Tuc Seeks Fig-leaf for Tameside Gag

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Bureaucratic platform of "Better Life for All"

As the TUC Congress grinds into action, the NUJ delegation has a mandate to challenge the section of the General Council Report which spells out the bureaucratic arguments for disaffiliating Tameside Trades Since few trade unionists normally see this Report it may be of interest for Socialist Press readers to look at the threadbare case erected by the TUC as its pretext for knifing Tameside's attempts to promote discussion on the war in Ireland -and the general threat that hangs over any Trades Council that adopts fighting policies.

The Report, section 88, points out that:

"In February 1980 the TUC had received information and complaints from local trade union bodies about a conference on Northern Ireland which Tameside Trades Council proposed to hold. The particular theme and format of the Tameside conference gave rise to great concern.

A leaflet advertising the conference carried the headline slogan Support the Irish people; Bring the War to Britain' » Content clear To those who know little of the war in Ireland, the Slogan "Bring the War to Britain" is of course open to various interpretations: it is not a slogan which Socialist Press advocates.

But its content is clear: it states that the war in Ireland is a matter of concern for the British working class. Rather than simply lamenting the war, socialists should be fighting for active support for the Irish people in the British labour movement.

It is against this that the TUC bureaucrats object most strongly. Their own so-called "Better Life for All" Campaign is no more than a pathetic appeal to the British government to improve conditions in the occupied six counties of Northern Ireland-thus accepting the continued partition of Ireland which is the source of the ongoing national struggle.

But the Report grasps for a fig leaf to conceal this, and comes up with the flims! complaint that:

"the Trades Conscil 52s not playing aa actine part i given to it by the TIC. it lad continued to refuse to sominate trade unionists to serve on the District Manpower Committee Such heinous crimes obviously called for dire punishment!

Threat But the TUC makes that in their view:

ponsibility to the TUC to work for and support the implementation of Congress policy. It is also a requirement that trades councils must not associate with organisations, and their repres entatives, whose policies or activities are contrary to those of Congress"

This, of course, is a threat not only to Tameside but to any Trades Council that-unlike the TUC-wishes to fight the Tory offensive: only last month Len Murray vetoed a NW TUC plan for a regional Day of Action on unemployment.

Ultimatum

The General Council then laid down the following ultimatum to Tameside:

"a) it must dissociate itself publicly from publicity material including the slogan "Bring the War to Britain" , which had been issued by the Trades Council in connection with the conference on Ireland.

b) it must give an undertaking not to hold any conference on Ireland without first securing the agreement of the TUC about the format, agenda and speakers for such a conference.

c) it must undertake to play an active role in the county association of trades councils and nominate to and cooperate with the District Manpower Committee and other relevant bodies;

d) it must act at all times within the terms of Congress policy and carry out the proper function of a trades council as set out in the model rules.

Scapegoat

In other words Tameside has been used as a scapegoat by the TUC in order both to muzzle broader discussion on Ireland and to hogtie the Trades Councils to the wretched capitulationist policies adopted by the TUC-designed to cripple any real fight against the Tories.

By their votes on this issue therefore, trade union leaders will indicate both their stance on the Irish war and their attitude to local initiatives and struggles against the Thatcher Meanwhile the fight within the trade unions and Labour Party must be stepped up around the demands:

Troops out of Ireland now!

Self determination for the Irish people!

Restore political status to republican PoWs!

ONDLO

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PHOTO: "trades councils have a res-