Garment workers demand action

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This is why the WSL has featured at the forefront of pay struggles in British Leyland and the public sector, in the fight against redundancies and closures, in struggles against the cuts, unionisation fights, and the fight for This method of approach - rejecting any simple trade union militancy or concession to bureaucracy - is of course essential not only In taking up international issues in the labour movement the; WSL stresses not only the obligation of British workers to support the Irish liberation struggle and revolutionary struggles such as those in Iran and Southern Africa, but also the necessity for the reconstruction of the Trotskyist Fourth International as the organising centre of the world party of socialist revolution.

Britain; but its approach to both theory make it the only really serious revolutionary Fill in the form below for more details, or approach nation about our programme, policies and me in.

The normally genteel atmosphere prevailing on the first day of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers Biennial Delegates Conference at the Spa ballroom, Scarborough was effectively shattered this year.

A powerful rank and file delegation from the union's Winsford branch attended and lobbied the 300 delegates representing 120,000 garment workers.

The lobbyers, mainly women, roared their disapproval and contempt for the way their full-time officials had energetically overlorded the closures of whole factories and railroaded in a wage rise for the industry only half that of the national average, but had developed severe rigor mortis when any actio 1 had to be taken in defen‹ ce of jobs and conditions.

Slogans shouted and banners proclaimed their demands for a £60 week minimum wage for the garment industry-a sliding scale of wages to combat inflation-no more closures, no sackings-share the work.

Enthusiasm

The demands were received with enthusiasm by rank and file delegates and no doubt contributed to the next day's unanimous decision by conference to fight for the £60 minimum in September.

One of the lobbyers, Freda Grayson, told Socialist Press:

'We have been in the past, content to abide by PALL RATION the promises both of employers and union officials but this has gone on long enough.

"We will not tolerate this state of affairs any longer.

"Action by unions must be taken to compel employers to pay increased wages automatically when prices go up."

Another lobbyist, Lilly Bradshaw was no less adamant.

"There are too many works closing down and lots of families rely heavily on the women's wage coming into the home. We must take a stand against closures"

A leaflet issued by the protestors said that:

... militancy simply itself is insufficient."

And it went on demand:

"Where the employers threaten redundancies for workers in struggle to grasp the need ution.

democracy in the labour movement.

but internationally.

The WSL is not the biggest movement WHY NOT JOIN US? any reason including insolvency then demand to see their financial arrangements, i.e. open the books.

"If bankruptcy is proven, then nationalise the factory or section of industry involved."

Convenor and lobby organiser Winifred Murphy said:

"The lobby was organised in the teeth of opposition from management and union officers which not only increased our determination to go ahead with it but only went to prove how right it was in the first place.

«This action by women and youth in the garment industry is not a new found militancy.

'This capacity to fight is for socialist revolLeTTer Handsworth Birmingham 18 April 1979 Dear Comrades, As a member of the TGWU's 5/35 Branch, I was glad to see your article (11/4/79) opposing the attempt to witch-hunt Johnny Groves and Mick Regan.

But you were wrong to describe the occupation of Transport House, Birmingham on January 5 as a badly planned publicity stunt.

The purpose of the occupation was not to gain publicity but to stop the district official, A.D. Law, using his office to organise scabbing. On the previous day, January 4th, he had stunt.told drivers who contacted him not to strike and to cross our picket lines. As a result a member of the branch was nearly run down when a driver, acting on instructions from Transport House, charged a picket line in Smethwick. This was the final straw for many of us and led directly to the occupation.

Law did not return to his office for about two weeks afterwards and was therefore unable to use it as a centre from which to break the strike. I believe that the occupation was necessary and largely successful.

With socialist greetings Yours fraternally, Simon Temple struggle against CAPITAL For clear lead in the

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