TUC and Tebbit: hunt the policy

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mented" On the following page of But workers have no report, covering the same the report, the call for the common interest with month, October contains April 5 conference of Execuemployers - least of all on this statement: "They (the tives is reported. (A decision

lan Kaye.

THE TUC has recently issued a review of its campaign against Tebbit; but readers will have to look hard for it. The review forms some 3 pages in the 40 page "Annual Report 1982" which will be presented to trades councils conference in Bournemouth next month (June 4-6).

The timetable goes like this: in October, the meticulous reader learns, the general council "gave initial consideration to the shape of the TUC's campaign" and agreed to "win strong support from union members, employers (!), MPs and the general public; and develop strategies to counter the adverse effects on trade union activities when impleTHE railways are all set for a major confrontation in only a few weeks' time.

The BR Board have announced the closure of three carriage works as part of their programme of shedding 39,000 jobs and privatisation. This •has evoked intense opposition in the towns affected. In Shildon, almost the whole population marched against the decision.

Since then McCarthy has made his report on the flexible rostering dispute. It didn't matter what he reported since it is BR policy to get flexible rostering whatever, and management are taikıng privately about an 8week shut down if necessary.

It was widely expected that MoCarthy would have to recognise the strength of the train drivers' case and come down on their side. In fact he has backed up the Board, though setting out 13 "safeguards' reflecting the train drivers' justifiable fears' BR will of course now use this report to try and impose rosters, rather than rejecting it.

Meanwhile, the pay claim has been left in abbeyance. this Bill. This is an employers' Bill, not an Employment Bill; the interests of management are represented through it, and they will be precisely the people to use it, if it is passed.

The same page of the DELEGATES dissatisfied with the official TUC 'campaign' will be organising a fringe meeting at the Trades Councils conference On "The TUC and Tebbit" Oxford Trades Council has decided to sponsor this meeting, and is seeking the support of other trades councils.

It should have been settled in April (we don't even know what's been asked for yet!) but BR has said it must wait upon a 'satisfactory' outcome on flexible rostering.

We've had the usual bluster from Sid Weighell about being on strike alert over the threat to the carriage works but nothing on the pay issue, and we can be sure that now flexible rostering is back on the agenda, he'll be getting General Council - not the employers!) reaffirmed their determination to campaign vigorously against the government's proposals and to oppose the legislation at every stage."

Strong words indeed! "Determination" and "vigour". ". But of course this begs the question, what kind of opposition?

Before readers of Socialist Organiser start filling the nation's overcrowded hospitals with cardiac arrests, something should be pointed out. This was in October. If the TUC had meant genuine opposition - a campaign centred around strike action to stop the Bill, the real way of "mobilising members" -It should be visible by now. his knife out.

We certainly should be on strike alert - not just talking about it. A whole number of threats to railworkers' jobs, conditions, and wages are coming together and we have the job of not just opposing this board's (and through them, the Tories') plans for the decimation and privatisatior of the railways but also of making our union fight.

•Most of what we've had so far has been the NUR buying shares in the ownership of the privatised hotels 'to look after the members' interests better' (as bosses?) and attacks on those prominent in the NUR Broad Left.

It is quite likely that Hissing Sid will appeal to the NUR AGM in June to overrule the Executive decision telling him to leave off.

We cannot let this continue. We have to fight back now. Railworkers should demand that the pay claim be pursued now, that we take total opposition to the carriage works closure and we resist any further erosion of working conditions or jobs. made in December).

The objective of this was "to secure the agreement of affiliated unions for a series of specific steps to oppose the legislation once implemented"

Here the report comes back to square one. The TUC is again calling on trades unionists to "emphasise" to employers the "dangerous consequences" of the legislation. We should "dissuade" bosses from initiating "damaging legal actions"

At the same time (of course) as using all means available to get the message across to members, etc. etc.

From the way the TUC campaign was run so far it is obvious that the General Council have really put their back into one particular part of the campaign: talking to the bosses and the government.

When TUC leaders first discussed their response to Tebbit's Bill, the T&G urged withdrawal from the NEDC.

And many rank and file activists are not as willing as Moss Evans to drop that call now in favour of the TUC's nofight eight points.

The forthcoming June meeting of the TGWU's lay General Executive should be a chance to push for action.

Socialist Organiser urge urges readers to push through TGWU branches and committees resolutions to the GEC for:

* Breaking all links with the Tories in the NEDC and other tripartite committees, * A recall Biennial Del

Delegates to the Bournemouth conference seriously willing to fight the Bill should reject this section of the report, and take up the policies of the mobilising

committee.

*Demand that the TUC withdraws from their cosy chats with the Tories in the NEDC and other committees.

*Use a one-day general strike on the day the Bill becomes law as a way of mobilising the whole movement for extended strike action against the legislation.

LI TORIES

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