union leaderships into a new police force ELECTED shop stewards carrying members' democratic decisions could soon be liable for jail or fines of up to f250,000 - if their union executive disowns the struggle.
This is one of the imblications of Norman sed proposed 'Employment' Bill, which is exposed in an excellent short USE published by the Labour Nescarn pepartuncil.
This open invitation to union leaderships to scab on their members' strug gles is central to Tebbit's attack trade The new pamphlet, entitled 'Tory attack on union rights', explains that Tebbit make unions liable for the aCtions of its officials, that is, the stewards who are:
national Caccutive istructivils • acting under the rules of the union or on the instructions of someone in authority, unless this has been countermanded by a more senior authority the union.
If union rules are unclear, the government is considering the union liable tor the actions of its. officials unless senior boay in the union has repudiated them.
previous Cases brought before the Lords, crewares volved Sure gles were deemed to be acting the union' and were therefore liable to legal attack — because 'the union enough try and stop the blacking despite the fact that it haa advised the stewards cease the action.
In short, the union will be liable for the actions of He stewards bikess comes down hard against out their As the pamphlet comments, unis proposal Is 11ltended to turn trade into an industrial police force that will be expected 'protect"
ambers' Interests eventing them from taking any action that will put the funds in jeopardy anv industrial action)' It goes on to point out devious method of attempting to ange trade by trying to frighten national executives into exer-. cising greater control over the rank and file'.
much trigheding.
need Laurence Scott workers have already the effects of this kind of legislation. The leadership having scabbed on them throughout their they have •now been presented with a Bill for damages incurred by their employer when they were police and thrown out of their factory.
The 20 page Labour Research pa Bills provisions and Bill's provisions and wnat tney mean or rank and file workers. It is a must for every trade union activist.
is HOW and will decide of action SUCCEE exCLULIVE. to be held at Wembley on 5 April. But the record shows that some union leaders may be only too glad of an excuse on their membersmip. All ne more impor tant to build the lobby of this meeting being organised by the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Anions. Now is the time to:
calling for mase action to defeat the Bill and for pledges of mutual defence against victimisation • oppose continued trade union participation in government bodies • call for: clear declarations that unions will not Febbit's Bill to the courts under • mobilise contingents for the 5 April lobby.
• Build the 5 May Lobby! "Tory attack on the unions, Blackfriars Road, London SEI 8HF Tebbit's Bill he can imprison or fine trade unionists for carrying out democratic decisions.
Elaine Cross, AUEW-TASS steward, was evicting them from the factory where they are defending their jobs.
an election to replace Terry Duffy's AUEW executive, which refuses to back them. He work. members. He won't need much pushing. Judge Denning was elected by no-one. Under elected by workers at Laurence Scott Electromotors, in struggle over the last ten months. If Tebbit's Bill is passed she can be fined up to £250,000. The LSE stewards are already being charged £6000 damages' - incurred in Laurence Scott workers are campaigning for will be able to protect himself against Tebbit by instructing striking workers to go back to The Bill aims to make him 'police' his