this week over another when the TUC called it off.
True, the initial esponse in bus garages, depots and underground stations was muted. This is hardly surprising when none of the national transport union tive for all out strike acLIOlL. WICH Lasoull workers feel resentful striking when the Health Committee Irish Political crisis RAIL WORKERS are seething with anger again example of leaders treachery. Support in the depots was building up for the Transport Day of Action, refuses to mobiise strike action in the health service itselt: and when many cynical about any directives same TUC leadership that sold out the traindrivers union, ASLEF.
Despite orall this, thousands workers ovcrcallic these OUICCLOIS. They Calic down firmly for action to back fellow workers in the In the days leading up une NUR ASLEF and members at Paddington. Kings Cross, Waterloo and Streatham Hill Depots voted for 24 hour strike action. Other rail workers up al C and down the country the were preparing acuon on day.
Yet azain the leaders have stabbed them in the back. But NUR members have recent experience of how to deal traitors at union headquarters. With Sidney Weighell's scalp their belts, they can feel more confident about dealing national policies which defend workers against the lorie and who flagrantly abuse union decisions.
In the next 6 months NUR members will have opportunity to push all home the advantage gainwilh the downfall Weighell. These will be months of ampaignins and voting for Weighell replacement General Secretary of the NUR.
year, the NUR has debated vital issues such as opposition ductivity carve-ups one-person which will herald thousands of redundancies; positive discrimination and action to change une concluons or women members in the industry and union's stance on unilateral disarmament and CND.
On many of these issues, years of Weighell misleadership and manouvre has blocked a positive stance. With the general secretary elections, the left in the union can begin Clause this around by building on the tion in the ranks to push forward left policies and actions on these issues.
For this they need to promote clear set of alternativi poncie those peddled by Weighell and make clear a commitment to democracy and accountability.
If the recent record of Labour candidates in by-elections tell us anything, they show that playing to the centre middle ground doesn't very ar. Only clear and radica alternative policies, back ed by a firm commitment carry Inel can secure solid victories for the left — be it in elections for union leaders or for a Labour government.
These considerations should be seriousiy debated by every branch and in every depot over the for general and the threr months of campaigning that follows.