THE LAST Trades Union Congress decided on a whole series of radical policies to deal with the threats facing the working class from this Tory government and the bosses. Virtually none of these policies was advanced during the year. This is little wonder. Because every time that workers mobilised to defend themselves the TUC or its leading lights stabbed them in the back. The record of the last twelve months proves once again the need for a new leadership of the TUC which is accountable to the rank and file.
Congress 1981 decided: smash the Act. Instead the * On 'the mobilisation of TUC tops allowed the electhe movement to 09DOSG tricians branch to face the vigorously any further courts alone and remained legislation placing restric- silent tions on trade unions' tide of rank and file senti* To support free collec- tavour of a big five pay restrand whose battle. The issue was duckLed. *any pay restraint If the Tories had not would interfere with the rights of unions to deter- backed off, however, the record on other questions mine ineir own policies gives no would not have that and resolve their own and settlements procedures negonaung thes tively sabotaged the fight nave acfor policy the * To fight for increased ranks. public expenditure This was certainly the substantial micrease story on the pay front. The public ownership and Tories have imcampaign to defend the Demented a formal inwelfare state and public policy, but their services and a massive instana on pay restramt Is jection into public capital tougher than projects * To mobilise against They made it clear that the unemployment, fight for a limit was 4 per cent anc that they expected Youth employers to use the efunemployment was to be placed at the centre of the fects of unemployment to follow that line.
TUC's campaign for full Rejected * To unanimously condemn the increase womens unemployment to call for the promotion of Leyland positive action and for the SUDICINO Michael Edwardes duly weighed in wider recruitment of with 3.8 per cent on the women into the unions basic pay. BL workers Laurence Scott's, stabbed in the back. * To overwhelmingly sup- clearly rejected this in port the call for unilateral and went out on strike action. This would, witnour coubt, nave con Mandate signed Thatchers wage cutting the scrap These key policy deciget the strike movement sions gave a mandate to called off - 'for England' the General Council to resopined dunderhead Duffy. pond to the major attacks But this had not cowed real fight for these policies the cass. Within Leyland workers.
the appropriate back on strike attempting weeks, they were would have sent Thatcher into spin They would to block one of the provisions of the deal removing the their right to tea breaks.
0138 conditions for the election mitted go socialist lights of the Tue stepped Once the leading committed socialist in to stab them in the back poncies alr It is difficult to say on After this saga was which ISSue the General repeated at Fords over Council's failure was Christmas, little But there is no that the miners doubt that its record on voted against strike action fighting Tebbit • given their 9 per cent ofdisgrace. Despite adopting fer and he scabbing in additional powers when of the full extent of Tebbits Gormless. It is now in the attacks on union rights hands of the health was revealed, the best that workers to implement the General Council has TUC policy opposing any been able (LO do wage restraint The fanorganise a leafletting cam- tastic solidarity the paign! health workers shows that No-one is asking the the old TUC leaders to mobilise about rank and file apathy action out of the blue. But are total poppycock. The when Sean Gerachty of the polligh FORCE meet St. electricians was therefore moves onto the indicted courts and what they will Attack on GLC's cheap fares under Priors 1980 legisla dO to make sure of unemployment and tion a tremendous oppor massive one day strike on fight for a 35 hour week Was presented 22 Sentember. has turned into a sick joke only to strike a blow for proposal Already act the time of the also mobilise against HaSE the valiant ignored Laurence Scott workers given the tremendous platform fight for its policies A victory here would have Sean Gerachty, abandoned.
NO CLOSURE Fight for the Right (SEL SIT IN IN KE: fensive of the bosses stood traindo ers blail stood Rail Board, it took the Finance and General Purposes Committee to threaten them expulsion before the drivers had to throw in the towel. This making the TUC complicit in the Tory job destruction. Even their one initiative - the youth Jobs express - turned into a simple publicity Subsequently, the 1-in-5 youth on the dole have been lett floundering. Fares
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Betrayed! Traindrivers stabbed in the back Laurence Scott