Cowley 9: 8 vindicated, 1 victimised

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After more than a year of "inquiries", "hearings" and bureaucratic witch-hunting, the No. 5 (Midlands) Regional Committee of the TGWU has finally dropped disciplinary charges against eight of the "Cowley 9".

The eight are: Bob Fryer, convenor of the British Leyland Assembly Plant at Cowley; Alan Thornett and Tom White, both deputy convenors at the plant; Tim O'Sullivan and Ivor Braggins, both shop stewards at the factory; and Tony Homer, Andy Brown and Dave Pinnington, TGWU members at the plant.

But the ninth member charged has been victimised by the Committee. Frank Corti, secretary of the TGWU 5/293 Branch at the plant, has been removed from office.

One of the six charges against Corti was that he caught Vindicated-Thornett hold of the arm of Dist rict Secretary David Buckle a controversial mass meeting at the plant.

Although this allegation never been substantiated, appears that the Regional Committee has singled out this charge in order to take action against him.

The allegation is astounding when set against other events at the factory.

Two months after this particular mass meeting Corti was viciously attacked by Tommy_ Quinn-a close supporter of David Buckle-on the plant at a trade. union function.

Corti received fifteen stitches in his face and Quinn was convicted of assault at Crown Court.

Despite this, no action was taken against Quinn within the union! The Regional Committee decision to strip Corti of office is pure and simple victimisation in an effort to save face over the Cowley 9 affair.

The same meeting of the Regional Committee considered the findings of a Regional inquiry held at the Export Packing Services factory in Banbury, near end of last year.

In true kangaroo court tradition, the Committee removed the shop stewards credentials from Colin Carty, deputy convenor at the site.

No charges were ever laid against him-as required by the TGWU rule book.

The Regional Committee simply held a general inquiry into "industrial relations at the site" following a five week strike against Stage 3 of wage Colin Carty is still not aware of any allegations against him, and has therefore been victimised without even the opportunity of saying a word in his own defence!

Indeed he was not even invited to the "inquiry" to answer questions.

These two cases of victimisation must now be challenged throughout the union. The campaign so far on the Cowley 9 has shown that it is possible to halt Victimised-Carty bureaucratic frame-ups.

One of those vindicated in last week's decision to drop charges was Alan Thornett, who had originally been recommended for expulsion, from the union after a" District-level kangaroo-court "inquiry"

Now eight out of nine already stand completely vindicated, with the TGWU's local, Regional and national witchhunters and their flimsy frame-up charges exposed for all to see.

The task is to defend the remaining two victims.

: Principled leadership The TGWU conference in July must take the decision to end witch-hunting once and for Only on the basis of democracy within the union and the exposure of the role of the bureaucracy can a principled leadership and programme be fought for in defence of the interests of the union's two million members.

Drop all charges! Restore to office all those who have been the victims of witch-hunting in recent years! For democracy within the TGWU!

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