How we organised to black Trident

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Dayschoo DAVIE GRAHAM is a 'founder member of the Hillington, near Glasgow. Socialist Organiser interviewed Davie on the role of the workplace branch in the factory.

Could you tell us how you others went about building branch and what problems successes you encountered?

Six Labour Party activists called a meeting of all Party members in the factory. Along with Jimmy Allison, Scottish Organiser, our branch was then constituted. We have been very successful in gaining new members over the last six months.

We are selling 50 copies of Labour Weekly to branch members every week. Within the branch we have three Strathclyde Regional Councillors, three Glasgow District Councillors, one East Kilbride District Councillor and one Renfrew District Councillor. This has all helped in building our branch.

Rolls Royce management were very enquiring as to our activities at first.

After I and branch officials met with management on three occasions their objections have ceased.

Could you say something about the relationship between the branch and the shop stewards committee in the factory?

In a word, excellent. Members of our branch are shop stewards for the AUEW, GMBATU, TGWU and ACTSS. Within our membership we have comrades who are also on the factory joint trades committee and members who are convenors of respective unions. Progressives who are not Labour Party members but are shop stewards have been very helpful and supportive.

What kind of activities does the branch intend to carry out in the period ahead?

We have started monthly factory gate drops of our branch newsletter. We put out 2,000 free of charge to the workforce. Working with the factory committee during the general election we had factory gate meet-; ings at lunchtime addressed by Labour MPs and others.

Do you see the branch playing a role in helping combat the con-. tinued rundown of the plant?

I don't see any confrontation taking place over voluntary.

Continuing a discus Tories' conference.

redundancies. Having said that, the recent 2-1 vote against working on Trident by the workforce, which was worked for by the Labour Party members and: the shop stewards, was a very significant victory • considering that morale is not all that high in certain areas of the workforce due to the decline in the Aerospace industry.

How do you see workplace branches participating in the reconstruction of the labour movement?

If we are serious in building mass campaigning party I believe it is essential that we expand and build up workplace branches in factories, offices, schools, and a most important. area — within the local authorities, e.g. NALGO members.

Sunday October 30 at County Hall, London SEI. Day school on organising for the politics of Socialist Organiser, Saturday October 29, Crouch Hill Recreation Centre, Hillrise Road, London N19. Details from SO, 28 Middle Lane, London N8 IT TOOK a long and bitter strike for, the 26 workers at Arlington House hostel Camden to win. But they stuck it out for 13 months and win they did.

The scope of their victory is measured by the great differences between the wages and conditions they walked out against and those they return to.

They used to get free lodgings — a 7itxSft room and a bed - and f26 basic a week. Now the lowest paid will get £102 a week and live out.

The hostel has been taken out of the hands of Rowton Hotels and will be run for Camden Council by the UK Housing Trust.

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workplace Labour Party branch at Rolls Royce,

sion from our Sept. 17 'How to Fight the

and AGM Annual General Meeting,

Hostel strike wins at last