years ago. Despite the appeals of Jones of the NIRC, and the orders blacking of container firms con- tinued throughout the country yesterday. Dockers leaders declined to Division attend the Chancery of the High Court while Midland Stores their Cold continued application against them. Mean- while the Midland depot was picketed Inter- as was the continental Freight terminal at Mills, both in the East Temple End of London. Another of the picketed firms, Dagenham Storage Limited, has said it will run out of work in a fortnight's time. It has been hit by a decision of the major customer, Ford's, to pull out of the store because of the situation. At the United Kingdom Cold has declined to Storage, work almost nothing at all. The firm already redundancy issued notices to 17 workers and more r yesterday warned members r coppers narks and employers' ires in the National Industrial ivate detectives had been used are threatened if there is no settlement. • PRESTON dockers have decided unanimously to oppose all severances being sought by management. At present the empioyers are asking for 53 jobs to go from the 273-strong work force. At a meeting on Monday the men learned from the Transport Workers' and General Union leadership that it was not official policy to oppose severance. The men nevertheless decided to fight any cutbacks. • THE CONTRACT for the construction of a new £280,000 roll-on, roll-off terminal in Queen Elizabeth dock, Hull, for a ser-
BOOKS • PER
Workers Press, T Be on your guard in pubs, Richard Briginshaw says (below), whose union will tighten its own security. up vice to Finland has been awarded by the British Transport Docks Board to Clugston Construction Limited of Scunthorpe, Lincs.
As recently the announced, terminal is being provided for use by a roll-on, roll-off service run jointly by the Finland Steam- ship • Company Limited and the United Baltic Corporation Limi- ted. Work on the site has already terminal begun and the scheduled to come into operation in the early part of 1973.
This is the second roll-on, roll- off berth to be constructed in Queen Elizabeth dock this year.
board's The docks additional investment in unit-load facilities amounts to over £lm.
•ES ISSAS
KS • PERIODICALS • NEWSPAPERS
= Press, Thursday July 13, 1972 PAGE 3 THE GOVERNMENT has refused to publish rules governing investigators of the Social Services Department.
One of the common pastimes of these snoops is spying on women who are co-habiting. An MP's request for publication of the rules was rejected by Social Services Secretary, Sir Keith Joseph. Mr Norman Lamont, Tory, Kingston upon Thames, had asked for publication 'in view of the fact that purported ex- tracts from these rules Joseph said that the extracts were incomplete and he deplored their publication. 'I do not intend to make it any easier to avoid detection by more exten- sive publication, he replied.
Workers Press has already published a full account of the investigations rules governing into these 'abuses' in our pamph- let "The Social Security Swindle' by Bernard Franks. Available from 186a Clapham 1 High street, London, SW4 7UG.
TORIES ATTACK
THE UNEMPLOYED
The Social Security Swindle ALL VEHICLE production stop- ped yesterday at the Rover com- main assembly plant at pany's Solihull, Warwickshire, because of an unofficial strike by more than 100 internal drivers.
The men were protesting about their grading under a job- evaluation scheme. The dispute halted production of Rover 2000 and 3500 cars, Land-Rovers and Range-Rovers, but there were no lay-ofts. were kept workers Assembly busy clearing up for the holi- which starts day fortnight tomorrow, and shop stewards tried to get the drivers back to work.
NOW OPEN
Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9 a.m.—6 р.т. Fri 9 a.m.- 7.30 p.m. Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Scan page 5
PAGE 4 Workers Press, Thursday July 13, 1972 Evidence has surfaced in Some of the things done to me during interrogation were: Ulster to show that, in My arms were twisted back spite of Tory government behind the fullest me to assurances to the con- possible extent; my fingers were twisted and bent as far trary, torture is still being back possible; my wrists used. were bent back and forward to the limit. The new case material is As I lay on the floor they provided by the highly took an arm and a leg each and respected Association of Legal pulled them far apart as as Justice which has taken up a possible. Then they stood on number of complaints against my arms and hands; twisted my the Special the British army, feet like corkscrews, which Branch and the RUC. hurt my ankles and my knees; Their latest dossier concerns jumped on my chest; kicked three men who were arrested at me in the ribs: kicked me on about midnight April 20 on the legs; one sat on my chest and tortured for 15 almost and others began to work on hours. They subsequently made my privates. statements which formed the They paid particular atten- basis of charges against them tion to me in that area. They on April 22. tore open my trousers and The badly men were SO kicked me repeatedly; gave me tortured that the initial court karate chops, beat me with hearing was postponed while what seemed like a piece of they received medical attention hosepipe; prodded me with at the military wing of Mus- something couldn't see grave Park hospital. properly; penetrated my Somethingra attached nis The men, all from Belfast. with Gerard Donnelly (29), are of electric lead to my penis and Springfield Road: Gerard gave me shocks; squeezed my Bradley (20). of Brighton testicles; produced razor Street; and Edward Duffy (17), blade and threatened to cut off of Iveagh Parade. The associ- my privates. ation has now the published In addition, I was abused full text of Mr Donnelly's about the head in the following statement which is corrobor- ways: a gadget was put on my ated by the others. The state- head which pulled out lumps ment says: of my hair; they showed me I was arrested at midnight these and had a great laugh. I April 20. at boxed on the was and ears 38 Broadway along slapped the face. They on with Gerard Bradley and pressed their thumbs on my Edward Duffy. We were taken bones-a very mastoid sen- and out were put in sitive with me-they area Saracen and taken to Broad- caught me by the throat as if military and kept way post to strangle me. there approximately 19 hours.
The pain was terrific and I During my time there I was was yelling. One of them put his hand on my mouth and I interrogated four or five times.
At the bit his finger. After that, they interrogations there were about four, soldiers and mouth put a tape over my of
RUC
two members the from ear to brought a cal, Special Branch. The soldiers lighted cigarette close to my held mostly me while the eyes and said they would burn officers Special Branch sub- them if I didn't out stop jected of me variety yelling. tortures and degrading After these of treat- sessions ment. I was beaten and kicked interrogation I sometimes had all over. to lie on the floor. They wiped Loyalist forces in Belfast 'The man, who brought me to a top room in an old house have lists 400-long of show the dossier, to me names and addresses of claimed that it had been com- known IRA men in piled by a Protestant organiza- tion. Northern Ireland, both 'But it appeared to be much Provisional and Official.
too professional a publication for this. Irish 'Sunday Press' reporter When I asked was it given Michael Hand, who recently to them by a sympathetic RUC Ulster interviewed Defence Special Branch man, the man, behind Association members hooded and with a face mask.
their barricades in the Shan- just shrugged his shoulders kill Road, claimed in an article and muttered something in- he was shown one of these lists audible ' by a Protestant militant.
UDA leader. William Craig, Hand there says were former Ulster Home Affairs like Tony pictures of people Minister, told his supporters Martin Meehan, Joe Doherty. at a rally in Belfast's Ormeau Cahill, Seamus Twoomey, Billy Park in March: Kelly and Bill McKee. There 'We are going to do more was a photograph of the late Whatever than iust talk the Belfast Official ÎRA leader Toe call of duty requires. we shal McCann-scrawled it across do. was the word 'DEAD' 'We must build up dossiers Hand goes on: on men and who are women 'The names and home num- enemies of this country because bers were printed in machine one day. ladies and gentlemen.
type faces. There was a code if the politicians fail, it will be figure after each entry and a our job to liquidate the enemy.'
space to fll in after distinctive features. Right: William Craig of UDA their feet on me and spat on me. When they were mopping the floor they rubbed my face with the mop. I got to the toilet once after I had asked about six times. I vomited once. Once I was offered food but I couldn't eat it. During my time at Broadway I wasn't offered a bed and got no sleep at all. After the last interrogation in the late afternoon of Friday, I could take no more and I made a statement. This was done merely by agreeing to m accusations they suggested to me. I was then taken to the police office in Townhall Street at about 7 or 8 p.m. on Friday.
I couldn't lie down and sat on the side of the bed in the cell all night. On Saturday morning I was charged with causing explo- sions and I was remanded to Armagh Prison. Before I left Belfast I was examined by Dr McAuley and had my injuries photographed. On arrival at Armagh I was examined by a doctor and sent back on Saturday night to the military Musgrave Park wing Hospital in Belfast. I still feel quite ill. My main problems are: sore ribs, 1 can- deep not take breaths and coughing is painful; blood clots: in my nose; soreness behind my left ear; soreness at the bottom of the ribs on my right side; a sore left heel; pain in my left knee; pain and diffi- culty in urinating; sore throat; fainting fits which might last half an hour, during which I sweat; sleeplessness; pour despite injections of morphia and sleeping tablets I have not slept at all at night and only doze briefly during the day; numbness of my finger tips.
I have improved in some ways since I came into hospital.
The intense swelling in my privates is reducud (with the aid of ice packs). The soreness in my head due : to the pulling out of my hair has gone. My throat, which was very sore for the first few days; is much better. My bowels moved today first time since my for the arrest. It was pain- ful, but a relief. The three men have been placed on explosive charges awaiting trial. and they are An association spokesman commented: 'Despite the much-publicized release of internees and detainees, arrests, torture, detention and internment are continuing.'
Scan page 6
THE APRIL REVOLT
A special background series examining the class struggle in Ceylon from 1964 to the present day. Part four.
A special background series ex Though it caught the reformists and revision- ists by surprise, the Jana- tha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was not a spon- taneous movement, sud- denly erupting into the open and then disappear- ing within a short period of time. The JVP was but one reflec- tion of the disruption created by the crisis of imperialism on the petty-bourgeois layers in Ceylon. One result of the betrayal opposition built of the mass against the Sri Lanka up Freedom Party government in 1964 by the left' leaders was to push the middle classes away from the working class.
Thus, the petty-bourgeois youth who broke away from the two Stalinist parties of the country took the initiative of forming the JVP as a sepa- rate organization. In fact, a large portion of the Stalinist youth movement came along with them during the period after 1965. Thus the JVP, which devel- oped during the period of the period UNP government-the of relative set-back in the working class-was the reac- tion of one section of the middle-class layers to the great betrayal of the 'left' leaders.
First they were disgusted by the lack of any perspective being put forward by the working-class leaders for the oppressed masses in general, in a situation where they faced complete economic ruin. This oppósition to the 'left' leaders later developed into a total rejection of the revolutionary role of the working class.
Unable to grasp the explo- sive contradiction inside the workers' movement-the con- tradiction between the leaders and the working class-they condemned the whole of the working class as reformist.
According to the VP, the 'motive force' of the Ceylon revolution is the peasantry.
The counter-revolutionary role of the Samasamaja (Lanka Sama Samaja Party) and Stalin- ist (Communist Party Moscow and Peking wing) leaders to contain the working class within trade union struggles, especially in a period of severe economic crisis, was a definite act to separate the radicalized rural poor from the working class. This was the background preparation for the overwhelm- ing victory of the SLFP among the rural electorate in the 1970 election and later for extreme petty-bourgeois the movements. With the training they had while they were among the Stalinist ranks to believe in the possibility of 'using' the national bourgeoisie for the struggle against imperialism, leaders became
IVP
the extreme left critics' of the SLFP in the rural areas. The JVP did not bother to combat the working-class leaders to win the leadership of the working class. But they actually did compete with the to win the radicalized
SLFP
sections of rural youth. As against the electoral line of the SLFP to 'defeat' imperialism, they put forward the line of armed struggle. Although there was this orientation of the IVP towards the SLFP, they did not turn towards the LSSP and CP at eries examining the class struggle in any time to compete for the leadership. They began to penetrate in- to the mass youth movement in the rural areas exploiting the bewilderment spread middle-class among the elements throughout the coun try at the time the UNP gov- ernment signed the Mahabeli treaty with the world bank with its grave political and economic implications. Because they appeared as defenders of the coalition gov- ernment, the JVP attempted to form an alliance with the masses who drifted towards the coalition at the elections without actually breaking the grip of the SLFP over these masses. This is how they explained their position after the coalition came to power.
'The JVP emphatically appealed to the masses to be prepared, after realizing the importance of such prepara- tions, to face the counter- revolution conspired by the imperialists and the UNP. Ter- rified by this preparation and the exposure done by the JVP, the Hath Hawla [UNP govern- ment] temporarily postponed their conspiratorial plan and handed over the power to the present coalition. (Janatha Vimukthi, August 1, 1970.)
As the petty-bourgeois youth became disillusioned after the coalition government came to power, JVP appealed to each and every illusion among this and layer took steps to organize them widely as a separate force from the work- ing class. The lion flag was hoisted over their platforms and . the Piture of the leaders of the and 1848 rebellions were displayed. They made the Buddhist clergy boast about the ancient kings. Wrje- weera the leader of the JVP, openly that the expressed masses could be mobilized only on the basis of 'patriotism': 'When we add up the hatred of all the social classes who are continually being attacked by imperialism and neo- colonialism, it is patriotism. It is the class hatred in the struggle against imperialism. A Marxist-Leninist in the epoch of anti-imperialist struggles is a real patriot.' ('Deshapremie' youth paper of JVP, August 8, 1971.) On this theoretical basis they completely condemned the plantation workers. One item of their programme to be implemented after coming to power was to repatriate all the plantation workers to India.
The plantation workers were called agents of 'Indian expan- sionism'. Apart from this they took a very reactionary position with regard to the trade union struggles: 'The strikes for successful demands such as higher wages and other privileges are aimed at diverting the minds of the workers away from the class imperialism, hatred against etc.' ('Janatha Vimukthi', Sep- tember 5, 1970.) On this basis they managed to rally • a considerable sec- tion of the Sinhala petty bourgeoisie around them. They also came forward to the force of Thuggery use against other left groups and especially against those who were critical of them. The which government, became aware of the fact that the youth support it had at the election was moving now towards the JVP, launched police repression against the JVP. But the JVP leaders still the illusion that they had could win the left elements in the government and said: ggle in Ceylon from 1964 to the pres Top: April events—a mother weeps out: son awaits execution. Above: Mao gives | "The reactionary bureaucrats realize that until the JVP is destroyed it is dangerous to disrupt the coalition govern- ment and try to provoke the government against us. 'We emphatically remind the government that it should seek protection not from the armed forces, who are built to serve imperialism, but from the masses.' (Janatha oppressed Vimukthi', September 5, 1970.)
It was logical that they did not make any attempt since they began to work in public in May 1970 to break the working class from the left' leadership while their cam- paigns were aimed at winning sections from the SLFP. Another weapon in their "theoretical tool box' was that Workers Press, T the present day. Part four.
veeps outside the military jail where her lao gives Bandaranaike his support.
the working class cannot be ' under won to the revolution condition other than any behind and through the influ- ence of an uprising by an élite. This is the pet 'theory' of Pabloites about the 'detona- tors' of the revolution. As the JVP staged its up- rising on April 5, 1971, the Ceylonese working class was undergoing an important experience regarding the coali- tion government and the 'left' leaders, though they did not have the consciousness to inde- pendently bid for state power.
What was completely ignored by the JVP was this factor.
By ignoring the deadly coun- ter-revolutionary role played by the reformist and Stalinist bureaucracies within the class struggle, the JVP ran away from any effort to change the working-class consciousness by building a revolutionary party.
The government not only 8 Press, Thursday Juty 13, 1972 PAGE 5 4266 used all its military power to crush the revolt, but it also obtained military aid from the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, UAR, India and Pakistan. Peking Stalinists declared their support for the government though they did not give aid in the first days of the revolt. The LSSP and CP leaders backed the government repres- sion, to the hilt and allowed the government to assume dic- tatorial and take powers away all the democratic rights of the working class, including banning the papers of Revolutionary Communist League, the Ceylon section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
The government's victory over the JVP was only possible because of the 'left' leaders' support. But for this support, the government simply could not maintain its power, let alone crush the JVP. 'Left' leaders not only denounced the revolt as a "fascist plot, but some mem- bers were sent to guard police stations in a number of places.
All the trade unionists who criticized the government's role during the revolt were subjected to police terror. The LSSP and CP leaders pre- served their party unity by labelling all dissidents as JVP supporters. During this ten-day civil more than 10,000 were war, killed. About 20,000 were arrested and tortured as sus- pected insurgents. Two of the Buddhist universities were closed and concentration camps were built over these premises.
While 'left' leaders con- trolled the working class the right-wing SLFP leaders con- centrated power in their hands and deprived all the masses of all their democratic rights.
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Scan page 7
PAGE 6 Workers Press, Thursday July 13, 1972 Workers Press, Thuraday July 13, 1972 PAOE 7
FAR FROM
THE PARIS
PEACE TALKS
GENOCIDE
Vietnam peace talks reopen in Paris today after three months of unprecedented secret diplomacy and hor- rific assaults on North Vietnam by US bombers. The immediate political background to the talks is Nixon's amicable discussions with the Stalinist leaderships in the Kremlin and Peking. But this collaboration has been answered by a major offensive by liberation orces. The heroic offensive against the puppet forces egan during the first week of April. The liberatior by the emericans as saty Vietnanusly described bout the rout of the Saigon troops the New York Times' reported an official as saying: 'Our commander drive over their own troops in their desperation to escape battles.' In retaliation the Americans mined the northern ports, bombed the dykes and began a bombing campaign unparalleled in history. It has been calculated that since the bombing period began in 1965, the Americans have dropped explosives equival- ent to 450 Hiroshimas: one Hiroshima every six days The bombing of the dykes was described by a Pari Yves Lacoste. Professor as capable of geographer, causing a catastrophe 'comparable only to a nuclear bombardment'. Fifteen million people face flooding from the overflowing Red River. To supplement the normally controlled flooding during the monsoon, the also clouds with Americans seeded rain special chemicals increase the devastation. Anthony Tucker revealed in 'The Guardian' that this ecological nightmare was codenamed 'Operation Pop Eye. In spite of these enormous poundings, the liberation army has served notice on US imperialism and the Stalinists that it intends to go on fighting. In the army news- 'Quan Doi Nixon was Nhan Dan' in May, paper accused of sewing seeds of discord and sabotage in the socialist camp. 'Nixon has always dreamed of being the leader of the world. Night and day he has sought His every means to oppose the world revolution.
tongue is full of venom and his hands are stained with blood. Wherever he sets foot he carries out counter- acts. Turning unmistakably the revolutionary Stalinists, the official article went on: 'Communists always consider the revolution of each nation as an inseparable part of the world revolution. They never set national interests against the interests of the world revolution, nor place an individual nation above the common interests of the world revolution, much less serve nationals selfishness at the expense of the world revolution? Yet this is precisely the ambitions of the talinists as they prepare with the imperialists t There pring a trap on the Vietnamese revolution must be no secret diplomacy which could lead to 1954 Geneva agreement. Victory the another to Vietnamese Revolution. These photographs are supplied by official sources in Hanoi, capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Thư h020 IS bombe on Anril duarter rinht. Mrs Nauvan and thras childron Willed on April 1070 im Nahi Dhu villane Vinh suburb Centre and left: fighting in the south during the April offensive
Scan page 8
Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested on May 5, 1920. They were sentenced to die in the electric chair April 9, 1927 and that sentence was nature of capitalist justice is revealed. Reprinted from the 'Bulletin' (April 3, 1972), organ of the Workers League of US. By Nancy Fields.
SACCO AND VANZETTI
PAGE 8 Workers Press, Thursday July 1 Sacco and Vanzetti were arres carried out a few minutes afte nature of capitalist justice is r Part 5. The Case (continued) The Bridgewater trial took place in Plymouth in an atmos- phere prejudiced against Van- zetti because of his activities in the strike against Plymouth Cordage a few years before. Vanzetti's conviction was assured from the outset because of the roles played by the prosecution, his own law- yer and the presiding judge.
The prosecution's case was based on the sole ground of identification of Vanzetti by the employees of the White Company. Katzmann's Shoe presentation was riddled with contradictions from beginning to end. The evidence he pre- sented bordered on the farci- cal. In his documentation of the case, Felix Frankfurter noted that the evidence: 'Bordered on the frivolous, reaching its climax in the testi- mony of a little newsboy who, behind the from telegraph pole to which he had run for refuge during the shooting, caught a glimpse of the crim- inal and he ran he was Vanzetti was a foreigner, so of course, it was Vanzetti.'
Katzmann was so assured of a conviction that he did not even attempt to construct a serious case. Of course, Katz- mann was aided in this assur- by John Valey, the ance defence attorney himself.
Valey would not allow Van- zetti to take the stand to testify on his own behalf. This served to cast doubt in the jury's mind about his inno- cence. He justified this procedure by claiming to Vanzetti that, if he testified, he would be questioned about his political beliefs. But the jury had already heard his political views because they were con- stantly brought in by Katz- mann. Valey refused to explain why Vanzetti had lied about his activities on the evening of the arrest. Further, he showed hostility to the open defence of Vanzetti by allow- ing on the jury a foreman in the Plymouth Cordage plant.
It is not surprising to note that he and Katzmann later became law partners. Through- out the trial, he had lunch with Katzmann and Thayer.
The role of Judge Thayer served to seal the conviction.
During the trial, he never interfered with Katzmann's procedures except to intervene on his side when the prosecu- tion's contradictory positions were brought out. He never attempted to stop Katzmann's blatantly racist statements nor his continuous interjection of Vanzetti's poli- tical beliefs. In fact, when he charged the jury, he stated "The defendant's ideas that: are cognate with the crime.'
His class hatred was clearly exposed when he gave Van- zetti the maximum sentence allowed. The course of the South Braintree trial, which took place in Dedham, proceeded in almost the same fashion as the Bridgewater one. The pro- secution had laid the ground- work for a conviction in the former trial. Since there was no evidence against Sacco, the prosecu- tion hoped that if he was tried with someone already estab- lished as a criminal, it would show that he associated with a criminal and the inference day July 13, 1972 re arrested on May 5, 1920. They utes after midnight on August 22, l ice is revealed. Reprinted from the would follow that he, too, was a criminal. The defence petitioned for separate trials, but Thayer (the very same judge who had con- victed Vanzetti) turned it down. The trial was conducted in an hysterical atmosphere whip- ped up by the press and fed by the state. In the opening days of the trial, one news- paper carried the story that a band of 'Reds' was march- ing on Dedham. The courthouse was heavily guarded and no one was allowed to enter without being thoroughly searched. Further- more, every day the defendants paraded through the were town, shackled and guarded by 28 heavily armed officers to create the impression that they were dangerous criminals.
Of course, it was necessary to create this atmosphere if the ruling class was to be suc- accomplishing the cessful in ends of this raw frame-up.
Thayer's determination for a conviction has been well-docu- mented. In the Transcript (Vol. 5) of the case, it was reported that he remarked to one of his friends: 'Did you see what I did with those anarchistic bastards the other day? I guess that will hold him for a while.' Further on in the Transcript, in the sworn testimony of one of his friends, it is revealed , They were sentenced to die in th ist 22, 1927. In the course of those s om the 'Bulletin' (April 3, 1972), orga that Thayer: ... Conveyed by his words manner the distinct im- and pression that he was bound to convict these men because "Reds". I remem- they were ber that Judge Thayer in sub- stance said to me that we must stand together and pro- tect ourselves against anarch- ists and "Reds"; significant There was one difference in this trial and that was the role of the defence attorney, Fred Moore. Moore was an IWW lawyer and had a long history in the defence of the working class. He recog- nized the class nature of the case and sought throughout to the main bring out issues involved: that was, the defend- ants' political beliefs. Further, he fought to bring persecution of Sacco and Van- zetti solely for their political beliefs into the working class.
In realizing that their only defence lay in the strength of he involved that class, the trade unions in their defence.
Moore succeeded in pro- during 12 witnesses to prove that Vanzetti was in Plymouth on the day of the crime. He also proved that Sacco was in Boston that day getting a pass- port for a trip to Italy and he had the testimony of the pass- port agent for verification.
The prosecution's case was defeated. clearly Or, so it should have been if there had e in the electric chair April 9, 1927 those seven years, one of the most 12), organ of the Workers League of Top: IWW lawyer, Fred Moore. Above: Ju existed justice for the work- ing class. But, as always, bour- geois justice serves only the interests of the bourgeoisie.
Thayer himself admitted that the prosecution had no case when he ruled after the first trial, in denying a motion for a new one, that: 'Their verdicts did not rest in my judgement upon the testimony of eye witnesses, for the defendants, as it was, called more witnesses than the Com- '9, 1927 and that sentence was he most glaring exposés of the ague of US. By Nancy Fields.
Above: Judge Webster Thayer.
monwealth who testified. that neither of the defendants were in the bandit car. "The evidence that con- victed these defendants was circumstantial and was evi- dence that is known in law as "consciousness of guilt"?
Nevertheless, on July 14, 1921, the verdict of guilty of murder was rendered against Sacco and Vanzetti.
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Scan page 9
Kenneth Haigh as Joe Lampton, the Y
TV REVIEW
Just about convincing, but not close enough to reality to shatter the fundamental myth of the series. That was last Monday's episode in the from Thames TV. In it Joe Lampton (Kenneth Haigh), the Yorkshire tycoon dreamt up by John Braine for his mid-1950s novel 'Room at the Top' returns home after a personal tragedy to find every- thing changed - and for the worse. On an impulse sparked by his wife, who is in a nursing home shocked by the death of their daughter in a car acci- dent, Joe books in at the local hotel and tries to get back to his roots. After a spot of by-play with an old flame who is now a bar- maid, whose busman husband's on shiftwork and who hates the tower flats in which she lives, he has a run-in with his cousin Arthur (Philip stone), the town's prospering furniture dealer. The conflict is presented in terms of cliches familiar from a whole stream of 'northern' plays and novels. Uncle Dick, Arthur's father, keeps pigeons in a hut on some waste ground which has just been acquired . by an unknown buyer. He can't find out who the buyer is (itself a sign of the times, in the old days it would have been common knowledge). The pigeons--'the only thing that's kept me alive since your Auntie Elsie died'— will have to go. Joe, searching for the kind of honest relationships his wife Susan imagines in her ner- Kenneth Haigh as Joe Lampton, the Yorkshire tycoon who returns home in 'Man at the Top'
ITS NOSTALGIA FOR THE
'GOOD OLD DAYS'
vous breakdown that they had people wild Ine) Knew North', uses an old friend in the town hall to find out who the buyer is. While we wait to find out, a number of establishing scenes show how the town of Dufton changed since has Joe left to make his pile in London. You'd hardly recognize it', Uncle Dick tells him. "They've old pullea mne Marker way for But shops. they're all empty because no one can afford the rents, and when they do let them no one'll use them because they'll know the prices must be inflated.'
The beer's all keg. They've tarted the local, , banned darts and cribbage, installed a one-armed bandit and they Sun- have a stripper in days. him Just before she drags into bed with the phrase I'm just as good as those London barmaid girls, Sandra reveals that she hardly ever sees her They spend most of children. their time their grand- where they can play molders. out in the street. She and her husband have automatic gol waste-disposal, underfloor heat- ing 'and I bloody hate it'.
Eventually Joe discovers that Arthur-a JP, it 1s cousin Tory, captain of the Golf Club, aspiring president of the Chamber of Trade and Uncle Dick's own who has son bought up the land where the pigeons are housed. The plot takes a very topical learn that twist when we Arthur has been tipped by council contact that estate is due to go up oppo- site the waste ground. Under the guise of Dufton Property Development Ltd, he plans put up a new furniture store s home In 'Man at the Top' to cash in on this new mar- ket. So Uncle Dick's pigeons must go. We are left with Joe's angry attack Arthur, highly on respected but 'one of the people who've taken the heart out of this town' Basically, however, 'Man at the Top' is meaningless. John Braine's book was very much the creation of a mid-1950s • his own rapid liberal, and evolution towards extreme right-wing Toryism IS, of course, significant. But the Joe Lampton of TV series is really nothing to do even with the central character of the book. Kenneth Haigh's Joe is a cardboard character, with a façade of matter-of-factness, a trick of looking people straight in the eye but no other sug- gested qualities at all. The central myth of the episode, of the executive who has become a sort of emo- tional drop-out and sees clearsightedly, things class- lessly, thus has no substance.
What is more, at only one point do the writers, Tom Brennand and Roy Bottomley, provide any counterpoint the episode's other myth, its 'good old nostalgia for the days'. While claiming that it was 'happy days' before they closed the 17 pits there used 16 of to be in the area, Uncle Dick remembers that 'they used to take us for slaves, mind you, now I think of it.' But the point is thrown away. 'Man at the Top' is finally a pot-boiler, one of those series which supplement the efforts of most current-affairs in the box programmes on playing with real issues only in order to bury them. Workers Press, 1
MYTH OF THE TROUBLE-FREE T
Workers at East Anglia's boom port-Felixstowe-have been exchanging strong words with management about their 1972- 1973 pay agreement due to come into force this month.
private enterprise port The bases its reputation on being 'trouble free' The area's 'free' press is dominated by the East Anglian Daily Times Co, which, apart from the morning daily owns the 'Evening Star' and a host of village and small-town weeklies, including the 'Suffolk Mercury' series. Revealing the ongoing pay at Felixstowe dock, wrangle the EADT ports correspondent told me confidentially: 'Felix- stowe's reputation is based on being trouble free so we have to soft peddle anything like this.' In other words, if the employers don't like it, we won't print it. This policy was even more forcefully demonstrated in last Saturday's 'Star' A thousand marchers turned out in torrential rain to march against the closure of Ran- some and Rapier's Waterside The 'Star's' banner headline read '3,000 protesters expected U. 8 Press, Thursday July 13, 1972 PAGE 9
E-FREE TOWN
een march. 450 on save Rapier but. Inside on the lead news page a strap line said: 'Employees frightened' and the headline blazed: 'We do not want to strikeworker' The 'worker' quality controller luoted was Mrs Joan Guyvel who claimed that 99 per cent of the 850 workers at Churchman's cigarette factory did not want to strike on Mon- day for more pay. 'We don't really want a very big pay rise. We are getting very big pay now ', she is quoted as saying. I feel that someone has got to make a stand on this. Most go in, of the workers want to but they are frightened.'
In other words peace would reign if only the 'union' would stop making trouble. Just across the page the 'Star' crowed about the result of a 'test case' in which the AUEW had been forced to re- admit a man thrown out of the union for alleged scabbing.
Is there anyone who still thinks the press is 'free'?
Below: workers march through Felixstowe against the closure of Ransome and Rapier's Waterside works
LEON TROTSKY:
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Scan page 10
PAGE 10 Workers Press, Thursday July 13, 1972.
treasurer TENANTS in the Manchester outraged by city area are treasurer Keith Bridge's state- ment that rents of all Man- chester's 90,000 council homes should rise by fl a week from October. This is whether the govern- ment's 'fair rents' Bill becomes law Manchester or not. IS Labour-controlled council.
No decision on whether to implement the Bill has yet been taken although the right wing has certainly been arguing for a policy of 'not breaking the law'. The decisive vote is expected at the full meeting on July 26.
In a report to the finance and housing committees Bridge says that the corporation has no practical alternative the £1 to TISe. ELECTRICITY prices will go up —if the electricity supply indus- BUILDING workers at the giant Talks have been try has its way. Victoria Centre in the middle going with the Nottingham government of began their and the feeling in the industry strike action in support of the that there is imbalance national wage claim this week.
between domestic and industrial UCATT officials had difficulty in the light of the actual tariffs assessing the number of men cost of supply. involved, the site as vast Spokesmen has refused to numerous entrances and Conn. different con- that the employs many ment reports
COV-
that £100m told tractors. ernment Above: A a year more needs to be added
UCATT
official electricity bills to to domestic explains the strike to a meeting make charges realistic. of workers. The daily paper that leads the fight against the Torles. {20.28 for 12 months (312 Issues) £10.14 for 6 months (156 issues) {5.07 for 3 months (78 Issues) 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: Circulation Dept., Workers Press, 186a Clapham High St., London, SW4 7UG. I would like to take out a subscription to Workers Press.
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MORE
THAN
people are waiting for hos- pital beds in south west England, says a report pub- lished in Bristol yesterday by the Elderly Invalids Fund.
At least 750 of these are old people who are chronically ill.
The figures apply to Somerset, Gloucestershire, Devon, Corn- wall and county boroughs.
The long waiting lists, espe- cially for places in geriatric wards, stem from the fact that
BY OUR OWN
CORRESPONDENT
THE DENTAL service is in a state of decay, with an increasing number of dentists opting out of the National Health Service to take up part-time or full-time private practice, Dr Shirley Summer- skill (Labour, Halifax) has stated in the Commons. She said there was already shorta s of men and women in the service. Dr Summerskill said that two recent reports showed that the dental health of the nation was in decline, and of the children now five years old, 25 per cent would require dentures of one kind or another by the time they were 20. Tory MP for Norwich South, Dr Tom Stuttaford, said that the service was 'not only in decay but crumbling'. National Health Service dentists were reluctant to carry out difficult treatment because the financial of loss involved. Earlier, Dr Summerskill had asked Sir Keith Joseph, Secretary for Social Services, when he expected the report of the work- ing party on dental services.
He told her that he could not forecast a date for the final report.
BY OUR OWN
REPORTERS
many hospital beds are occupied by patients who no longer need hospital care, but who cannot leave because there are no nursing home places for them. The report also adds that there are over 530,000 patients of all ages waiting admission to hospitals in England. In a conference at the Uni- tric versity of Kent, Canterbury, yesterday Lord Aberdare, Min- ho SHOP STEWARDS from Lin- coln's four GEC heavy engineer- ing plants decided unanimously this week to call their members out on strike to defend their jobs. This follows the decision at the end of Tune by the manage- ment of Dorman Diesels to make 90 290 hourly-rated and staff employees redundant, starting in August. Eighty-eight shop stewards, representing 4,600 shop floor and staff workers from all the old Gas Ruston plants, Ruston Turbines, Ruston Paxmans, Napier Blowers and Dorman Diesels, have decided to strike from next Tuesday unless a meeting of the rationalization committee set up in 1966 when English Electric took over Rus- tons is called.
ALL TRADES UNIONS
ALLIANCE MEETINGS
The currency crisis and the working class NORTH LONDON: Thursday 8 p.m. 'Bricklayers July 13, Arms' Tottenham High Rd, (nr White Hart Lane). SOUTHALL: Thursday July 13, Community Centre, p.m. Bridge Road. WANDSWORTH: Monday July 17, 8 p.m. 'Selkirk Arms', Sel- kirk Road, Tooting Broadway.
CROYDON: Monday July 17, 8 p.m. Ruskin House, Coombe "Build Rd. the revolutionary party! DAGENHAM: Tuesday July 18, 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Fanshawe Avenue, Barking. 'Stalinism and the Tory government.' Health and said that the needs of epilep- tics, arthritics, alcoholics and the younger chronic sick must receive more attention. 'Little has been done to help these groups in the past' attached to them which is totally unjustified and the tendency has been to confine them to colonies, often situ- • miles from their ated many homes and families.' So far, stewards claim, manage- ment has completely disregarded all agreed procedure arrange- ments on redundancies. It is hoped that when the rationaliza- committee does tion meet, the at Dorman's can be 380 • jobs saved. Shop stewards are determined maintain agreements made to when GEC took over the former Ruston group of companies. These included a guarantee that GEC would provide not less than 4,600 jobs in Lincoln and that if employment levels threatened to drop work would be brought back to Lincoln. It is dangerous in the extreme to pin high hopes on a rational- ization committee when GEC is now forced to wage a ruthless international trade war which it can survive only at the expense of its workers. SW LONDON: Tuesday July 18, 8 p.m. Clapham Manor Baths, Clapham Manor Street, SW4.
'Stalinism and the Tory gov- ernment.' W LONDON: Tuesday July 18, 8 p.m. 'Prince Albert', Wharte- Kings dale Road, Cross. 'Stalinism and the Tory govern- ment.' N KENT: Tuesday July 18, 8 p.m.
SOGAT
. House, Essex Road, Dartford. 'Stalinism and the Tory government.' LUTON: Thursday July 20, 8 p.m. St John Ambulance Hall, Lea Road. 'Stalinism and the Tory government.' SE LONDON: Thursday July 20, 8 p.m. Deptford Engineers' Club, Cross opposite New Station. 'Force the Tories to Resign.'
Scan page 11
BBC 1
7.00 Race to the White House.
9.20 Along the River. 11.00 Open Golf. Cricket. 1.30 The Herbs.
1.45 News, weather. 1.53 Race to the White House. 2.20 Cricket.
Open Golf. Show Jumping. 4.15 Play School. 4.40 Jackanory. 4.55 Boss Cat. 5.20 Barrier Reef. 5.44 Sir Prancelot. 5.50 News, weather.
6.00 NATIONWIDE.
6.55 HE SAID, SHE SAID.
(New Series.) Panel game.
7.25 TOP OF THE POPS.
8.00 THE GOODIES.
8.30 THE BURKE SPECIAL.
9.00 NEWS, Weather. 9.20 ELIZABETH R. Sweet England's Pride.
10.40 24 HOURS.
11.25 WINDOWS ON THE BRAIN.
The Illusionist's Toy. 11.50 Weather.
BBC 2
11.00 Play School. 4.20 Open Golf. Cricket. 7.30 NEWSROOM, Weather.
8.00 GREAT PARKS OF THE
WORLD. Fuji Hakone Izu, Japan.
9.20 SHOW OF THE WEEK.
Keith Michell.
10.10 OPEN
GOLF.
CRICKET:
3RD TEST.
11.05 NEWS, Weather.
11.10 LATE NIGHT LINE-UP.
AN APPEAL by Royal Navy torpedo Sub-Lieutenant expert, David Bingham (31), against his 21-year jail sentence for selling naval secrets to the Russians, is due to be heard on July 28 at London's Law Courts. Lord Lord Chief Widgery, Justice, is expected to preside over the hearing. Bingham, of Wheatsheaf Drive, Havant, Hants, Cowplain, was at Winchester Crown sentenced Court by Mr Justice Bridge on March 13. Bingham had pleaded guilty to 12 charges under the Official Secrets Act. THE Association of Teachers in Institutions yesterday Technical for the lifting called of the suspension for 'academic' reasons the North London • Poly- technic's head of business studies, Mr W. Jenkins. College director Terence Miller has already said an inquiry into the running of the department will be held.
A MOTION urging withdrawal of transport union membership from London dockers Bernie Steer and Vic Turner did not find a seconder when the union's Transport House branch met on Tuesday. The motion by Peter "Their Bottomiey said: recent action has brought the union into disrepute and has caused unnecessary public conflict be- tween Workers Press,
ITV
11.30 Matters to Me. 12.25 Demo- Cook Book. crats noose 1.15 Bellbird. Zingalong. Arthur. 2.05 1.40 Castle Haven 2.30 Good Afternoon. 3.00 House.
Wild. party. 3.10 Joker's 3.45 Marcus Welby 4.40 Nuts and Bones 4.55 Atom Ant. 5.20 How 5.50 News. 6.00
WRECKERS AT DEAD-EYE.
6.30
CROSSROADS.
6.55
'THE
DEVIL
AT
FOUR O'CLOCK
Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra strange mixture of people face death island volcanie Pacific.
NEAREST AND DEAREST.
9.00
9.30 THIS WEEK.
NEWS.
CINEMA.
10.30 11.00
SOMETHING TO SAY.
12.00 ST
JOHN
AMBULANCE
BRIGADE.
REGIONAL TV
All regions as BBC1 except: Ruff and curls frame Glenda Jackson's 'Elizabeth R' face on BBC 1 Wales: 6.00 Wales Today Heddiw. 7.15 Tom allu Dithers. Out. 8.30 4.30 Crossroads. weekn week wales The Goodies. 11.52 News. Richard Lionheart. 5.20 London.
Wales as above except: 4.15 6.00 Reporting Day by 6.45 Simon Mawr. 6.01 Y Dydd Scotland Scot- 11.52 7.15 News, HTv West as above except: 6.18 weener Northern Ireland: 6.00 Scene 11.00 News. Sport West. _oncon. 11.10 rim: shire snow. NeWS simor west wetter.
•OOK.
LOCKe 4.io Anola.
GOSS
4.00 Spy- Good atternoon
OTOV
Weather. 4.10 TO Ce.
BY JOHN SPENCER
EVANS Medical, manufacturers of a contaminated batch of drip feed solutions which may have contributed to the deaths of five hospital patients, were blamed yesterday for 'simple carelessness' and poor management'. A White Paper tells of bacteria escaping detection and multiplying, faulty temperature recorders, unauthorized procedures and an ignored warning.
the batch for sale. It also attacks the the Tnermometer ment manager "in machine was not work- of unskilled lab- con- The inquiry lays most of properly was travention well- our with little of the blame on Devon- super- 'by and adds meals estabiisnce omncoes immediate
VISON
DULLS
supe the quality control'. Tor time, Smart. regulation of the John
NOT.
the ground that the They should properly But also sharply industry by a licensing thermometers have gone to the quality recording attacks the company's will system not In me stenzil. acodil- Contro slat Wick cutap, enough prevent ment had a history of 'would have resulted in unskilled, labour with unreliable operation. a decision not to release similar disasters. little supervision: The White Paner •loo Decele reports the findings believe that sterilization the committee set by of fluids with easily set Social Ministry achieved simple men services uncer operaters ov Clothier, QC, of little skill under THE Labour Party con- consistently refused to the sudden minimum of supervision; firmed earlier this touch drug firms, deaths of nve a view of the task which Dalichl. that would set though the NHS is vir- it in a Plymouth hospital. wrong only respect. the the possible At inquest into nationaliza- tomer. The Evans Medi- the deaths, highly- cal scandal another •Forthcoming regula- Willian Mr that tions of the industry by coroner demons alon inspection Tone cases before him con- the National Health Ser- of the demand will not of itself guaran- dextrose after nationalization of tee freedom from similar was war Labour possibly, probably and the industry costs ives disabies. 'almost certainiv a lac- tor' causing the deaths. London dock closes Devonport, The report reveals
LOOK
responsibillty
TOT
that the dextrose operating the auto-
ANOTHER
London poor trading perform- tion the Ply- claves used on despite close ance. patients was part faulty thermometers. September the Delta contamin- batch Wharf Tunnel improve- ment of the machines prospect alea by bacterr Avenue will Shut down because failed to was followed ment the future, he not up In throwing another reach sterilizing added. tem- 'for the onto the inquiry laull anotner, attached register. The company began found. for 1956 operating and Speke, Liverpool, The faulty batches Delta Storage Company air. were released for sale decision to carrying warning that the close was coffee and timber. aler processing on tae Hercer ar8 Press, Thursday July 13, 1972 PAGE 11 Rupert Bear. 4.55 Pretenders.
5.20 London. 6.00 Today. 7.00 Sale. 7.30 Film: 'Cargo to Cape Town'. London. 11.00 9.00 O Hara. 12.00 Stories. ULSTER: 2.30 Yorkshire show.
4.10 Gourmet. 4.30 Romper room.
4.50 News. 4.55 Rovers. 5.20 London. 6.00 News. 6.10 Partners.
6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 Shirley's world. 7.30 Film: 'Blood Money'.
9.00 London. 11.00 Benny Hill.
Democrats
YORKSHIRE:
1.15 1.45 choose. Scotland yard mysteries. 2.15 Bellbird. 2.30 Yorkshire show. 4.10 News. 4.15 Crossroads. 4.40 Nuts and bones.
4.55 Funky phantom. 5.20 Lon- don. 6.00 Calendar, weather. 6.30 Takes a thief. 7.25 Film: 'Dream- boat. 9.00 London. 11.00 Mannix.
11.55 Something to sing about. 12.25 Weather. GRANADA: 2.30 Yorkshire show.
3.40 Scotland yard casebook.
4.10 News. Peyton place.: 4.40 Nuts and bones. 4.55 Wish. 5.15 London. 6.00 News. Police file.
UFO.
7.30 Film: 'The 6.30 Trackers'. 9.00 London. 11.00 On the line. 11.35 Scales of justice.
TYNE TEES: 1.15
Democrats yard choose. 1.45 Scotland mysteries. 2.15 Bellbird. 2.30 Yorkshire show. 4.10 News. 4.15 Crossroads. 4.40 Nuts and bones.
4.55 Rovers. 5.20 London. 6.00 Coronet blue. 7.25 Today. 6.30 Film: 'Dear Wite. 9.00 London. 10.30 Sport. 11.00 Cinema. 11.30 Police call. 11.35 Short story.
12.20 Revolving 12.05 News. chair. 3.05 Democrats
SCOTTISH:
choose. 3.35 Horoscope. 3.45 4.10 Animaland. 4.15 Women. Crossroads. 4.40 Nuts and bones.
4.55 Funky phantom. 5.20 Lon- don. 6.00 News. 6.15 UFO. 7.10 'Marines Let's Go'. 9.00 Film: London. 11.00 Late call. : 11.05 Expansions. 11.35 As others see us. GRAMPIAN: 3.31 News. 3.35 Job Yoga. look. 3.40 Women. 4.10 4.40 Nuts and bones. 4.55 Pippi.
5.20 London. 6.00 News, weather.
6.10 Top team. 6.35 Crossroads.
6.55 Film: 'Carry On Nurse'. 8.25 Police news. 8.30 Shirley's world.
9.00 London. 11.00 Young view.
11.30 Avengers.
INFLATION
and industrial relations could lead to com- munal violence on the scale of Ulster, Liberal MP John Pardoe told a meeting of the Industrial Forum on Tuesday.
He said: "Already this year we have come perilously close to violence.' Only 'sensible' police action in the miners' strike had avoided violence and in the docks dis- pute the Official Solicitor had turned up as a 'guardian angel'.
He went on: In the present mood of industrial confrontation.
it is virtually certain that a [wage] freeze will be met with outright rejection. There indeed is the dry tinder of communal violence.' A PLEA by Jack Leonard Pres- cott, (27), for leave to challenge bomb-plot his conviction on charges and 15-year jail sentence is to be heard in the Appeal Court, London, Monday. on Prescott, a decorator, of Roe- hampton Lane, Roehampton, was convicted at the Old Bailey on November 30 of conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced on December 1. He was cleared of causing explosions the at home of Employment Minister Robert Carr and at the Employ- ment Ministry. Prescott's applica- • Lord tion is to be heard by Justice Lawton, Mr Justice Swan- wick and Mr Justice Phillips.
SLL
LECTURES
BIRKENHEAD: Sunday July 18, 12 noon. The Royal Castle Hotel (opposite Lairds). 'The Marxist Method and Building the Revolutionary Party.'
NEWCASTLE: Monday Juty 17, 8 p.m. Hotspur Hotel, The Haymarket. Lecture given by Cliff Slaughter, SLL Central Committee, on 'An introduction to Marxism'.
Scan page 12
PAGE 12 Workers Press, Thursday July 13, 1972 Provocative Orange speech Unite and train with
BY DAVID MAUDE
THE INDUSTRIAL Society guns-MP yesterday announced the establishment of an indepen- dent' conciliation and arbitra- tion service. offer assistan se ice will smal small
BY OUR OWN REPORTER
assistance scale to manacement involved in disputes, particularly A FORMER Ulster Unionist MP at Westminster, Sir at plant level. Knox Cunningham yesterday urged Loyalists to train making the announcement in the use of arms to defend themselves.
the Industrial Society's tire tor Garnett, Speaking at an Orange demonstration in Ballinderry, sale relations industrial personnel Co Antrim, QC Cunningham, former MP for South would assembled, including line Antrim, and a former Scots Guards officer told the Hialiarclo Licue omcers. Loyalists: 'Unite with your fellow Loyalists and you During a day-long seminar for can save Ulster-unite and train.'
Senior maurops yesterday at th plush Hugh turopa He accused the Westminster government of destroying demo- •canon. ores cert Une Amalgamated Union cracy in Ulster, imposing government by dictatorship, appeasing of Engineer- Workers, shared the platform gunmen and murderers, breaking their word to the Loyalists and Martin the Bakis, ridi with. director betraying Protestants who wanted to remain under the Crown.
Em- general or And he urged the rally: 'Put no trust in Westminster politicians. I ployers' Federation. have been asked if Loyalists should train to use arms, and I reply of Scanlon is a frequent speaker course they should. When men joined the Home Guard to defend thei Industrial Society seminars nomes against ine Nazis, tney trained with what arms they coula nna which cost anything up to £25 No one suggested that they would be better off without them.
'You will have to defend your families a day. and homes Repub- against licans. Speaking first Jukes poured ode do murderers. suggest that you would be better able to defend yourselves unarmed cold water on the current dis- My message to you today is that you trust no government at West- cussion about streamlined minster to detend Uister.
only yourselves and your fellow Granada workers seek union rights Loyalists' (Sir Knox's recreations include rifle Brige University and pre de is a tormer heavyweight
GRANADA
Cambridge University presi- dent Gainsford Boxing Club, Belfast.) In Co Tyrone, former Stormont Home Affairs
GRAVEN
Minister John laylor sala that the british gov-
PUBLISHING
had yielded
IRA
RECOCI
WE terrorism. Lavor. WirO Suried
DEMAND
assassination attempt in February,
OUR
said there Belfast was political
RIGHTS
supported Wilde the Ulster Unionist cause.
YESTERDAY's July 12 Orange parades throughout Northern Ireland off without major incident the alle noon. Thousands of troops stood by in Belfast and other towns, In Derry, bombs ex-
-DIO
in a car In Strand Road and the Place. in in Waterloo Place. was police buildings were an0l nearby evacuated. Police estimated that the bomb had contained More than 50 employees They 200 Ib of explosive been try. sought membershir Granada Publishing ing to get union recog- the Association of Scien.
Company staged a one- "The attitude in Britain today nition for a year. On tific, Technical day walk-out there would be a great yesterday Managerial Staffs. is that May 3 they threatened for union Inel ugnt Northern Ireland to walk out but manage But since this decisive Teller The recognition. situation were longer respon ment asked for a ballot They picketed the majority problem and conducted. management has refused be sibility' Square, Soho, through- Of the 96 wno parti- to see the union's rep- For the distine nade bee out the day. cipated in the ballot, 58 resentatives. 'Union Jack' rejected by most people in Ulster in favour of the Ulster flag.
JULY FUND
WEATHER
£450.83- England and THE MIDLAND Cold Storage Wales will but dry Company's bid to cloudy. The second order prohibiting IeSL England and Wales, southern and AFTER a areat start we seem dockers from blacking lorries Scotland and Northern be slipping back. A collection using their Stratford depot ran will be dry meeting after the lobby with sunny
TUC
into difficulties yesterday.
£43.49 yesterday Deluds. Talbee North-west Scotland will start brings our up Counsel for the Official Solici- Tune bright but become rather cloudy £450.83. our target of e1,0n0 tor told Mr Justice Megarry that with a little Temper- rain way erer target later. general even where The
ACTS
be be no doubt of the which made up «lures WIl near norma our an inside the stokin Tors. warm In anal trial practice are also Outlook for Friday and Saturday: The trade union leaders fight against the aw orences. Ineer me mousta Dry and warm in most places.
must relations law these should their not be separated off for action in talks with Heath. con Campbell, anomier where follow the must lead OC, Mr Alan for the employers had sought to government must made persuade the High Court that thi resign jurisdiction of the NIRC did not This great feeling for fight cover support for our inducement to breach of contract We know If you make an paper. ane bread saucer cra ffort now our Fund we can raise Official But counsel for the
NEWS DESK
We 01-720 2000 Solicitor claimed all these
MUSI
NOU
waste moment. Go all out today. Raise
CIRCULATION 01-622 7029
could be acEs recarce• as conl something yourselt. Post all dond amounts. add tributing to the unfair industrial practice which the NIRC had on tons 10. already ruled Workers Press The NIRC vesterdav refused to ablished wy Workers, Press.
Appeal Fund review its judgement that there July was insufficient evidence to prove London 186a Street, Canham High London SW4 7UG LOnCOn
SHOD
stewares nad 1 London combined to black hauliers using i Captam H Press reet, the Stratford depot the Mid
SW4 7UC
scanion at yesterday's conter- ence. ciliation services involving the TUC and CBI. Arguing for government repre- sentation he said: 'The difficulty of an independent conciliation service wholly divorced from government is that settlements may be made that would cause prices to rise and will accelerate inflation.' Later on he argued for such a service to be 'constrained by from government'. direction He said he hoped the present
ASTMST34
THING
mbership of A telegram of support was sent by ACTT mem- tion of Scien- bers in Granada's tele- and vision division. The head of Granada this decisive Is millionaire Lord Sid. Granada ney Bernsein and his t has refused chief executive in union's rep- charge of publishing is Mr Sonny Mehta. land Cold Storage Company.
45-minute| hearing After a preceding the resumption of the High Court application by Mid- land Cold Storage, the NIRC rejected a plea by the company that the committee should, after all, be ordered to stop 'blacking' threats against vehicles crossing the picket line at the company's cold store in Hackney. order banning On Friday an 'blacking' was made by the NIRČ against seven named dockers. But the court refused to include the committee in the order on the grounds that it was not an of workers' 'organization as defined in the Industrial Rela- tions Act. the High Court Mr And in Alan Campbell, QC, for the em- ployers, said that the NIRC's decision was additional evidence that the only relief open to the company was an order from the court banning all picketing.
He said the competence of the NIRC did not extend beyond unfair industrial practices.
But the dockers' pickets were actionable in common law for picketing with of threats intimidation and violence and in such a manner as to cause a Department of Employment service would not be left out of scheme which was any established. 'Any proposals that don't make use of the experience of the conciliation present officers would, in my view, be unfortun- This does not mean, ate. course, that they could not be out of the ministry taken and put in some independent body.'
Scanlon welcomed the idea of independent conciliation and arbitration, but insisted that the Industrial Relations Act must be scrapped or shelved first.
It did no good at all to ignore the fundamental conflict between capital and labour, or to pretend that it was not 'in finality irre- concilable', he said. 'But that does not mean we have to be at each others' throats all the time'.
It was a most welcome sign, that the Confederation he said, of British Industry was now its putting forward oWn proposals for voluntary concili- ation machinery free from government interference. But the Act remained the out- standing stumbling-block.
'One of the necessary prere- quisites for us getting down to the type of arbitration and con- ciliation machinery we think is necessary is the complete elimin- ation of the law from industrial relations', ', he said. It was the TUC's belief, Scanlon said, that a widespread availability of conciliation and arbitration could, if properly utilized, make a positive contri- bution to good industrial relations. But assistance by third parties in industrial disputes should be seen as a supplement to collective bargaining rather than a means of bringing in outsiders every time there was trouble. It could be no substitute for negotiations, he said. The danger an arbitration system was that it could become a 'coward's castle' for avoiding proper negotiations. Answering questions on pay, Scanlon repeated an argument he earlier at used the TUC Economic Committee, querying whether, even if the unions en- tered into some form of dialogue with the government on pay, they could 'deliver the goods'.
Bill motion MR ROY HUGHES (Lab New- port) was refused leave in the House of Commons yesterday to bring in a Bill to repeal Industrial Relations Act. Voting was 228 203, a majority to against of 25. nuisance and for inducing breach of contract. He said the core of their was a conspiracy to actions injure the company using all pos- sible means. Campbell said since the dockers' leaders had said pub- licly they intended to defy the NIRC and even intensify their picketing, there was no alterna- tive but for the High Court to issue an interim order prohibiting all picketing for seven days.
He added that if the dockers or their representatives would only appear in court, the prob- lems could be thrashed out with them and agreement reached.
order He stressed that an banning only unlawful picketing, but which allowed dockers to continue their blacking activities would be unacceptable. This situation required an order that was clear and which would be obeyed. He said it was a case of the Blacking chicken and the egg. was the heart of his client's problem. If there were no pickets there could be no blacking and the company would be free to their business un- carry on hindered.