Power closes Trades Council

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In docks jobs still threatened The monthly meeting of the Oxford Trades Council was closed down by the right wing President, John Power, last Friday, after he had refused to allow an amendment to the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minute concerned the Cowley 9. It followed the July meeting at which the Trades Council had received a letter from the NUT asking for those charges levelled by Trades Council officers against Alan Thornett which implicated the NUT to be dropped, on the basis of their inaccuracy.

Out of order.

When it was moved from the floor that the letter be accepted, Power ruled the motion out of order.

He then accepted a motion for "next business" which was carried by a small majority.

When the minutes of these events were circulated delegates were amazed to read that the meeting had "agreed" that the NUT letter was "an incorrect assessment"

Londo The pre-election government decision to provide £45 million to postpone the closure of London's Upper Docks offers no security to any dockworker.

Indeed, it is tied in completely with union promise of cooperation in an urgent examination of manning levels, working practices and productivity.

The Port of London Authority has already announced its view that 2,000 jobs are surplus to When deletion of this section was moved at the August meeting, Power refused to accept the amendment.

When he was eventually forced to put the minutes to the vote "as a true record" this was Power then closed the meeting down.

Power's move is closely connected with the internal TGWU disciplinary inquiry against the Cowley 9.

Although the • TGWU Regional Committee has now put the ball back in the court of the Oxford District Committee, the door is stili firmly open for TGWU bureaucrats to move against the nine should the necessary conditions arise.

Power saw it as crucial that anything which vindicates Alan Thornett or any of the other 8 had to be squashed at any cost.

As a result the Trades Council failed to discuss urgent action to continue the Oxford Nursery Campaign, or details of a public meeting in defence of Aubrey, Berry and Campbell which the Trades Council had voted at its previous meeting to co-sponsor with the local NUJ branch. requirements whether oI not the Royal Docks are closed.

And the government aid will be provided only on condition that a satisfactory level of speed-up and sackings is achieved by union bureaucrats and management.

The fight to open the books of the Port employers nationally to elected trade union committees and for nationalisation without compensation to defend all jobs must be taken up at once and backed by all necessary action by the dock unions.

WELL IF THATS ALL WEVE GOT- WELL HAVE TO JUST KNOCK THE OPPOSITION. SO THAT LEAVES US JUST ONE THING... TO GO OR THE VOTES OF RESPONSIBLE ANTI-FASCISTS! /