Docks Stewards Attacked

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The credentials of 19 leading shop stewards on Hull docks have been withdrawn by the T&GWU Region 10 Committee (covering the NE coast). In a curt letter, which gave no reason for the decision, the Regional Secretary, D. Cairn, said that the men could no longer represent the T&GWU in the port of Hull.

The issue used by the Regional bureaucracy for this action was the blacking by the Hull dockers of the BACAT (Barge aboard Catamaran) system.

The system relies on shallow draft barges being carried aboard a ship of Catamaran-type construc tion. On arrival,. . the barges are released from the ship direct into inland waterways - thus completely by-passing the docks, threatening jobs and conditions.

Although the T&GWU has opposed the BACAT system, the Region 10 committee ordered the black on it to be lifted. A mass meeting of dockers rejected this -and the withdrawal of stewards cards followed.

INDEPENDENCE

Of course there is more to the action of the T&GWU bureaucrats than the issue of BACAT.' Traditionally, dockers have operated through their unofficial committees often with a considerable degree of independence from the officials. And in Hull they have worked jointly with the blue' union.

Now the bureaucracy want to move in firmly and end that independence. It is part of the rightward swing of the union bureaucracy which now daily results in bureaucratic attacks on any section of workers or shop stewards who attempt in any way to act independently and defend their wages or working conditions.

In this way the attack Hull directly linked to the scramble to stamp out resistance among British Leyland workers fighting the pay laws, and to the continuing blatant bureaucratic moves in the Cowley BLMC factories against those stewards who organise to oppose the Ryder speed-up measures.

It links also to the arrogant way Jones and the TUC leaders have ridden roughshod over their union's conference policies and acted entirely without mandate in order to impose Stage 2 of wage control in defence of the pound.

But the problem in Hull is that those victimised réfuse to fight back. No appeal has been lodged. No mobilisation has taken place in the union to reverse the decision.

MADE LIGHT

Instead the leadership especially Walter Cunningham, chairman of the Port Stewards and one of those with credentials withdrawn, makes light of the victimisation by simply saying "we are elected by the members"

This ignores the fact that the dock stewards have been placed by the bureaucracy at the mercy of the Port employers, who, whilst continuing to negotiate with them at present, could refuse to do so at any time with the full backing of the T&GWU!

The employers in any case are prepared to wait. They know that elections come round for the various committees in the Porteen victimised stewards have declared not eligible to stand, and the right-wing could strengthen their position.

A clue as to why the leadership on the dock refuse to challenge the bureaucracy is given by the fact that one of those with credentials withdrawn is Tony Fee, Chairman T&GWU Regional Committee.

Another Walt member of the Finance and Genera Purposes Committee: on thi I&GWU Executive - and one o those who voted bureaucraticall! for the 4½% pay limit with Id mandate from conference.

Cunningham Both these men are stewards of the docks but closely bound i with the bureaucracy. They know what impact a challenge to thi bureaucracy from Hull Docks coul have.

They know it would be a blos at the T&GWU bureaucracy nation ally, and that workers wouk respond to such a fight, seeing : lead in the struggle against thi bureaucratic dictatorship of thi appointed officials.

We say the removal of thi stewards' cards on Hull docks i not simply a dockers' issue.

It is the property of the trad union movement as a whole. Thr strength of the docks should br mobilised to force the Regiona Committee to Change thei decision. The details of the case should be made available through. out the T&GWU.

A coordinated campaign should begin in the T&GWU led by those sections who have been the victims of the bureaucracy:

*For an end to abuse.

*For the return of stewards' cards in Hull.

*For the protection shop stewards.

*For democratic election other procedures.

and Natalial to ale local egional appointed.