Region 5 witch-hunters start 'intimidation' scare

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EPS workers during their strike against Phase 3 Following the pattern set by their trumped up charges against the Cowley 9, the TGWU Region 5 Committee last week launched a full-scale witch-hunting "inquiry" aimed at militant stewards in the Export Packing Services plant at Banbury.

Stewards, including former convenor Colin Carty are being pilloried for the principled struggles they have led in the past-in : particular for the 5week strike in the plant against Phase 3.

The "inquiry" was given full facilities by EPS management, and was held on the site over two days.

As it opened, 150 workers struck in protest at the way in which the inquiry was set up.

No charges No charges or complaints have yet been made against any named individual. The inquiry merely set itself up to listen to "evidence" from anyone who cared to give it.

And only the inquiry teamSANDERSONS The Sandersons strike committee have called a National Day of Action on October 27 in order to bring this 18-month long dispute for union recognition to the attention of the whole labour movement.

Socialist Press urges all readers and supporters to fight for delegations to this Day of Action at the factory in Skegness.

CLIMAX the Regional F&GP plus the District official-were able to hear the evidence submitted.

But decisions will be taken by the Regional Committee on the basis of its findings-with individuals being subject to disciplinary action, having had no opportunity to defend themselves.

Supporters

Despite this careful up, the kangaroo court was pli inly disturbed by the fact that the overwhelming weight of evidence on the opening day came from supporters of the previous leadership.

• In a bid to provoke disgruntled right wingers into action, the "inquiry" next day circulated the most extraordinary letter around the site, bearing the signature of the Regional F&GP.

This set out to create the impression that some kind of mafia was at work on the site, preventing evidence being given:

"The Committee are disturbed to learn that a rumour is being circulated amongst the membership suggesting that members who appear before the committee will suffer some form of penalty as as a consor consequence.

... Members who provide the committee with any helpful information about this aspect are therefore performing a necessary duty, the end resuit of which will hopefully bring about an improvement in the effectiveness of our union."

"We also wish to make it clear that the Regional Committee will not countenance any actions calculated to impede members meeting the Committee. Those who act in accordance with the union's rules and constitution will get every support from the Committee. It is the Committee's duty, however to ensure that our union's constitution is observed and it is the Committee's intention to carry out this function."

Not content with suggesting that members on the plant may have been "persuaded" to remain silent, the committee went on to make the astonishing inference that they themselves had been in some way "The Committee has no intention of being intimidated by threats of any kind and will continue witt the inquiry in the general interest of our members."

With such nakedly biased, witch-hunting material being distributed at the outset of a supposed "inquiry" • workers need be in no doubt as to the eventual verdict.

Needless to say not one shred of proof has been or can be produced to uphold these absurd underhand allegations.

TGWU branches must pass resolutions demanding this latest Region 5 frame-up is brought to an immediate halt. • After their decision not to call for strike action in the wake of management's 5% pay offer, union negotiators for 26,000 Vauxhall workers are now proceeding with talks on a possible productivity deal.

The danger is growing that such a deal will trade jobs and hard-won manning levels and working conditions for a cash settlement that will appear to have gone above the 5% Phase 4 limit. Council. collapsed. interests.

Council.

rejection.

The right wing on Oxford Trades Union Council suffered further setbacks at the October meeting of the Trades i races bouncil resicent and anti-Trotskyist John Power was unable without a suitable replacement Council in the anti-democratic shed with Power, the night win.

from the 5/837 GWU branch First motion set up in the Cowley Assembly Plant in a vain attempt to drav workers away trom Coraled defences of word ong cras.

The branch motion praised John Power for his handling of Ine rades council ano aimeo in the vaguest of terms to win tougher measures against militarils of •the Trade:

The Trades Council Executive Committee Report, however. correctiv Grove that ne motion as stormen dedings Endorsement Trades Council of the EC Report therefore saur the motion fall Health service But the real setback for the right wing came with discussion of a composite of resolutions from the ASTMS Health Service 783 Branch and the COHSE 643 Branch:

"The Oxford and District Trades Council reserves to organise a special trade union delegate conference in liaison with the Joint Trade Union Committee, with the intent of organising a public meeting te organise the defence of the NHS in Oxford, with particular reference to the threatened closure of Cowley Road and Longworth Hospitals.

The delegate conference is to discuss occupation of these hospitals, liaison. with the support committee and a trade union inquiry into the provision of geriatric services in Oxfordshire."

Although on their past record it is clear that none of the public sector union officials present at the Trades Council intend to conduct a serious fight in defence of the threatened hospitals, none of them dared to vote against the resolution.

Indeed, the whole NUPE delegation-some of whose members seem likely to be making use of Oxford's geriatric service in the near future-voted in favour of the resolution.

Finally, this month's observer from the TUC (who are keeping a close eye on the Trades Council at Power's invitation) had to admit he would have to report, to the TUC that the meeting had been a very good one.

He was bluntly told by one delegate from the TGWU 5/55 Branch that this was in stark contrast to the meetings in which the Trades : Council President took the chair

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