Scots conference calls for action on jobs

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He cited such local instances open Calenaar гак 1cacner as the redundancies at Glynwed Training College, now under and the Carron Company, laying threat of closure. for consumer durables at the there were many contributions door of the Tory imposed cuts from the audience, several drawin house building and renova- ing upon bitter experiences of tions. struggles against redundancies leaked government document Jim Newlands, EETPU proposing reductions in unem- member, commended to ihe ployment and sickness benefits conference the establishment of The recent conference to fight unemployment organised by the Central Region Federation of Trades Councils and held in Falkirk was an outstanding success.

Attended by over 100 delegates, representing 15 trade unions, three trades councils and several local Labour Parties, the conference unanimousiy adopted a fighting programme (see below).

A motion was also passed approving the calling of demonstration to protest against unemployment in the Central Region.

The main theme of the conference was that there was no future in trying to change Thatcher's policies-the only course of action left is to bring this government down.

This position was even echoed by Harry Ewing, local Labour MP. Ewing forcefully pointed out that a spate of recent closures and redundancies in the Central Region could in no way be blamed upon foreign imports coming on to the British market.

Redundancies

the blame for a drop in demand Ewing also highlighted a in the area. by 5% and an end to all exemptions on prescription charges.

(The militancy of Ewing's speech stands in marked contrast to his position on the leadership election struggle within the Labour Party where he, along with another twelve Scottish Labour MPs, has publicly lined up with the right wing in the Party).

Indifference

Bill Sneddon, Secretary of the Federation, speaking in the morning, warmly praised the youth and trade unionists who had demonstrated at the Tory Party Conference the previous Friday.

He especially drew attention to the "fascist style" methods of the huge force of police defending the Tories.

The callous indifference or open hostility of the Tories, he said, has to be seen in the context of 11,000 unemployed in the Central Region, 9.3% of the workforce, with virtually no jobs available in the highly industrialised Falkirk-Grangemouth area.

He also called upon trade unionists to give maximum support to the campaign to keep - are a ea Mallaudas Do-l- Toonha After Sneddon's speech, a centre for the unemployed, supported by the labour movement in the area and used as a focal point for information and the organisation of resistance.

Moving the resolution and programme of action in the afternoon, Rowland Sheret of the TGWU explained the relevance and urgent necessity of each of the points in the programme, contrasting the fighting resolve of the conference with the likely outcome of the STUC organised convention in December which will open its doors to nationalists, churches and assorted reactionary bodies.

As against this position, John Hendry, Assistant Secretary of the STUC speaking at the cose ot the conterence sought to dejend the record of the trade union leadership on unemployment and to the further dismay of a large body of the audience, proceeded to call for the imposition of selective import controls.

"Unity"

He also managed, under the guise ot a call for 'unity'. , to defend the record of the last Labour Government and therby the present right wing within the Party.

No doubt if Hendry had not timed himself to be the last speaker, he would have faced some very sharp criticisms.

The conference marked major step forward in the fight against unemployment in the Central Region.

The next step must be the implementation of its decisions through the establishment of sub-committees of the affiliated trades councils with the remit of mobilising for a permanent centre for the unemployed in the area and a maximum turn out on the November 29 demonstration in Liverpool.

Other trades councils should consider following the lead given by Central Region and set about organising similar conferences in their own areas.

A priority in this must surely now be Ayrshire with the recently announced closure of the ICI plant at Ardeer with 750 sackings and the ongoing struggle for jobs at Ayrshire Marine Construction at Hunterston. Programme of Action adopted by the Conference. 1. Organise the Unemployed.

Ensure that the unemployed do not leave their trade union. Set up unemployed branches in each trade union. Wherever possible District Committees should consider having recruitment campaigns to bring the unemnloved who mav have already dropped out of trade union membership, and consider recruiting those unemployed young people who may never have a chance to join a trade union.

Obviously the feasibility of doing this will vary according to the nature of the trade union concerned. The trades councils should allow observer status to organisations of the unemployed. council meetings as observers. 2. United action to fight redundancies.

A co-ordinated response from trade unionists in the area is needed to fight redundancies. Where a branch is threatened with redundancies and decides to take action to fight them, then we must ensure they are not isolated. Every step must be taken to give support action from all sections of the trade union and labour movement. The Federation of Trades Councils should be given the responsibility of co-ordinating this effort. 3. No cuts in local authority services.

We call on local authority representatives to refuse to implement the Tory cuts and for the trade union movement to pledge its support to the councillors in this struggle. We urge Labour controlled local authorities in Scotland to unite together in a campaign to refuse to implement the Tory government's policies. This would mean not just maintaining services but tackling the question of rent and rates rises which will result from the government's economic policies. 4. Defend living standards.

Taking a cut in wages will not help unemployment, it anything it will reduce demand and make the situation worse. The crisis is a crisis of the capitalist system. Campaign against any hidden incomes policy and fight for wages increases which give full cover for the increase in the cost of living. Full support is needed from trade unionists to resist the Tory attempts to cut unemployment and social security benefits, against Tory attempts to cut the value of the old age pension and - child benefits.

When companies run into trouble it is trade unionists who