WORKERS at Massey Ferguson CPO in Manchester have organised a factory branch of CND. Their experiences provide a lead for what the future of CND can be. Pete Jackson talked to its founders 'A group of us started talking about disarmament and third world countries - how we should do something about the ammount of spending on these weapons when millions are dying every year' explained Charlie Dunbar.
Brian Hodgkinson went to see the nuclear film, The War Game. Inspired d' CND The ioined and took a petition round work. •People got talking about it and some wanted to join. Our first move, though was to try to get atfiliated through the shop SCHEES rowly defeated'.
thought the stewards made We decided: To hell with their idca that shouldn't be volved in CND*. With the help of a few sympathiser stewards, we were able to set ourselves up in July last year' In forming a CND group, they shocked some people At first we were tops explained Brian *Many people thought we were a load of balloons, SOMe EVEr thoucht we d founded the whole CND movement. Now they ar coming round to accept us. We were bringing CIND into the place where most of her ple time. Now we have more about it than anything else Certainly at first you couldn't walk through the place without someone pulling you.
Part of the reason for the groups impact is their effective organisation. Secretary explained 'At OuT first meeting with 10 there, we clected officers. Each member was charged 20p a week and for that given a regular copy of Sanity, CND's magazine.
our weekly meetings held in the dinner breaks, we organise the on TATches. We went to the big LOTICOT one Jobs aTIC Blackpool Bombs' march. We print a monthly newsletter which I round the factory and we have a small lending library in the factory pamphlets and books surprisingly, management were not too pIcasCO *They block us using the factory SOCIE CHER War Game said Brian, but we won out and 30 came along, getting us a have a membership of 25. lew new recruits. Now The arguments against them are forceful. Charlie explained, What we came up against every week is about the Russians??. Most people can be sympathetic stopping Cruise but still believe in the need for deterrence When the Falklands war happened the shit hit Brian put it.
We seemed to get all the fak. A lot of people were any we needed nuclear needed nuclear veapon:
SHORER after the group established, their bulletins are still be ing pumped out - and read all over the judged.
Beforehand people weren't bothered, now we've taken the arguments into the factory.
As Charlie explained better 0211E CND group in the factory. Tees back OND Chich SCHREES COME tees good. but that's the members hear of it. No-one else but working people have the real power to this. A change o government is necessary, but not a Labour government like the last which is influenced by the people with money. Its us who's going to change this and get a Labour governMassay Ferguson's ment that works for us."
Deputy convenor Steve Taylor is convinced of this CLIC LIONS AHOK CND. Our two main are the encineer and the general and municipal. But their leaderships are hopeless. The cad has got to com from the rank and file. If we can get this issue taken into the branches, districts CND demonstrate and stewards committees, get multilateralist positions changed support tol compiete disarmament Since the Labour and TUC conferences, people can see a lot of support fo the issue. I think it'll be easier to take it into the workplaces. I can forsee a change of heart by our stewards. in Tact, we ve MASSEY FERGISON against nuclear weapons recently backed the people Salvador the issues are the same this, the Massey's CND is plain. As Briar Hodgkinson pur it CND rergusons word Gilmore 31 Braken Close. Locking Stumps, Warrington, ur Manchester
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belongs in the factories FergusaND, Miser