Astms Chiefs Lurch to the

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pretence of the NEC going through the motions of supporting left wing motions, knowing they need only carry out protests against the Tories instead of forcing action from a labour government.

Instead they blatantly supported the right wing.

The slogan over the platform was "Reverse the trendRegenerate British Industry" This slogan under a Tory government is a blatant defence of capital.

NEC motion The NEC emergency motion on economic policy called for no sale of the profitable sections of the public sector, and for the money they make to defray the impact of new technology; for the honouring of commitments from the comparability commission; and for TUC/Government discussions to continue on "matters of central economic importance"-in particular monitoring imports-social sector spending policies.

It finished with opposition to attempts to amend laws on the unions.

This motion was taken by General Secretary, Clive Jenkins as a mandate to leave the Conference early on the Tuesday to rush hot foot to Downing Street for talks with Thatcher.

It was a Rules Revision Conference so much of the time available was spent talking about "devolving power down to the membership"

The nature of the rule changes did not take that vital step as far as the branches but stopped at the level of the Divisional Councils-effectively reinforcing another bureaucratic layer in the union's structure.

Bureaucratic control

The Programme of Business which was submitted by the Standing Orders Committee was another case of bureaucratic controi.

They had, in conjunction with the Divisions, chosen Priority Items for the Agendaand had then chosed (with virtually no compositing) the motions they felt appropriate for these Priority Items.

The result was that majority of rule changes submitted reflected the NEC requirements.

The response of the Con- PHOTO: Laurence Sparham. IFL ference to this was to refer the Agenda for the two days on rule revision back to the SOC and to agree to work through all the amendments to rule which had been submitted.

Later this year This was • under the asumption that the motions not reached would be taken at an adjourned conference later this year.

But later that day it became obvious to Conference the NEC :u5: meant to "adjourn" = 5 5 == with no commit-=. * = iren they would reconvene.

This caused an uproar which due to the general lack of control and incompetence of the President (ex-MP Doug Hoyle)

almost became a riot!

He refused to take three separate challenges to the Chair!

When order was eventually restored, it was done by referring the SOC report back, demanding they decide what they meant by "adjourned"

The next day the NEC won the battle by announcing we would probably need a 16day conference to take all the amendments to rule that had been submitted.

As a result the Conference accepted the original Programme of Business which was proceeded through at such a speed it became obvious we could have completed all the motions in a couple of extra days-not 16!

This victory for the NEC left a lot of Conference delegates demoralised at the power of the NEC and apparent strength of the bureaucracy.

One of the main factors producing this appearance of 'strength' was the way the Communist Party, after opposing the NEC in the initial fight, caved in and did nothing to follow it through.

Backed NEC

They had made their test-and from then on they probacked the NEC for the of the Conference. rest The CP. have a lot to answer for in the right turn of the union.

Not only are a fair number of the NEC CP members, but all bar two of the union's National Officers are CP or ex-CP members.

. 'Rank and file' The 'Rank and File' group in ASTMS, called 'Red Collar' made a paper impact in the form of mass leaflets of every session of the three and a half day Conference.

But in spite of holding Turn into . There must be a turn into the union on a principled programme instead of setting up an alternative body along side with minimal demands.

Any socialist in ASTMS must take the latest rightward turn seriously, and fight to take part in every level of the union to prevent the growth of bureaucratic control and force more democracy, especially in Divisional Councils and Branches. into the Conference itself in any thing resembling a disciplined way.

So in spite of having quite large forces, their whole intervention hinged on a coupie of delegates.

They are going to hold a 'Red Collar' conference in the Autumn where they must be challenged on their minimal programme-which does not even call for the election of union officials.

Their programme IS SO minimal any Divisional Officer could support it.

Tory government. emancipation of mankind.

winetner Shah in Iran.

League.

CAPITAL