June 10 Focus on Tebbit Bill

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WITH the dockers' strike planned for that day, June 10 is now the major focus for action against Tebbit..

Industrial action alongside the dockers and health workers will be the most powerful blow against the Tories. But every other possible way of building the campaign should be used, too demonstrations, rallies, meetings.

Despite the Falklands war, pressure for a fight against Tebbit is growing. The National Society of Metal Mechanics conference has called for a 24hour strike against the Bill. And National Union of Seamen general secretary Jim Slater has raised the same call, linking it to the day when the Bill becomes All-out The Mobilising Committee for the Defence of Trade Union Rights has been campaigning for a 24-hour strike for nearly two months now. It sees this call as the first step to all-out strike action which would stop the Bill becoming law.

The Mobilising Committee's other call is for the labour movement to withdraw from the NEDC and tripartite committees, and to break all links with the Tories. A particular effort is being made in the TGWU to push resolutions to the June General Executive meeting making this call and proposing a special recall union conference to decide on strike action against Tebbit.

Progress

From London, WENDY MUSTILL reports on the progress of the Mobilising Committee there:

'Affiliations far include Camden l NUPE [who have distributed 500 copies of the factsheet , ASLEF Kings Cross, and the NUPE ILEA District Committee [who have made a £10 donation].

Lambeth NUT have also taken 500 copies of the factsheet.

A statement for Labour councillors expressing opposition to the Bill and refusal to enact its ciauses when passed [particularly the ban on Labour councils awarding contracts on 'union labour only' basis] is being prepared and will be available next week. So will 25,000 leaflets for mobilising on June 10, focusing on the lead given by the dockers to coordinate strike action with opposition to Tebbit's Bill.

Scores of workshops on the Bill are being organised by the TUC regionally in June. Mobilising Committee supporters should use CPSA Conference dele- CPSA Conference gates were stunned as outgoing President Kate these to raise the arguments for action as widely and loudly as possible."

Wendy Mustill also reports on the 'Women Against Tebbit' campaigning.

"The Women's Fightback leaflet outlining the Bill's implications for women is being reprinted. Tebbit's law is inextricably linked to organising and unionising women around the Women's Right to Work campaign.

The links should be explained when organising delegations for the June 5 demonstration.

Other recent affiliations and donations to the Mobilising Committee come • from POEU External Slater: call for one-day strike This reflects a current running through all the Civil Service trade unions. In the same week as CPSA held its conference, the Inland Revenue Staff Branch, Edinburgh, UCW Basingstoke, and Plasnewydd Labour branch, Cardiff.

To affiliate or order material from the Mobilising Committee, write to 28 Middle Lane, London N8 8PL. Or phone 01609 3071.

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by Stephen by Stephen Corbishley Corbishley