Open the exhibition!

Scan page 13

& Safety laws Nor does the book point goodie. Vintage Book It falls to CPSA, therefore, to inform the world that an exhibition entitled 'Solidarity/Solidarnosc (the latter is Polish for the former), can currently be found in the King's Library between the Campion exhibition and the Philatelic display.

It was originally intended to go into a case right in the middle of the King's Library but that would have been right in the middle of a Hungarian exhibition and the Hungarians might have been embarrassed. So now it has been tucked safely away where very few people at all will find it. 'Hazard Spotting -Guide for Safety Reps' published by the Labour Research Department, 78 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8HF, price 60p.

Work Act and may resist attempts by safety reps, for example, to make more than the legal minimum of inspections, to follow up workers' complaints, to take photos of accidents or samples of suspected toxic substances, or even to have an office to work from.

The booklet frequently suggests that agreements will need to be "negotiated" with management on these kinds of things, leaving it up to the imagination of the reader to interpret the word "negotiate" as they wish. But the book does not offer any helpful suggestions about how to negotiate with the kind of employer that doesn't see any particular reason to bother with safety reps or who have "never heard of the Health and Safety at Work Act or Who employ some management ștooge as the rep.

The exhibition consists of newspapers and pamphlets published by Solidarity over the past year.

Even though most of us cannot read Polish, it is still useful material for people in the West to actually see.

Prison

It shows how Solidarity conduct their everday struggle and communicate with workers in a country where the official press and media are rigidly controlled by the State.

The exhibition also helps to illustrate that Solidarity is, before anything else, a Nor does the book point out that safety legislation always lags behind experience, particularly in relation to toxic substancesso that many people have to become ill, have miscarriages, become sterile or die before the toxicity of a substance is recognised.

Obviously, problems like that are outside the scope of this short booklet, but it is still a useful handbook to have, not just for the workplace rep. but for any workers who may be concerned about safety in their workplaces or who do not have a safety rep.

Goodie

Further reading list: Women's Health at Risk, TUC, 35р.

N. McDonald and M. Doyle; The Stresses of Work: A. Leserve and others. Biol ogical Hazards, the Hidden Threat: A LeServe • and others. Chemicals. Work and Cancer: These three all published by the Workers' Educational Association. Also in this series: Radiation. Noise and Vibrationprice £1.40.

J.M. Stellman and S.M1. Daum. Work is Dangerous to Your Health. foldie but militant trade union, dependant on strong organisation and solidarity with a small 's to achieve its advances.

One of the great hypocrisies of the past year has been that committed by the Western press and media in praising and encouraging Solidarity, whilst unremmitingly attacking and slandering trade unions and trade union organisation in their own countries.

They would have howled with rage if Lech Walesa and the executive committee of Solidarity had been led away to prison in chains, yet they shed no tears when that happened to some of the goodie. Vintage Books, New York); P. Kinnersley, The Hazards of Work-How to Fight Them, Pluto Press.

KATHY SHERLOCK Many readers tell us they think Socialist Organisér has improved striking US air traffic controllers this summer.

Solidarity needs support from trade unions and trade union members in the west, not from the enemies of trade unionism-not from those who would be the first to condemn Solidarity if they were agitating and striking against a Capitalist government.

Craven

As for Sir Harry's ruling, what is the point of mounting an exhibition in the first place if you're not going to tell people it exists? Perhaps Sir Harry wants the Library to remain 'above politics? But surely a straightforward 'neutral' way of advertising the exhibition could be found. Perhaps he's worried in case the Russians find out? But if they do send the tanks into Poland, it will hardly be because of a small exhibition in the British Library.

Perhaps he doesn't want people to know that one of Solidarity's principal demands is the right to hire and fire their own managers? Ideas like that can spread!

Management should stop behaving in such a craven manner and publicise the exhibition. If they won't, others will.