Nuj Forced to Discuss Ireland Call to Repeal Pta

Scan page 4

PRESS from some delegates forced the conference Standing Orders Committee to reverse, its ruling that all debate on Ireland (except censorship) was out of order.

rejected But eventually conference rejected last-minute attempts from the floor to have the ban reimposed.

There was some debate about whether to hold a union conference in the North, one branch delega. tion arguing that such a choice of location would be taken as an expression of support for the British army of occupation.

Instead, conférence responded to a call to use the occasion to bring support to the isolated trade union movement in the six counties of Northern Moving the first part of a composite resolution from the Book, Oxford and Magazine branches, Duncan Campbell (Magazine) condemned the detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act of Time Out reporter Ron McKay, and the use of the Act to harass Duncan Campbell called for immediate repeal of the PTA.

Peter Mcintyre (Oxford) said his branch supported the composite's demands for the right of the Irish people as a whole to selfship on events in Northern He drew delegates' attention to the labour movement conference on Ireland which the Oxford branch is organising for 19 May.

vecunea The branch had ir Roy Mason to pu defend the Labour gc ment's record in Ire but both Mason and hi deputies had decline: return of post.

He regretted that NUJ Belfast branch ha‹ refused an invitation.

The call for the im iate repeal of the PTA overwhelmingly carried Debate on the rema clauses of the comf was manoeuvred off agenda when a memb the Irish Industrial Co moved next business s: that the postal wot strike had prevented members from seeing final conference agenda Despite the relief which the reformist leadership grabbed at opportunity to stifle fu debate, the possibilitie aiscussion on reland ut NUJ and other unions ivited blicly ›vernsland, s two d by the i also imed• was lining rosite the er of luncil aying rkers' Irish : the been increased by these events.

The decision on the PTA, the fact that Ireland was debated at all, and the favourable response by delegates to the Oxford conference call, are a clear indication of the desire of many journalists for serious discussion of the issues, in the face of the combined efforts of army, police, courts, media bosses and reformist leaders to suppress such a debate.

Union backing The Oxford NUJ conference on Ireland-to which trade union, student and with other labour movement NUJ organisations locally have this been invited to send delerther gations-is already backed s for by Oxford Trades Council n the and a number of trade have union branches. INFSinn Fein demonstration Subjects under discussior will be censorship, the role of the British army, the status of republican prisoners, and the Labour government's record in Speakers arranged so far include Brendan Gallagher: Labour MP Tom Litterick. a speaker from Republican News and an ex-soldier.

Delegations OI individuals from labour movement bodies outside the Oxford area will be welcomed, as will finance, since the costs of invited speakers have to be met.

The conference is at Buxton Hall, Ruskin College, Walton St., Oxford starting at 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 19 May. Further details and credentials (50p) can be obtained from the Oxford NUJ Branch secretary by telephoning 0865775020 (evenings).

----- pull-quotes -----

Irish trade unionists, and IFL

STROOPSÖUT NOW!