Greenham Common women gave Defence minister Michael Heseltine a rough reception when he visited Newbury last Monday. LABOUR CND have launched a campaign to NO TO CRUISE the 'Year of the missiles'. have been established.
While CND's influence is growing in the unions, a great deal needs to be done to win them to a perspective of mass action to stop the missiles and for unilateralism.
As the report on the year noted, the TUC has done very little to implement Congress deciSIOLIS 1982 Congress didn't get the comprehensive plan for disarmament and redirection resources to socially useful products that the 1981 Congress had instructed the to prepare Neither has the prepared for a European Day of Action on 6 August 1983 which it was told to do at the 1982 Congress. Instead une roc rerusco permission for CND bookstall at the 1982 Congress. It is clear that action is needed to Dersuade the union leaders to turn paper policies into a real campaign.
this point, however, TUND had no clear direction This was particularly evident on the question of the Europea Day of Action. Not only is this scheduled during the maustrial nonday perio for most of Wester EuroDe particularly - but it's also a Saturday!
Much more usetul was the suggestion for a peace strike around that time. Such an action would be a major Wongsam (Openshaw YS regional conference weekend. Revolution paign against cruise and porters aim to get the behind building the CND festival in May.
Revolution Youth and Socialist Organiser supalso fought around resolutions on Ireland, , Palestine and the witch hunt feel we made some telling UR G politica debate, but when it came to the vote we were amaz ed at what happened.
The chairperson announced the National Committee recommendations on resolutions, then took votes for or against recommendations rather than on the resolutions themselves.
When we objected were told that the LPYS is *the most democratic organisation in the labour movement' resolutions delegates were treated to a weekend ol Militant rhetoric. We were shocked by the absence of politics in their contribuAn increased turn-out for 1983 Conference o trade union CND reflects the growing suppor cent. Twenty-two national unions are now al filiated, and about 25 workplace CND group boost to the movement more effective mass ac tion. Untortunately, nc plan of capaign emerged to build this A number of delegates stressed the importance of unnateralism the Labour Party manifesto right wa: determined to exclude it and there was no doub that many trade unior leaders were ignoring their own conference decisions and collaborating Labour's right wing to ex clude the committment.
A big weakness was the meeting's failure to discuss tactics in the general elec tion. The question wnetner or TUCNE should call for a vote for almost ignored, whilst one delegate wanted to build a move ment so all-embracing that i doesnt mauer who get in'. The CP, in line with its for CND to be above part politics. The SWP, whe turned out in some force thought the question relevant they saw the main thing as CND getting on the picket lines Both these approache to the vital task of organis ing Trade CNI ignore the real questio facing trade unionists i the coming year: how elect a Labour governmen committed to stopping missiles.
OVER 700 branches of the Labour Party Youn Socialists were represented at its North Wes Morcambe las Youth and Socialis Organiser supporters fought together on: resolution from Oldham YS on CND which wa passed. Having committed the NW YS to cam Trident, our sup regional LPYS righ tions. Every speaker had a tale to tell how thei neighbour died in poverty lost their job. committer suicide sniffed glue, go an industrial disease or blown up by the IRA! Bu of course everything wil be alright once na tionalise the 200 leading monopolies!
And in the meantime an impossible dream and there's no poin in fighting for Britain ot of NATO Ireland, self determinatior for the Palestinians or jus about anything else.
action on nuclear disarma ment will be vital Militant's propagandistic and abstentionist proach will be far fron Cocolate in giving a leac to the LPYS Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983 page
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North West YS conference fails to lead
On Saturday 29 January, 130 Trade Union CN delegates met at County Hall. PAT HICKE reports on the tasks confronting supporters i
for CND in the unions. Over the past year trad union affiliations have increased by 58 pe
We came away feeling that in this year when mas: