Chapple hits militant branches
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As the Fire Brigades Union conference opened in Bridlington last week, General Secretary Terry Parry revealed that he was still unable to report the amount of the pay rise due for payment on November PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report The reason, he said, is that the exact figure could not be 42002 DIPKE PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report Chapple Moves are now underway within the EETPU to drastically cut back the number of branches in operation.
In the London area the proposal from General Secretary Frank Chapple and his right wing EC supporters is to cut down to only four branches by December of this year.
Such a move would dissolve all the branches with any militant record-one in North London has a 50-year history of militant leadership-and strengthen the stranglehold on the EETPU exercised by the Chapple leadership.
At one time there were 48 branches in the London area, but this number has been steadily reduced. In 1972 Chapple disbanded the union's district committees.
Now full-time officials are coming round to inform branches of the Executive Council's decision.
These moves must be seen in the context of the proposed amalgamation with the AUEW, which will undoubtedly lead to still further "streamlining" in order to minimise the strength of the rank and file.
EETPU militants must follow up the resolutions already passed which call on the Executive to• reconsider the scheme, and demand an emergency conference to discuss the whole issue.