THROUGHOUT Scotland Polish independent trade union received an enormous boost after the visit of two Solidaractivists, Marek Kozlowski, senior steward at the Ursus tractor plant outside Warsaw.
During the six days of their tour they seven bublic rallies Glasgow, Stirling, Falkirk Bathgate, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. They were by the Labour-controlled local authorities In Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh. They had detailed discussions in workplaces. shop stewards committees ana lney to e numerous trade union officials and The tour, which was organised by the Glasgow Polish Solidarity Committee, has laid the basis for broad support within the Scottish labour movement ano Ene representatives have received numerous invitations to tour workplaces, Labour and social clubs on their next visit.
The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the reception given to Marek and Piotr by mass meeting of BL shop stewards at Bathgate. The stewards' meeting, meddley Lael historic decision to occupy their factorv in defence of jobs, gave very thusiastic reception when Piotr, who himself works at a iracior plant, was introduced to the meeting by support for the Garztecki and Piotr Jimmy Swan, convenor of shop stewards, as 'someone who could give us great advice about how to run our occupation'.
Piotr wished the workers at Bathgate all in their fight and SULLESS assrt of the Polish workers assured them all the when they regained their free trade union. Marek presented with a Solidarnose badge trom the Ursus region as the shop stewards . gave them a standing ovation.
Throughout the tour the two speakers made two central points. First, that the Solidarity trade union working group is calling on British trade unionists to actively consider what forms of economic sanctions they can take against une In speech after emphasised that the workers should support such activities despite the hypocritical "boycott' campaign being sought by Reagan.
They stressed that they were seeking the support Then trade UNION brothers and sisters in this country 1o force an end to the Jaruzelski regime and identified in any way with the campaigns of Reagan and Thatcher.
The second main point they put over was the necessity for a major campaign the trade union and labour movement to protect their trade Solidarnosc from the military to ensure that it is not supplanted by any run take trade unions.
I ney canca lor a campaign trade unions to break off any remaining links the state-run trade unions in Poland, for the release of all Solidarnosc activists and the return of all the unions Cunniscalcu premises and equipment.
The LOUI without some difficulties. In the leadership of the Scottish labour movement especially among Communist Party. trade union officials their visit was marked by hostility. This was also true of the Labour Parses Scottist sections executive.
Both the STUC and the Labour Party in Scotland declined speak at the major rally in Glasgow. Jimmy secretary of the STUC and Milne, a member of the Communist Party, in declining to be at the rally reiteratec that events in Poland were 'a domestic issue. It is up the POlIST people themselves', he declared. Employers This view was also reflected when comrade Marek met with leading shop stewards Rolls Royce, one of the bigges employers in the West of Scotland. The convenor of shop stewards, George McCormick, a member of the Communist rarty, In sulted Solidarnose by accusing it of not being a true representative the WULACES of unrealistic demands on the Polish government, repeating slanders against the Soviet Union, and of lining itself up with the Polish community in Britain which he described as 'basically lascist The Solidarnosc comraces were nor surorised a this reaction. Many times thev have seen the same type of Western trade union leader being whisked around their factories after days of special preparation, when specia overtime payments are made lo make ine lactone. clean and tidy with the canteens specially restock. ed cheaply goods, and tatives' invited reception.
At the Govan shipyards the welcome was entirely different. The shop stewards committee expressed interest and solidarity Solidarnoso and assured comrade Piotr that they would take up Poland in mier arous. ovals un of the British shipyards Socialist Challenge Report by Des Tierney Piotr Kozlowski (third from right in photo below) at the march and at Govan shipvards (below latti where redundancies prevented bi order to build accus an Polish ships. The shop stewards Sammy Gilmore, , a member of the Labour Party, is also well known in Scotland for advocating that the workers of Britain copy Solidarnosc as a way of getting rid of the Tory government.
28 January 1982
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