Into the Eighties-and back to the thirties!

Scan page 5

TOM WINTERS examines 'Into the Eighties: an agreement" , a document drawn up by the TUC-Labour Party Liaison Committee and approved by both the TUC General Council and the National Executive of the Labour Party. LP NEC Frank Allaun Norman Atkins Tom Bradley Barbara Castle Ron Hayward Eric Heffer Joan Lestor lan Mikardo Bryan Stanley If the Labour party are fortunate enough to remain in office for a doubt, as the bureaucrats' official handbook.

Its first paragraph ignores the massive cuts in living standards and public services and • the structural unemployment that have hall-marked the Callaghan-Healey government.

Instead these gentlemen praise "its contribution to PLP Tony Benn Albert Booth James Callaghan Edmund Dell Michael Foot Denis Healey Cledwyn Hughe!

Eric Varley Fred Willey Shirley Williams the nation's economic recovery", , although, as they out it: "It has been hard to maintain living standards and high levels of employment" , and conclude: "our sense of common commitment remains intact"

The Labour and Liberal/ Labour Governments' record of carrying out the dirty work that the Tories could not do themselves is positively praised.

The second paragraph boasts openly of less industrial action since Labour came to power-a record aided by these same stooges who have attempted to isolate, derail and crush every attempt by the working class tô defend its interests.

Despite public sector union leaders' direct role in dismantling the NHS to fund decrepit capitalists, the document has the gall to state in paragraph 37: 'Our commitment to improving provision for the social services and in support of the family income is part of the record of which we are particularly proud."

After the whitewashed history comes the programme for the eighties, presenting the errand-boys no problems: Britain first! Buy British! shouts paragraph 16; Speed-up! demands paragraph 5.'It is within our power to increase our share of world markets."

Oppose reforms

The scabs propose shorter working week, longer holidays and early retirement, so long as such measures are 'in concert with major industrial competitors in the framework of a high productivity, high investment and high wage (?!)

In practice the signatories oppose even the most limited reforms, and stand as the greatest obstacles to the needs and aspirations of the working class.

Another letter Further evidence of this is supplied in the TUC General Council Decisions circulars.

The latest circular, dated July 26 1978, records the failure of the FBU to gain the 42-hour week that was agreed last January as "an integral part of the settlement" following their wages strike.

This prompted the TUC to write to Merlyn Rees asking him "to emphasise to the local authorities the importance of making speedy progress"

Following the smashing of an industrial occupation by workers at Aintree, Liverpool, by police use of the Criminal (Trespass) Act, the TUC decided to write another letter to Merlyn Rees.

"Exchange of views"

And despite, by this time, severe writer's cramp, the bans on demonstrations and marches in West Yorkshire prompted the TUC to ... write a letter to Merlyn Rees.

The deaths of four consruction workers at the site of Littllebrook D power station due to inadequate safety conditions prompted the TUC to a "useful exchange of views" with the Construction Industry Advisory Committee, CONIAC (a joint TUCemployers organisation).

Fifth column

The TUC is simply a fifth column of the bourgeoisie:

its previous General Secretary, Vic Feather, died leaving an "unexplained"

£64,000.

In today's days of "tighten your belts"

austerity measures, there is no doubt that Len Murray will exceed that figure.

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further term, this document will serve, no