Prior to the social contract period from 1975 onwards, the was ine locus lor a series of 'broad left' with significant shop steward supponL.
But, partly because of the alliance Jones/ Scanlon leadership, LCDTU went into during the contract - • its problems being accelerated by the more general decline in membership of the Communist Party and industrial base in particular.
Revolutionary Thus it was that at the recent conference probably well over half those attending were not aligned to the CP, 'coming from other rank-and-file workers groups, notably the SWP's Rank-apd-File Defend Our Unions Committee which had staged an strong conference of unionists last June.
But instead seeking common ground with other left groups, the LCDTU's headership refused to alow a the rapid motion calling for between it and the Defend Our Unions Committee.
Unruly OCCICT including an attempt physically to eject the SWP's industry organiser, Joan Deason, the conference was closed an hour prematurely by LCDTU 1100 trade to acword noo course be east It woul bo much cance to such apparently internecie warrare on the leit. un the other hand, the seriousness It was led by the Communist Party in alliance with left-wing trade union leaders such as Jack Jones and Hugh Scanlon, through the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions.
Today Margaret Thatcher does not face such a unity the LCDTU's present should not be underestimated. followed, Weakening Despite being able still to and attract shop floor leaders and having a far deeper industrial base than anybody else on the left, the CP steadily position. And that is reflected in the increased confidence of signifi- management to take on local union committees, Leyland.
There is nothing therefore republished here.
implications of the demise gans and face an important layer of workers' rights.
coordinated weakening notably being the child Committee, held last month, ended in disarray, with a refusal by the CP organisers to allow far left delegates to put a resolution for voting. to smirk about in the shenanidisarray of the January LCDTU conference Instead, the onus is placed sharply upon the Labour left to between attack on the And that will only be successfully done by the both Labour left itself organising a rank-and-file movement of trade unionists.
We should no longer accept the traditional argument that can only be the Labour Party, by virtue of Labour of the trade potentially unions, should therefore leave tunity industrial organising entirely to the official leadership of the only Dy a fusion the rank-and-file of unions that sufficient mobilisation can be achieved the presenl offensive and move beyond it towards workers' control.
At present, workplace level leaders are crying out for a coordinated campaign which provided by the lefi. alone offer the opporof credible link Socialist Challenge mood The 50th Women's TUC met in Brighton 13 March. Delegales mere in a militant mood and nasd dominated trades made the presence felt.
They called for positive actior from employers and trade unions break down barriers higher paid manual trades, and to ensure that those women who are in siendos wee Honsoaer John managed manse discuss his anti-abortion Bill all bel broke loose Delegates ; rushed of of the hall to send off telegrams to their union sponsored MPs telling them to attend the debate and you the Bill down Hoct artece worker soli. would guarantee the arrival of th was announced on Friday that the Bill had finally been commitred to the applause for her news Women trade unionists clearl felt that they had contributed to this victory.
27 March 1980 • Page 7
towards a united front to fight unemployment.
'We are very concerned about the unemployment South Wales, Don Hayward, administrative secretary of the South Wales NUM. explains. 'We are very glad to see the youth taking part in this march.
It's good that they taking an interest in the job situation. can envisage a when there will be hardly any jobs in this aree for people of 20-25 PETIN CU will support stand against unemployment in South Wales, that's why we fre supporting March. are discussing giving financial support as well. apprenties in the pits *There of - these young people will sutfer if the pits cłose When e pii closes everyone's jobs will go. There won't be transfers, were in the past.
'Only the other day we got the message clear from Philip Coalboard. said inar u a aozen pits romorrow you could count the number of jobs that could 'That's the scale of the THE support of the South Wales Mineworkers' Union for the Youth March is an important step The support of Don Hayward the South crucial boost to building the march to go out to the pits in the and to the idea of the march.
But it would be better still 11 cne Num usen organisea a series of pithead meetings to gather support for the march.
apprentices and other young miners to come on the march.
ballot - rejecting the South Wales NUM executive call for demoralised many NUM militants in the area.
not to sit back and say: Well. chat's it, the lads won't fight' *пат JUSC feeds demoralisaMilitant miners have to go • 100 argue about it; they haye to give other Forkers a perspective The Youth March, which will demand that the Wales TUC organises united action defence of jobs, 1s a positive step.
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Chairman Kevin Halpin. Warfare
FROM 1970 to 1974, the last Tory government faced a powerfully organised force within the trade
PETER HAIN, a member of the Labour Co- ordinating Committee, explains in the March issue of Labour Leader how he thinks that the left should now be organising inside the unions. His article is