Socialist Organiser

The weekly of the fused Workers Socialist League, July 1981 to April 1984

[*Affiliate to the Mobilising Committee for the Defence…]

Socialist Organiser no. 88, 10 June 1982 · scan pp. 9–10 · about 552 words

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*Affiliate to the Mobilising Committee for the Defence of Trade Union Rights (28 Middle Lane, *Withdrawal of union representatives from all bodies implementing the legislation.

*Send the Tories to Coventry, no talks withdrawal from all government machinery.

*A series of one-day strikes to build the *The General Council to make clear now to the government and employers that a General Strike will be the result of any attempt to enforce the legislation against workers or unions.

*No union to participate in closed shop or accept government money for any ballots. state's fear of escalation. Even a bourgeois politician as stubborn as Heath was forced to change policy.

In today's conditions, however, the union leaders, faced with declining membership and finances and a weaker rank and file, may be less willing to mount even a protest campaign. For example, right wing AUEW Executive members backed strikes against the 1970s legislation which they saw as an attack on union functions. They wouldn'ttoday.

However, even limited official protest can help fuel rank and file action. The fight to push the leaders into action must continue alongside the rank and file mobilisation. 55,000FINE : he's coming hach London N8) and campaign for:

paign against the proposals. back-up charges of obstruction or breach of the peace. Can you claim unfair dismissal?

It used to be the case that if the employer dismissed some but not all of those involved, the industrial tribunal would hear your unfair dismissal claim.

NOW if you are dismissed while on strike or taking any other form of industrial action - e.g. overtime bans or work-torule, but others are not, you can claim untair dismissal UNLESS some workers who have been on strike have returned to work!

If this is the case you have no protection.

Under the new amendment, employers will be able to:

*selectively sack groups of workers in the same dispute e.g. workers at one the LAST 5 YEARS preceding dismissal.

"Confirmed" means 80% of those covered by the present agreement having now voted for it. For later agreements it will be 80% of th se covered or 85% of those voting.

This means automatically anti-unionists can gain compensation of a minimum of £12,000 if sacked and £17,000 if not reinstated.

What if your employer has a 'union labour only' practice?

The 1980 Act established that an employer could not sack anyone because of such an agreement.

NOW all union-labour only contracts are unlawful.

Trade unions can now be sued for unlawful action organised by their officials if the action is "authorised or endorsed" by a "responsible" person or body.

It will not be authorised the union actually "repudiates" the action -as soon as is reasonably practicable.

But the union must not do anything "inconsistent" with repudiation. This means it will be even harder to get official union support for action such as recent ones at foyles and St. Mary's Hospital.

Damages will be on a sliding scale:

£10,000 for Linions with less than 5,000 menberk £50,000 for unions with 5,000-25,000 members.

£125.000 for unions with 25,000-100,000 members.

£250,000 for unions with nver 10f, 000 members.

Scan page 10

Socialist Organiser, Thursday 10 June 1982 Page 10 Since Reagan took office, 17,000 have been slaughtered in El Salvador.... but Reagan declares the army is 'making progress' on 'human rights' SAt 3991

← Contents of Socialist Organiser no. 88

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