Cp Forces in Tuc 'gag' Rule

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response.

itical issues to workers. I would League.

Name..

Address THE Fourth International.

ance of redundancies by the bureaucracy. to mobilise the trade union movement.

initiative towards its reconstruction.

MORE INFORMATION more information on the WORKERS £4.60 £1.50 £3.00 .£6.00 scialist In their attempt to quell workers' resistance to the Labour government's pro-capitalist policies, the TUC bureaucrats have no stauncher ally than the Stalinists of the Communist Party.

In one Trades Council after another they have acted the "reluctant" agents for the TUC's new Black Circular Model Rule 14 ("we don't like it but everybody must vote for it or the Trades Council will be disaffiliated").

After the Camden Trades Council, at its Annual General Meeting in February had rejected the new rule over the protests of the Communist Party, Stalinist Secretary S.A. Gregory forced another discussion and vote at the March meeting, leaving a trail of broken procedures in his wake. Waving a letter which he claimed threatened immediate withdrawal from the Trades Council of recognition by the 1uc, Gregory managed a vote of 36-30 for the new Rule 14, far short of the two-thirds majority constitutionally required for its acceptance. At the same time, the Chairman ruled out of order a motion from the Charing Cross ASTMS Branch aimed at launching a campaign against the rule.

The letter from the TUC did indeed contain a threat, although a milder one than the Secretary had let on. On March Ist, Ken Graham, Secretary of the TUC's Organisation and Industrial Relations Department, had encouraged Gregory to pursue adoption of the rile, adding:

*Unless this is done you Counci will not be entitled to be represented at the Trades Co mcłs" rantanarro isrimaralt r'ane will be placed in jeopardy"

Gregory, however, was off and running. Having twice failed by "democratic" means, he turned to yet more cowardly and dishonest manoeuvres. Union branches and delegates were informed that the April meeting would not take place and that the Trades Council would next reconvene in May at an unusual date and venue.

And Gregory devised an ingenious new condition for membership:

"only delegates who can produce written evidence on their Branches notepaper or whose Secretary has previously notified me that their Branch is prepared to accept Model Rule 14 will be admitted"

Gregory's motive is not hard to discover. The balance of forces on Camden Trades Council has shifted over the recent period to the point where the CP no longer commands a clear majority, nor even maintains a sure hold on the Executive Committee.

CHANCE

For them, the battle over Rule 14 has an extra dimension; it offers a chance to sweep out the left and restore "peace and quiet' in the club.

After some hesitation the TUC have now declared support for Gregory's actions and confirmed the once fraudulent suspension.

The assault on Camden Trades Council is a grave threat to labour movement democracy. It shows what other Trades Councils can expect when they resist the gag rule as several already have.

A national campaign against this o tempt to still the voice

TUC General Secretary

Len Murray: attempting to hamstring Trades Councils picking off, one one, of pocket or resistance.

As part of that campaign we ca for a lobby of the May meeting o the Camden Trades Council b trade union branches, Trade Councils and individual trad unionists in support of th delegates who oppose Rule 14.

The May meeting is due to tak place at 53, Doughty Street o: Tuesday 11th May at 7 pm.

Those wishing furthe information or to express thei support are urged to write to 164₺ Haverstock Hill, London NW3.

LEAGUE

PUBLIC MEETING Policy to Fight Unemploymenr