Split danger in Hull builders' fight

shop steward at Nine Elms A DANGEROUS split is being created in the solidarity of Hull building workers by the acceptance of nine site deals which do not fulfil the £30, 35-hour week claim.

News of the agreements was given yesterday at mass meeting of 1,000 strikers at Bevin House, city headquarters of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

The nine firms which have agreed to pay the £30 guaranteed wage for 40 hours will be allowed to work providing they can prove that the agreement has been signed by the union.

Stan Suddaby, chairman of the joint strike committee, told was completely opposed to separate agreements.

The meeting decided to pull out all remaining workers including those employed by Tine corporation, who are not in fact part of the present claim. IN COVENTRY a march of 400 strikers from 42 sites was staged through the centre of the city yesterday.

Their ranks entered the central shopping precinct chanting: 'What do we want? £30.' Bill Mathews, Coventry district official of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians said: 'As far as we are concerned this is a full-scale stoppage.

"There has been a call from certain national leaders for a national strike and the T&GWU •had promised cripple the industry: support SUDDOTT to Peter Carter, chairman of the Birmingham building stewards, member of the regional action committee and a Communist The meeting militant-sounding speech attacking the record of the building employers and their derisory offer.

'Birmingham used to be a cesspool of non-unionism but now we have support and organizations throughout the lands, he said.

'We want a new £30, 35-hour week claim and an end to the "Jump" system. We can win this strike by turning out men to stop cement works and brickyards sending supplies.

His militancy extend to demanding the nationalization of the building industry, however, and the core of his message was that militant action is enough.

He also welcomed the fact that the docks strike was over from union members. Squads have been sent out to Ernsford Grange Estate, Coventry.

ABOUT 200 building workers attended a mass meeting at Burngreave Vestry Hall in Sheffield yesterday. They decided unanimously to give full backing to the escalation of the strike.

In a report to the meeting Les McKay, a full-time union official from Leeds, said that individual agreements were already being signed. He gave the example of one Barnsley firm which accepted £30 for skilled workers and £27 for labourers for a 35hour week.

Sean Couston, a member of the local strike committee, called On the T&GWU to "black' all building supplies. He particularly asked for help from lorry drivers and dockers.

Couston also called for the pub ic works department of Sheffielc Corporation to join the strike. This has been the subject of sharp disagreement at a number of meetings.

McKay opposed this saying: 'There's difficulty in an unauthorized pull-out of the public workers department because of the Industrial Relations Act.' Stalinist full-time official of UCATT, Hilton Stewart, said 'There's terrific pressure to bring out the public works department-both inside and outside. But will the private employers settle quicker? No.

"The Tories are opposed to public works departments because they can't make a profit.

"The best way public works men can help is by giving finance,' he added.

90 per cent of private Sheffield are now out.

A BUILDING workers' picket was arrested and charged with obstruction after incidents at a building site at the Stock Exchange, London, yesterday.

City police intervened when building workers picketing the site formed a line and tried to stop electricians going to work.

ALL TRADES UNIONS ALLIANCE MEETINGS MUST BREAK OFF ALL TALKS WITH HEATH!

MAKE THE TORY GOVERNMENT RESIGNI LEEDS: Tuesday August 22, 7.30 p.m. The builders' fight. Upstairs room, Peel Hotel, Boar Lane.

CENTRAL LONDON:

Wen. The builders fight.

Small Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn.

EAST LONDON: Thursday August 24, 7.30 p.m.

Lister Room, East Ham Town Hall, Barking Road (change of venue). Lessons of the docks strike. Speaker: Larry Cavanagh, Liverpool docks steward (in personal capacity).

Soclalist Labour League FOUR LECTURES THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXIS given by