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Send to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX.

Socialist Press supporters leafleting the Courtauld plant at Aintree, Liverpool, last week were pleasantly surprised when a member of the Action Committee stopped on his way into work, and invited them to the next meeting of the committee, the following evening, where he said we would probably be "most welcome".

Despite our immediate response that we were not Courtauld workers and, therefore, had no business being at such a meeting, he persisted with his invitation and we humoured him by turning up. Arriving early, we explained to those present what had happened; they asked us to sit in and wait for the rest to arrive, in an amiable way.

After the convenor and TGWU official, Bobby Lamb had arrived, we were asked to re-explain our presence for their benefit.

In contrast to the friendly and polite response earlier, we were bluntly told to leave-as we were not Courtauld workers!

But before this happened a few snatches of conversation between Action Committee members revealed the state of affairs within the plant.

Our "friend" stated to all that he had resigned from his shop stewards position because he had been at odds with everyone on his section over a sit-in: they wanted him to negotiate redundancy money; he had refused and argued unsuccessfully, for an occupation.

Another member of the Action Committee claimed he was in a similar situation.

It was clear that the factory was polarised and that the stewards meeting that day had been the scene of a fierce row over precisely this question.

Rejected A few days later on Thursday 12 March the mass meeting rejected a call for immediate occupation of the plant by an overwhelming majority, even though it was recommended by the stewards committee.

The platform was aggressively opposed by an angry and pessimistic rank and file.

It would seem that union officials in this case had been unable to stop elements on the stewards committee from winning the vote for occupation, but the stewards in turn were unable to win support for it within the plant.

Part of the reason for this is the recent defeats at Meccano and Massey Ferguson, which have taken their toll on the morale of the rest workers.

These bitter experiences have reinforced less militant and cynical elements both at Courtaulds and at Tate and Lyle.

Whatever else may be said, it seemed premature to call for immediate occupation at this meeting, although it was obviously necessary not to leave it too late.

There seems to have been little attempt to campaign and prepare the membership for such a call.

Why was no-one from Gardners and the pits invited to speak at the mass meeting? Why was there no attempt to form a joint action committee with Tate and Lyles, council workers and the docks where there are also massive redundancies?

Why was no attempt made to break down the crippling sense of isolation and impotence by demanding that Lamb and the TGWU national officials organise immediate blacking of Courtaulds nationally, to bring it to its knees?

Even at this late stage, those principled stewards who were behind the occunation must not despair.

They must step up the campaign and wait for a change in the current mood of their members. JOIN I THE WSL ! Socialist League.

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SOCIALIST •IO|/ PRESS LAMPANCKJ GAVASTRADS LANIS STOPT TH NATIDNATTYBILLI Demonstrat Against Immigration Hyde, Park, London p.m. Sunday April