Under the Dome Shades of Lloyd

FROM STEPHEN JOHNS IN BRIGHTON TUC PRESIDENT George Smith yesterday defended the General Council's talks with the Tories and the employers, despite the fact that his own building union members are locked in bitter struggle with them over pay.

Cmith Silen, general secrelary of the Union of Construction Allied Trades and Techniclans, insisted: 'We must never imagine that we are an alternative form of governToaders had to make emain In his opening address leaders Certan their views were delivered and heard throughout the land.

Therefore representations to government were a particularly essential part of their responsibilities.

He claimed that the Heath government, which had appeared 'hell-bent on pursuing abrasive policies' had now been 'compelled to recognize the need for co-operative effort, understanding and intelligent approach to our present economic and social ill'.

In a clear bid for the support of the most conservative elements of Congress he talked darkly about 'what is happening to workpeople out of economic circumstances and the disturbances of social conditions in the United Kingdom.

Shades of the Festival of Light!

Defending the TUC-CBI conciliation and arbitration service, whose panel of arbitrators includes a former director of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers, he said they could lead to a reliable, independent method of Jones hits at militants A PUBLIC attack on militants in the trade union movement who oppose the policies of the official leadership has been launched by Jack Jones, head of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Speaking at a poorlyattended "Tribune' meeting in Brighton on Sunday night, Jones appealed against what he described as 'thugs and anarchists' within the ranks.

He called on trade unionists to resist any splits in their ranks.

'We must resist pressure trom the few, he said. I say to those Labour also who have been doing many things to besmirch the name of trade unionism that they are only splitting the moveThis was a veiled reference to angry dockers who attacked Jones after docks delegates voted on his recommendation to call off the recent national strike.

Jones also made it clear that he was prepared to make his union a prisoner of the right wing:

•My own union has made it clear that it has no intention of going it alone. We will A series which appeared in now available as a pamphlet in the Socialist Labour League Pocket Library. 'WHY A LABOUR GOVERNMENT? A Reply to some centrist critlcs.' Price 5p dealing with problems through the agreed exercise of free will.

Then he returned to the reactionary core of his argument:

'When I spoke about the alienation which is expressing itself at every level of the community, he said, I could almost have said that there is a degree of normlessness prevailing which threatens the whole of our social fabric in a manner which does not conform to any classical exposition of social revolution or class struggles.' What lies behind this, of course, is the unaccustomed rough ride Smith had been given by his members in his actempts to settle their pay claim piecemeal.

But combined with UCS not joining strike UPPER CLYDE shipyards will not be joining in tomorrow's one-day strike called by the Communist Party-controlled Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions.

This was revealed yesterday at Brighton by the Clydebank yard's sub convenor, Gerry Ross.

Mr Ross said that it was not appropriate in the existing circumstances for the men to join in the protest which is against the Industrial Relations He revealed that the Jack Jones always accept the decisions of the General Council, even if they have been against us, because a split would delight our opponents?

Tones' speech is the keynote of the conference.

unity he THE DOME BRIGHION the name of has made George Smith marks about the government, it shows just where the Congress right wing is moving.

In 1919 Lloyd George had to place. If a force arses the tell the TUC leaders their which is stronger than state ... it must be ready to take on the functions of the state, or withdraw and accept the authority of the state', he challenged.

Today the union leaders themselves convey this mesage to their members without any prompting from Heath.

Communist Party-dominated shop stewards' co-ordinating committee at the yards had not called for the men to support the strike.

This complete capitulation is despite the fact that James Airlie, the Stalinist who is second in command to James Reid on the co-ordinating committee, is also chairman of the Scottish Liaison Committee.

At a meeting last week in Glasgow Airlie called on all stewards to mobilize 'the men in their factories behind the protest.

pact with Hur h Scanlon of the engin eers over the Industrial This effectively scotches any possibility of the TUC taking a hard line on appearances before the National Industrial Relations Court or payment of its fines.

The "Tribune' meeting had an abysmally low attendance. The room was half-full, with about 40 people, at the start. Later this rose to 60 to hear Labour Party chairman Anthony. Wedgwood Benn make a speech on the Common Market. 170720 SWASIST: PAPERBACKS *CENTRE 28 Charlotte St London W1 BOOKS @ PERIODICALS @ NEWSPAPERS NOW OPEN Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs Fri 9 a.m.-7.30 p.m.

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