Witch-hunters break the rules: Loser 'elected'

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-Witch-hunters break the rules Loser 'elected' Bill Peters looks at some strange manoeuvres by TGWU officials in the Midlands THE Croxteth estate, on the outskirts of Liverpool, is in a • state of decline: derelict properties, boarded up windows, unemployment, non-existant facilities for youth.

And then we were told that the local comprehensive school would close at the end of the summer term.

Children were supposed to travel two miles into the city to Ellergreen comprehensive school -a post first world war slum school with no playing fields. (Croxteth is a post second world war building surrounded by acres of playing fields).

The council later voted to keep Croxteth open, reversing its original decision, but Keith Joseph over-ruled it.

So parents, organised as the Croxteth Community Action Committee, took over the school buildings in the final weeks of the summer term in order to stop the movement of equipment from the buildings. Electric sewing machines were being shipped out to Ellergreen in the boot of a teacher's car. Unfortunately, the electricity was cut off by a NWEB intruder before the parents were able to stop it. The power is still off.

A summer school pilot scheme was begun in the buildings a fortnight ago to keep up the momentum of the occupation.

Local unemployed and retired teachers have responded to appeals by the parents to put on courses which include: a writers' workshop, Art, 'O'-level and 'A'-level English literature, '0' level science, computer theory and practice, classical guitar, 'O'-level and 'A'-level sociology, 'O'and 'A'-level social and economic history, theatre and drama.

There are 12 volunteer teachers, and the summer school hopes to get 100 students.

The majority of the previous staff have played a passive role.

Since the teaching staff has been guaranteed no loss in status or salary, they have had nothing tangible to lose, except inconvenience. The minority who have participated in the protest demonstration have correctly feared victimisation if they become involved in a major way in the occupation and summer school.

After four weeks of occupation it is clear that a substantial number of parents are resigning themselves to the closure especially as the holidays reach their end.

A new initiative is needed. A tactic that should be seriously considered is a rent strike.

This would bring more pressure to bear on the vacillating council, and their cynical Tory governri ment backers.

It would also strengthen the ability of the parents to seek city wide supporting action such as one-day strikes via • the trades council and District Labour Council rents include a rates element. The parents should campaign for a rent strike on the basis that the estate and school is being starved of services -educational, housing, repairs, general community and recreational facilities, etc.

The struggle must be spread outside of the estate - a demonstration in the city centre, further pickets and occupations of the education offices, Council ONE THING can be said about the right wing - at least we ngur wug ш Ladi TGWU Region 5: once they start a witch-hunt, they never give up!

For eight years they have been trying to destroy the left wing in BL's Cowley Assembly plant. In 1974 the plant leadership was removed by a Regional Committee inquiry and the method of election was changed in order to install a CHRIS ERSWELL reports on a Liverpool campaign chamber, etc.

Appeals for blacking of the council by supplies, and picketing of the council offices and depots to turn away supplies would further escalate pressure on the council.

Pickets of the NAS and NUT and manual union meetings should also be considered to demand supporting strike action.

The needs of school children should come before big business profits. The education service should be protected from cuts and inflation (higher amongst education suppliers) by a sliding scale of public spending on education (and services generally). ions from the right wing branch, the 5/837, that the key position of first deputy convenor will not be held by the deputy with the highest vote, as in the past, but by the runner-up in the convenor'a election!

The runner-up, of course, was the right-wing candidate — who received a derisory vote against the CUTS in London underground services due for introduction on September 20 have been postponed again, but possibly only for 7 days.

This latest attempt to bring in the cuts was personally authorised by the new LT boss, Di Keith Bright, and follows the 'failure' of the joint union/management working party (set up after a strike in June blocked these same cuts) to find other 'savings'.

Last week union leaders reaffirmed their all-out opposition to the cuts, and Iepeated their instruction to tube workers not to work the new timetables. The prospects however are none too bright. Despite their formal position union leaders have done little to organise. And LT is also planning a much larger round of cuts for December.

ANDREW ROSSING He then stood in the deputies' elections - and failed even to win one of the five positions ballotted for.

The reaction in the plant has been one of outrage.

Which is not surprising;

since the effect of Mathers' decision is that the right wing candidate, on the basis of losing both elections, is elevated to the second highest position in the plant. STTI ABOUT 100 workers at Air India have been on strike since July 2, demanding reinstatement and a commitment by management to abide by signed agreements. The strike was provoked by the bosses unilaterally imposing new rosters and sacking shop steward Alroy de Silva, and Air India have since sacked 91 strikers.

ALROY de SILVA told us about the latest developments. "OUR TWO convenors have just returned from Bombay, bringing a resoluWhen the issue was discussed at the Region 5 TGWU Broad Left, members from Cowley reported that the other branches in the plant had requested urgent meetings with Mathers to discuss his move, which was totally unacceptable to them.

They said that if this did not result in the reversal of the decision, a campaign would be launched throughout the union. tion from the combined Guilds [unions] in Air India and Indian Airlines [the short-haul operator] that unless our dispute is resolved in a week to ten days, they will start sympathy action.

A total strike there is forbidden by law, but they are planning work-to-rules and other tactics.

While they were in India, our convenors were followed about everywhere by police. There is panic there at this international link-up. Gandhi has made a statement about our dispute, saying that the management should concede.

Bombay is electric just now. The textile workers there have been on strike for eight months. There is a strong feeling that something could develop which will challenge the whole system.

Inspiring

It's quite inspiring, but it's a shame that someone in a Third World country has to help out because the mighty T&G here can't deliver.

We're meeting a group of T&G officials, including Ron Todd, on Wednesday, to discuss solidarity action"

• Picket lines: 24 hours at Heathrow Cargo, 8am to 7.15pm at New Bond St. • Messages and money to TGWU Air India branch 1/1305, Transport House, 7-9 South Road, Southall, Middlesex.

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CUT held JacK