PTA: Labour MPs abstain

Scan page 4

- STEP UP CHILE 180 Labour MPs abstained despite a two line whip instructing them to vote in favour of a further renewal of the notorious so-called "Prevention of Terrorism" Act last Thursday.

Only 124 Labouritesmost of them government ministers clinging on to careers-went into the lobbies to support the renewal, which was carried with the support of the Tories, Liberals, nationalist the question to merely blacking perishables-such as citrus fruit.

The speaker from Rolls Royce, East Kilbride, where aero engines for the junta were blacked for four years, referred to the scandalous role of AUEW General Secretary Boyd in instructing the members to drop the blacking.

This point was picked up by a speaker from the WSL who pointed out that the capitulation to the courts by trade union bureaucrats in limiting and preventing solidarity actions was no rare phenomenon.

It had occurred in Grunwick with the Cricklewood postmen; by the UPW over the South African week of action; and at the Garners picket line, where the TGWU officials had concurred with the police in limiting pickets to six.

As for the Labour Party bureaucracy, David Owen, the picket-crosser and lover of the Shah and Pinochet had no place in the labour movement. and Ulster Unionist votes.

33 Labour lefts'-a larger number than previously-went so far as to vote against the Act, under which well over 3,000 "suspects" have been held without charge for up to 7 days, only a handful of whom have subsequently been charged with terrorist offences.

Home Secretary Merlyn Rees had earlier scornfully rejected the puny cosmetic changes in the Act proposed by the Shackleton He should be kicked out foi his anti-working class policies, whe said.

Speakers from the IMG and Workers Action then took up the point about the anti-working class policies of the Labour government whether in Britain or Chile.

The conference passed a declaration on blacking calling vaguely:

"to initiate new efforts to achieve the, boycott of all trade with Chile, including the imports of food, and to coordinate with trade unionists in other countries, and to call for and respond to calls for action by the appropriate international trade union bodies."

If this is not taken up alongside a struggle against the bureaucratic leaders of the trade union and Labour movement who have blocked previous such moves, it will amount only to a fruitless gesture.

The task is to ensure that such a fight does take place.