Vote YES to 9-5 action

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THE general tenor of last month's EETPU conference was set by Frank Chappie's traditional tirade against socialist activism inside both the Labour Party and trade unions.

Of the 158 motions on the agenda, no fewer than fifty-one were composited or withdrawn, five were invalid because their movérs failed to appear, while the executive committee won remission of a further thirty resolutions.

General policy statements in opposition to Tory anti-union laws and against EEC withdrawal were unanimously carried. As regards the former the EETPU is now formally committed to an "active campaign of opposition to all forms of anti-trade union legislation"

Unemployment and public sector cuts were opposed with an implicit demand to defend threatened workplaces through a policy of occupation. Conference also carried a further motion calling for trade union control of Youth Training Schemes.

Shipbuilding delegates pressed for an emergency debate on the volatile situation at British Shipbuilders but were refused amid angry exchanges.

Terry Duffy could raise little enthusiasm for a proposed fusion between the AUEW and EETPU. A more sinister visit was that of the 'fraternal' delegate from the American "AFL-CIA" FIFTEEN weeks of growing action, and still no movement from the national employers. No discussions. No recognition of our just claim.

The present attitude of the national employers is despicable. They appear deaf, dumb and blind to the actions of more than 10,000 angry workers who attended the lobby in London last Wednesday, the 800 who demonstrated in Glasgow, the 100 or so in Nottinghamshire and many elsewhere.

They are playing a waiting game and have shown no scruples in using all forces in their favour. media manipulation of public opinion, playing down the public debate, providing magic money. for private placement. Tebbit's law and siege tactics.

Ine shop stewards conference in Essex on December 6, was well attended, giving direct feedback, representing residential workers, from all over the country.

There have been many indications throughout this dispute that NALGO's national leadership have been very weak. Now they have clearly gone against the interests of residential workers.

'truce' after the national delegate By Anne Crowder conference clearly mandated them not to approach ACAS at all.

Using conferences like the shop stewards conference we must ensure the rank and file have controi of this dispute and the officets act in our interests.

The leadership have also failed to build any support amongst the rest of NALGO's membership. Their support is vital. particularly if we win the ballot to implement 9 to 5 working only, and our action from there is effective, thus forcing management to put pressure down on the workers rather than upwards to the employers, as has been shown throughout the whole of this dispute.

The 9 to 5 action has many limitations that we cannot ignore. We must meet any suspensions or blocking of pay with strike action. In many authorities there has already been support shown by many NALGO members and we must build on that.

Some authorities are very supportive of our claim. Liverpool, for example, has called on the national employers to abolish split shifts, implement a 36 hour week immediately with a reduction to 35 hours next year and pay the remainder of our claim in full.

It certainly shows that councils can come out and fully support the claim , and even go PICKET further than the present claim!

full support of our claim.

There will be another action. shop stewards' conference on December, the day after OUT ballot closes. It is vital that victimisations with all-out strike

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The NLGC went to ACAS to try and arrange a Christmas

algo FFICIAL