Swindon Council of Action set up

DELEGATES from the Trades Council, the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers district committee, the United Tenants' Association, AUEW branches, the socialist Labour League, the Communist Party and the Young Socialist Federation attended the inaugural meeting of the Swindon Council of Action at AUEW House on Wednesday. Observers were present from the EPTU.

The main resolution declared that the urgent political tasks before the trade unions and labour movement demanded not only a new form of practical struggle, but a correspondingly higher " form of working-class organizatione for the defence of all basic democratic: sights.vi This fight was inseparable from the struggle to force the Tories to resign and elect a Labour government pledged to socialist policies.

The two delegates from the Communist Party (one the Swindon CP branch secretary) abstained froth voting on the resolution on the grounds that, although they agreed with the position of the Council of Action, it 'went far beyond the level of the workers they were trying to get to'.

Everyone else voted for the resolution and—on the proposal of local Labour Party members—a letter was sent asking why the Labour Party had not replied to the invitation to them to participate on the Council of Action. Ferries stop on Mersey A FRESH dispute has led to the complete stoppage ot all terry services between Liverpool and Wirral yesterday. Seamen and stage-hands stopped work from Port Talbot craftsmen BSC striker CRAFTSMEN from ation factory in Port discuss strike action in support They will hear a proposal from engineering union 'shop stewards giving the corporation 28 days' notice of strike action unless the claim is met.

An overtime ban has been in operation at the works since the beginning of August in support of a 6-per-cent minimum • wage demand.

Management has adopted an intransigent attitude towards the claim, saying that no more wage increases are due at Port Talbot under the terms of the blue book' manpower and productivity agreement.

BSC YESTERDAY announced the closure of the foundry department at Hallside steelworks, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. The 83 workers involved have been told the shutdown will take place in six months' time.

Craft representatives met the BSC management in London last week and turned down two offers which juggled existing hours worked, hours paid and hourly rates in order to give workers on the 21-shift continental rota a £1.50 pay increase.

These workers are already entitled to a fl pay rise by national agreement. A third BSC over th A sep.

Wedne:

ferries CORRESPONDENT the giant British Talbot meet this their The latest money terms day workers, workers and on the full yesterday in a dispute : disciplining of a seamen. irate dispute began on over delays in pay nalad.

Steel Corpi afternoon pay claim.

offer submitted at the end of last week was rejected as totally unsatisfactory by the factory's joint crafts negotiating committee (JCNC).

The committee decided to boycott a further round of talks scheduled in London to discuss the demand.

But AUEW district secretary Tal Lloyd declared whatever the rank and file thought, he would attend the London meeting and the JCNC switched its line and also decided to attend.

offer amounts in to 85p a week for £1.35 for two-shift £1.92 for workers 21-shift continental Despite Lloyd's recommendation for acceptance, AUEW shop stewards have voted to recommend strike action at the meeting today.

BURMAH OIL produced betterthan-expected interim profit figures. Yesterday Burmah said pre-tax profits for the half-year to the end of June were £19,658,000, against £19,930,000. After tax, the total is £14,218,000 against £13,943,000. A statement said profits in the second half of the year were expected to follow the improving trend. Electriclans' union leader Frank Chapple refuses to speak to lobbyists at power pay talks. LATEST POCKET LIBRARY CONTAINERIZATION The case for nationalization of the docks and transport industry SEA JALAND SOCIALIST ¡ ABOUR LEAGUE, POCKET : IBRARY NO S By Stephen lons and ian feats Price: Thirty pance POCKET LIBRARY Labour Government?

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