[Inhn MrIlrov system operating then. and God knows…]

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Inhn MrIlrov system operating then. and God knows what would closed shop ballots.

The Mobilising Committee in Defence of Trade Union Rights was set up in April from a conference organised by Socialist Organise and London Labour Briefing. It publishes factsheets and leaflets, and provides speakers, to alert the labour movement to the dangers of Tebbit's law. It campaigns for the trade unions to break off collaboration with the Tories by withdrawing from bodies like the NEDC and to organise for all-out strike action to defeat the law. Contact: MCDTUR, 28, Middle Lane, London N8. du Mobilising Committee in Defence of Trade Union Rights, 28 Middle Lane, London N8. Printed by East End Offset (TU):

Mellroy system operating then.

If that was imperfect at some democracy, so is the system that elected Thatcher with questions less than one-third of the vote and makes us wait five fighting years to get rid of her.

If the Tolpuddle martyrs Tebbit. had broken the laws made by governments in their day, I agree that Tebbit is bad we wouldn't have unions law. But should we break it now. And they may not be when it is made by a demo- around much longer in their cratically elected govern- present shape if we don't do ment? something about Tebbit.

Trade • unions came into being outside of and in But wouldn't it be better to defiance of the laws made wait for a Labour governby governments democratic- ment. ally elected according to the You might wait forevet, and God knows what would happen to our basic rights in the meantime.

You have to remember what the Tory laws do. They make it unlawful for you to successfully ask workers to turn back from picket lines at any workplace except your own.

This is not only an interference with the right to strike but a gross restriction on freedom of speech.

You are worried about breaking the law. But how often do the bosses break the law? Any Factory Inspector will tell you that whenever s/he enters any workplace, s/he sees breaches of the criminal law by the bosses.

Every year hundreds of employers commit breaches of wages council legislation and go unpunished. The UK government itself has been in breach of a whole range of European laws.

And when the bosses want to strike, nothing but nothing stops them. "Business strike may be last shove for Schmidt" headlined the Sunday Times on September 12 1982. "A determined campaign by West German big business against the government it has come to despise was a major factor behind the crisis that is expected to topple Helmut Schmidt's eight year old coalition." And it did!

We have to fight now and like the bosses we have to use every weapon we can lay our hands on.

What about the TUC's programme of opposition?

The TUC. adopted an eight point programme to fight Tebbit's law at a special TUC Congress in April. The key points were:

*No participation in • amantar erosperma closed shop ballots.

*No trade unionists to sit on tribunals hearing cases under Tebbit.

*No union to take public funds for union ballots.

*If a union is attacked under Tebbit, if it requests help from the TUC General Council, and if they are satisfied that assistance from other unions is justified, then they can co-ordinate support including, it necessary, industrial action.

*A campaign and defence fund to be established with a levy of 10p per member.

Is this adequate?

Not really. Look at the situation when an injunction was issued against Sean Geraghty this summer.

His union, the EETPU, did not ask the General Council for assistance, and the General Council gave none. It was left to ordinary workers to support him.

When ASLEF did ask the TUC for support against the Tories, none was forthcoming. What worries many trade unionists is that if a union in a similar. posițion with Tebbit asks for help, the General Council will say "now is not the time" and leave them isolated.

Effective So what should we do?

Firstly; we should campaign amongst workers and at all levels of the unions and Labour Party on the basis that sooner or later Tebbit will be used - and when it is the TUC should immediately call for all-out solidarity action by all unions.

If it doesn't, ordinary trade unionists must work towards that end. We cannot lcave our brothers and sisters to be victimised.

Published hy The more the Tories and the employers are aware that any attempt to use the law will provoke all-out resistance, the less likely they are to use it.

Secondlv: we think trade unionists should adopt a policy of "Don't talk to Tebbit"

Talking to the Tories is a waste of breath. Our representatives on tripartite bodies such as the National Economic Development Council should be withdrawing and organising a fight, not idly chattering.

Thirdly we think that the best way of fighting Tebbit is supporting workers fighting now against the lores on their own concerns.

Whilst arguing and discussing the importance of this legislation, we have to remember it is simply one part of an overal struggle against Tory policies and their architects.

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Socialist Organiser no. 110 November 25 1982 Socialist Organiser no.

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TOBURN •TOP STO TEBBIT EBBTT EDWARDES TEND EDWARDI MRS OBS MONS UNIONS MRS CONS

SAFE WANTS

STRIKE TO STOP TEBBIT