Crunch issues for TGWU (continued)
Socialist Organiser1983 1983-06-30Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 14 →
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It is very important that the union's opposition to incomes policy, established in 1977, is maintained.
Although i re are 72 resolutions on unemployment, none put forward any policy which can seriously protect jobs and oppose closures.
The nearest approach is bankrupt policies like the Alternative Economic Strategy and import controls - on which there are eight resolutions.
The GEC resolution says it will give "every assistance" to members fighting job loss, but there are no proposals as to how this can be done.
The GEC also call for "the whole movement to defend the unemployed" • Yet they have taken a decision since the last conference which effectively bans the unemployed from joining the union - a decision which must be challenged by the conference.
The biggest group ot resoluions in tront of the conterence are against nuclear weapons, and no doubt a unilateralist line will be adopted. The fight will be for withdrawal from NATO as a nuclear alliance. There is a resolution on this.
The conference has the most extensive group of International resolutions for some years.
There are three resolutions on Lebanon which call among other things for the recognition of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and for the Palestinians' right to self-determination.
Given that the TGWU supported the pro-Palestinian resolution at the Labour Party conference, it should be possible to get a composite of these through.
There are six resolutions on Poland, including one from my own branch calling: for the union to continue to recognise Solidarnosc and not the new state unions; for the end of martial law, the legalisation of Solidarnosc and the release of political prisoners; and for practical assistance to the Solidarity Trade Union Working Group in Britain.
Nicaragua
There are very good resolutions calling for strengthened ties with the Nicaraguan trade union movement and opposition to US backed intervention both in Nicaragua and El Salvador.
A resolution from the 5/822 branch calls for the conference to condemn the "support given to the government's imperialist war against Argentina by the TUC and Labour Party leaders" and "deplores the statement supporting the war made by the General Secretary at the 1982 Scottish TUC which contradicts TGWU policy as well as supporting imperialist ventures.