Our policy for rank and file action

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LAST Saturday's conference of the Communist Party's "Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions" was a mini-preview of the April 5 TUC conference of union executives on the Tebbit •The audience (including representatives from several union executives) watched a display of huffing, puffing and arm-waving from the platform, followed by the presentation of a "declaration" to which no amendments or alternatives were allowed.

"If anybody is put behind bars we must have an effective national strike throughout the country"

"If one shop steward or worker is fined or jailed, the movement will be mobilised to such an extent that if necessary we will move toward the first general strike since 1926", said TGWU official So the LCDTU declaration called on unions boycott court proceedings under the Bill and But the essence of Tebbit's Bill is to impose shackles on the unions without the need for messy jailings and fines. It relies upon the cowardice and collaboration of the trade union bureaucracy - their consistent habit of collapsing as soon as they are The most pernicious effects of the Bill will be achieved therefore without opposition from either The predictable vote taken, LCDTU delegates walked off, free of any commitment to do anything to stop Tebbit's Bill reaching the statute The same performance on a larger and more lavish scale will be repeated at the TUC Conference on April 5. Union executives who have made no effort to consult union members - will raise their arms for a meaningless 8-point resolution which concedes that Tebbit's Bill will become law.

On the face of it, therefore; the whole affair is sewn up: the official trade union movement, and the most influential 'left' opposition in the unions are united in the view that any resistance to the Bill should be postponed until trade unionists are victimWhat is the alternative? While the body of the rade union bureaucracy, fearful of confrontation vith the Tory government and anxious only to preserve its own control over the rank and file, sets ourse for capitulation, it is necessary to turn to the ctive forces in the labour movement who are preThe best sections of shop stewards, convenors.

nilitants and Labour activists must form the spearlead of a fighting force that will build a broad cam›aign to stop the retreat and press for action now bocialist Organiser-has campagnea tor ent ru

Tebhit

against the law.

Bill.

and tribunals up to national level.

it is criminal to assist them to do so. said SOGAT Stalinist George Willoughby.

Disrupt and Peter Kavanagh.

refuse to pay fines or damages.

Essence rank and file level.

threatened by legal confrontation.

cils and Labour Parties.

TUC or LCDTU!

level for action to stop Tebbit. book. The demand must go out for the TUC to break from the Tories and to call strike action against Tebbit.

militant prepared to struggle for action.

within the labour movement.

Union bureaucrats, remote from the battles and exploitation on the shop floor, reluctantly acquiesce ised by it.

So where do socialists go from here? Do we meekly accept the FILE EH? WELL defeat being inflicted upon our RANK AND movement by the bureaucrats, and IS UNELECTED OFFICIAL -their Stalinist accomplices in the MY RANK AND TI tIS IS THE FILE WEVE LCDTU?

Do we concede that the April 5 GOT ON gathering represents the feelings of TROUBLEMAKE the British working class, and that the most vital hard-won trade union rights are to be surrendered without a fight?

Sit back Do we sit back and wait for the irst section of workers to fall foul if Tebbit's legislation before we ›egin the fight for mobilisation and nass action?

To draw such conclusions would ›e in effect to join in the historic ›etrayal being carried through by he TUC leadership.

to the Tory legislation - but tight vigorously to silence militants who call for action.

workers who demand a real fight.

pared to wage a real fight.

organise. It is time to stand and fight.

gainst Tebbit.