'Anti-union law motions weren't sharp enough'

KENT: 17, 7 p.m. 'The crisis of technology and unemployment.' SHAFTESBURY HOTEL MONMOUTH STREET, WC2.

Speakers: Roy Batterst (ACTT. In a person capacity).

A London docker SEPTEMBER 13, 'Victory to the Creffiel Defeat the anti-union laws.

Make the Tories resign.' THE GEORGE AND DRAGON SHIPBOURNE ROAD TONBRIDGE, KENT. LIVERPOOL:

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 10.30 a.m. 'Crisis in the car ind try. Fight for the right work' STORK HOTEL QUEEN'S SQUARE Speakers: Alan Tho rnett (deputy senior ste ward Morris Motors, Oxfor d. In a personal capacity) Mike Banda (SLL Central Committee) BRIAN NORTHEY- & machine-tool worker from Bolton-is a member of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers' delegation.

Like most militants in the Congress he would have liked to have seen a sharper and more specific motion on the Industrial Relations Act.

But he accepts that compromise had to be reached to get the support of the TransWorkers Union. General "There was some ambiguity in the final composite', he said. 'It was not entirely clear what "facilities" under the Act meant, and of course, there was a provision for payment of fines.

But we had to get the support of the T&GWU. But my feeling, and the feeling of my delegation, was that there should be no payment of fines or court appearances.

'The motions from our technical and supervisory section and the cinema technicians had a more definable line, but I think to try and Bolton engineer Brian Northey get the final motion through was better than nothing at all.

"I am satisfied that our union will not go before the court, but I'm not sure whether this will apply to other unions.

*It amazes me that the trade union movement has allowed this to happen anyway. But all you can do is to fight it out at the next Congress' Personally, Brian said, he was proud of his own union's position on the Act. He thought it was only the AUEW which given any lead on issue over the last or so.

'If we did go before the court it would be a very sad let-down', he As a machine-tool worker, Brian understandably sees the second big issue facing the movement as unemployment.

He works for Thos Ryder, Bolton, heavy machine-tool manufacturers. Over the last 18 months the engineering industry in the area has lost 3,000 jobs. had year He points out that to save machine-tools heavy investment is needed, but this cannot happen under the Tory government.

He commented on yesterday's economic resolution which called for shorter lays "and longer holidays condemns any talks on wage restraint, but not outlaw further collaboration with Tory government:

I fully agree the demand for a 35hour week and four weeks' holiday, al ad l quite agree with paragraph on no wage restraint.

'But I am not so sure about talks with government anyway.

It's obvious that the Tories and the employers have no intention of reducing or stabilizing prices.

I am facing one example now: my rent is going to go up from £4 to £5 this month. I certainly support the resolution on the Housing Finance Act— it is a scandal the way Labour councils have abandoned the fight on this issue.'

STEPHEN JOHNS AND JOHN SPENCER REPOR' THE 104th TUC IN THE DOME, BRIGHTON Friday