Jackson-unity in Inaction

Scan page 11

rage and objections inside special conference to draw up a the Union of Post Office wage claim later in the yearWorkers to his key role in capitulation to the government maintaining pay control, would be known, was certain of Tom Jackson was forced to massive backing. this year's annual seconding the motion -and then Faced with mounting resort to outright trickery at conference.

A motion • calling for a when the extent of the TUC's Jackson ensured control by reducing its role to a formality by nailing down UPW policy to Jackson a further year of slavish adherence to wage controls.

He was aided by the absence of polícies designed to provide an alternative way forward for the postal workers and telephone staff.

Bob Divine, moving an Edinburgh motion calling simply for a return to free collective bargaining, based his case on the need for "flexibility" and the fact that it wasn't "wages in isolation" which: caused inflation.

Applause

Despite the absence of a clear line on the TUC's role in general and Jackson's role in particular to hold down the wages of the working class, every speaker who spoke against wage. controls was greeted with applause.

Jackson told the conference:

" don't like policies imposed by politicians who don't know what they are doing but I do believe that the trade union movement can work out with the government of the day a plan for the future: a plan for fairness and I don't want to return to the jungle"

In effect by supporting Jackson's plea by roughly two to one the conference has given him the room he needs to tie the hands of his members and to collaborate with any government-Labour, coalition or But the narrow margin by which Jackson clings to his policies of class collaboration was most vividly demonstrated in the Grunwick debate., • Inaction …A motion condemning' the executive for the handling of the issue (in effect a motion condemning the action taken against Cricklewood postmen) was defeated by 9,033 to 9,694. with more than 1;000 abstentions.

Jackson defended himself with a plea for unity in inaction.

"A union can only succeed when united. If this proposal is carried, our union will change and many will not like that change.

If carried you give consent to break Conference decisions and union rules.

Member would be set against member, leaving the way open for unofficial leaders, enthusiastic and headstrong, to do what they liked.

It could open a new and dangerous chapter . in union .The debate revealed clearly the treachery of the lefts' who put themselves forward as the champions of the working class.

At the Grunwick conference two weeks before, John Taylor, an executive: member, had breathed fire and brimstone against the right wing of the union.

Now, faced with those same right wingers on the platform around him, his speech in opposition to their policies was a model of grovelling polite dissent.

Delegates ..had voted to suspend standing orders to give Taylor time to state the case for the Cricklewood postmen.

Major overturn

By his careful avoidanc : ot any attack on Jackson and the other right wingers on the EC, Taylor played his role of a left cover for the actions out to the last.

The only major overturn of the executive came over the reintroduction of Sunday mail collections and the introduction of cheap postage at Christmas, two moves. which would increase work for the members, while they remain debarred from fighting for improved wages and conditions.

These proposais, which came with the full backing of the UPW members on the Post Office board, were decisively 'thrown out.

SALON CH PRESS 166668 The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital could still be closed on July 21 or very shortly afterwardsdepending on whether EGA staff: "cooperate in the closure"

This ultimatum is included in a letter from the Area Health Authority to EGA staff, and shows that Ennal's real intention is to close the hospital as soon as possible, whilst publicly refusing to name a closure date.

This cynical attempt to sow confusion amongst trade unionists and supporters of the EGA must be fought by preparing for definite strike action against the closure and by forcing the trade union leadership to give a clear lead to this action.

• Two forthcoming meetings in London could play a decisive part in organising the fight to keep the hospital open.

The London NUPE Divisional Council has called for a conference of all NUPE branch secretaries in the division on Monday 5 June (at Portchester Hall, Queensway, London W2).

The Council, has already proposed #rotating one-day strike action"" throughout London NUPE branches.

This is despite the fact that it has become obvious that one-day strikes merely dissipate action and demoralise the membership-whilst allowing fulltime officials to sit back and blame the "apathy of the members" for the failure of the action.

It is vital that all branch secretaries attend this conference and argue strongly for a call for indefinite strike action from the moment the running of thé EGA is interfered with.

This, coupled with picketing, is the only kind of action that will save the EGA and the NUPE leadership must be forced to put out this call from the June 5 meeting.

Definite steps can be taken to organise action at a meeting of London Health Service shop stewards (called by EGA stewards and supported by CLASH) at the EGA on 10 June.

Stewards in all Health Service unions must attend this meeting, and decide on a date from which indefinite strike action showid be called for.

All trade unionists in the Health Service and throughout industry must fight Ennal's attempts to confuse and defuse the fight to save the EGA by organising immediately for indefinite strike action, and demanding that the union leaders put out this call on a national level.

The defence of the EGA must be linked to the fight to reverse all public sector cuts and the demand for social service spending to be protected against inflation through a sliding scale of spending.