Mandate TGWU to vote for Benn!

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Kitson chatting to Callaghan during last year's Labour Party Conference of TGWU policy in Parlia- should get the vote for will be presented as a "con ment is being peddled by Deputy Leader. For Healey tribution to a new approaci the right to give him credib- to win would be a major by Labour". In reality it wil WE VE HAD THE MARCH-NOW Organised by Leicester Unemployed SATURDAY 27 JUNE 10.30-5.00pm Leicester Polytechnic Students Union Coccinne nn Arnanicinn the I Inemploved Accommodation available on the Friday Further details 52 Wyville Row Leicester:

Next week's TGWU biennial delegate conference must mandate the union's delegation to this year's Labour Party Conference to vote for Tony Benn for Deputy. Leader of the Party.

But this will not be the case if our union's General Executive Council has its way. 1.

At its meeting läst week the Executive decided to overturn the stance the • union has taken since Tony: Benn decided to stand: that • his decision was wrong and divisive and should be: reversed.

This had been the line taken and argued on behalf of the union by Alex Kitson, Deputy General Secretary and Chairman of the Labour Party ever since Benn decided to stand. It had been endorsed by the union's Finance and General Purposes Committee. -"Every right"

But the Executive's new decision declared instcad that Tony Benn had "every right" to stand in the contest for Deputy Leader.

But whilst the overturning • of Kitson's right wing positions land he has After 11 weeks of major victory in their bid to keep the play centre open.

Following Labour gains in the local elections, the newly-constituted Social Services: Committee has agreed to re-open Beal Street as from September 1 for a trial period of six months.

Two staff will be employed to run the centre, which will remain open after the six month period if it is declared firmly that the decision has not changed his view) may seem very progressive, it has a very nasty sting in its tail.

The Executive went on unanimously to take no decision as to which candidate the union will support in October and to urge that no decision be taken at the BDC.

Deferred

The decision on which candidate wouid receive the union's 1.25 million votes would, they decided. be deferred until September 27. the day betore the vote at the Labour Party conference.

And it would be taken by the union's 45-strong delegation. The Executive would meet beforehand and make a recommendation.

This move seems to have been borrowed from Clive Jenkins at the ASTMS conference: but Jenkins lost the vote. Maybe Benn should not have criticised Moss Evans for being elected for life!

The decision would be crucial. Everyone knows that the TGWi vote is the biggest single vote at the Labour Party conference.

They also know that it Benn gets the backing of the TGWU it will have time lo affect the decisions of other by then running with its quota of 25 children.

Meanwhile parents are maintaining the occupation until discussions with social services are satisfactorily concluded on continuing the playgroup over the next two months.

It scems certain that Social Services will release a member of staff to run the playgroup started during the occupation.

Involvement The resolution passe the commitice meeting LET'S ORGANISE!

Workers Union Social events on both nights or phone 0533 857828 unions.

Constitutionally, the Executive does not have the power to stop the BDC taking a vote on Benn: the conference is the highest body of the union.

But they can recommend and they can obstruct the procedure. If emergency resolutions are refused, the plattorm may well face a move to refer back the agenda.

If this took place it would reverse their decision and probably lead to a proBenn vote.

The: Cowley. 5/293 Branch of the union has tabled an amendment to the Executive's motion on the Labour Party, calling for a vote for Benn.

This has been accepted as a legitimate amendment on the agenda and it could be difficult to avoid taking this even if emergency motions are blocked.

But the attitude of the Broad Left could be crucial. The Morning Star has supported the Executive's move to deter a decision.

• The Morning Star or June 5 commented:

"The feeling among lettwingers [ie. among the CP| is that there is little to be gained in pushing for an early decision on the Deputy Leadership and that the time could well be used to get more debate around the fundamental issues of policy Wednesday provides for parental involvement in the running of the play centre.

Parents see this as crucial to keeping some control over how the centre is developed.

They have continually asserted that the centre has been deliberately run down over the last iwo years and are convinced that it could become once again a thriving centre for the under fives.

The occupation has caught the imagination and attention of widespread layers in the community in Leicester, and has stood as a beacon in the light against the cuts.

it is for this reason that the Leicester Mercury which has generally given good publicity to the campaign, ran an article two days after the decision to re-open headlined "Victory a defeat for democracy**!

The article claimed 10 wholeheartedly support the aims of the parents and applauded their determinaton:

"They showed a purpose.

fulness- which ..must he admired. Week after week they never flinched from their aim and they succeeded in getting a good deat of publiu sympathy.

Bir it songh condem ned ihe nihad nied raised by Mr Benn's contest."

Of course, the Morning Star knows very well that the time will be used not to build support for Benn, but to witch-hunt him.

Opinion is already being whipped up against him not least inside the TGWU.

Silkin's decision to stand is also very important in the TGWU. Silkin is not only i TGWU sponsored MP. but also Chairman of the TGWU Parliamentary Group. Tony Benn is a TGWU. member but not asponsored MP Great play is being made of this. Already lots of {very doubtul praise for Silkin's record in support "It means that the present trend for coercion has paid off yet again. Militant action has proved more effective than the ballot box. For by occupying the premises they have, in effect, used force-doubtless convincing • themsełves that the end justifies the means.

Obviously the Mercury would preter us 10 have merely made empty protests about the closure.

Springboard

But there have been massive protests, mobilising millions of people in demonstrations against Tory cuis over the last two years.

Protest by itsell has not brought about any change in Tory policy nor did it in this cast.

Their concern is of course that a successful occupation like this could bo a springboard for workers and other oppressed sections of the community to take similar action:

"But what if all council decisions were challenged in this way by groups of people who objected strongly te them. Polities by pressure would be the order of the day. ilitv.

It is the first time I have ever heard praise for Silkin in the union.

But Silkin is not even a genuine candidate. His chances of selection are zero. His campaign is just a cynical manoeuvre to split the Benn vote and give the Deupty Leadership to the right wing.

BDC delegates should not be taken in. Tony Benn cannot be given uncritical support. But beçause of his stand on democracy in the Labour Party-a stand which our union supported-he It is a trend already in existence. Workers who dislike management moves readily occupy factories or disrupt lawful business activities."

The "democracy" discussed in this article gives the Tories the "right" to destroy services, jobs and rights fought and paid for by the working class.

The right of workers to defend their jobs and services is described as "coercion" and likened to "soccer hooliganism"

The Tories on the outgoing council who made the decision to close Beal Street were elected four years ago when the Labour government had begun its own attacks on public spending.

The massive swing to Labour in the recent election resulting in a hung council was a voté of opposition to cuts in services.

The whole question of democracy and : accountabilky now raging in the. labour movement is a direct response to these attacks.

• Faint-hearted liberals class conscious workers can only gain strength from the victory achieved by the occupation. setback for that campaign.

Special statement

The Executive is also trying to short-circuit discussion on another important issue-Ireland. They have decided to "make a special statement" to the conference-a move which is usually accompanied by a recommendation. that all motions on the subject are remitted to the Executive.

The statement, which delegates will not see in advance of the conterence, After 3½ months the workers at Royal Pride furniture factory in Salford are still fighting for union recognition.

At the end of last year all the production workers (27 at that time) joined FTAT when their demands for a 10% wage increase were met with an offer of a 20% cut in wages.

Novak, the manager, bought off some of the men with promises of putting up their wages to full union rates if they left the union.

On February 26 nine workers walked out on strike and set up picket lines.

Novak couldn't maintain • production without the The Transitional Programme in Today's Class Struggle The founding programmatic document of the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee.

London WCIN 3XX

be a device to stitle any dis cussion on the real issues oI Ireland which are having ar increasing impact on thi labour movement.

Despite having 130,00( members in Region 11 [which covers the Six Counties], the TGWL leadership have a long recor of suppressing such discus sion.

My mandate is to figh for my branch resolutionwhich supports the demand: of the hunger strikers anc calls for immediate with drawal from : the Sir Counties. skilled workers, mosti women, who were on thi picket line, so he sacke the scabs, closed the factor; and wrote to the striker: dismissing them all.

On March 17 the picket: entered the factory anc occupied it. Novak took ou an injunction. Then thr union officials stepped ir and persuaded the strikers tr leave the factory after a two day occupation-henc putting the strikers in : much weaker position.

For the last fortnigh Novak has not been seen anc the factory has an estatt agent's board outside pro claiming it for sale or let.

The plant is near thi centre of Manchester and 1 valuable site. It i rumoured that after selling Novak would set up in the Salford "Enterprise Zone" thus evading local rates anc planning controls. .-In spite of being let down by their officials, the women are "determined not to let Novak dismantle the factory. So they are main taining their picket outside!

They receive only £15 a week strike pay and desper ately need..support : and finance. Messages of support and money should be sent 1o: Royal Pride Strike Fund FTAT.: 37 Ansen » Road •Victoria Park. Manchestei 14:

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Minsford Guardian A PUBLIC SHAMBLES!

----- pull-quotes -----

occupation, parents and supporters of Beal Street Play Centre have won a

and The Fight for Jobs and Saturday night

may well take heed of the • warnings in the article: but

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