Tuc Disarms Workers
Socialist Press1980 1980-08-13Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 1 →
Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: expect misread words, and now and then a caption or a line from a neighbouring story. For anything you quote, read the scan.
Scan page 1
Socialist Press (5 September 1979) predicted last year's TUC PHOTO: Laurence Sparham, IFL A few days after this year's TUC Congress winds up, the Thatcher government's anti-union "Employment Act" comes into force.
It is a savage blow against hard-won trade union rights. It attacks the right to strike; the closed shop; picketing rights; working conditions and trade union democracy.
On top of the formal provisions of the Act, the Tories are to impose "Codes of Practice" which still further restrict union rights.
On picketing, Prior's new Code aims to:
*Restrict pickets to six in number.
*Restrict their activity to "seeking to explain their case" to would-be blacklegs.
*Ensure that each picket line is presided over by a union official with the task of policing his own members.
*Prevent unions taking disciplinary action against scabs who cross picket lines.
Ballot vote
On the closed shop, the Tories plan not only to make the establishment of new closed shops nigh on impossible-by requiring a secret ballot vote showing: 80% in favour of a closed shop before such an agreement is conceded-but also to destroy existing closed shops by calling for a fresh ballot on the issue every few years.
Before long, thousands of workers-whether they are engaging in struggles during this winter's pay round; contemplating strike action or occupations against cuts and closures; or struggling for the unionisation of unorganised sections in order to resist the attacks of the emplovers will come face to "AVU face with this Tory legislation.
It is a major weapon in the hands of the employers-a scabs* charter designed to sap the mass THERE'S STILL A FEW UNTIDY MOTIONS)
NEED SORTING OUT. (ARE THE CULPRITS OUTSIDE?
BRING ONE IN!
OUT TUQ 1O.K. MOTIONS-. : | WRECKERS RIGHT IT'S YOUR TURN NOW BRO _ TUC KEEP OUT BUT I CAN EXPLAIN— THE SHOP FLOOR LADS.
OUT 1/933X WHAT'S THE SHOP FLOOR GOT TO DO WITH IT?
THIS IS THE TUC!
BOGA
SO YOU'RE THE WISE GUY WHO WANTS US TO STOP TALKING TO THE TORIES!
MINUTES LATER...
WELL THAT 5 CLEARED BUT ISN'T IT TIME JIM DITCHED THOSE UP THE AGENDA! NAMBY-PAMBIES IN THE LABOUR PARTY ECRERS7 SK MOTION 780 A WEEK INDEED!)
TUC NEXT!
KEEP OUT AND TOOK A LEAF OUT OF OUR BOOK? )