Buses: Newcastle Sell-ou

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Tom Shields, (centre) Secretary of the T&GWU busmen's branch The fight to defeat cuts in public spending in the North East which mean reduced services and a growth of the through the refusal of Newcastle busmen's leaders to continue and extend solid strike action in defence of jobs.

Since the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive took over in 1970, both jobs and services have been severely reduced.

RESPONSE

Recent attempts to introduce further one-man operated buses and new schedules, without the agreement of union representatives, brought a strong response from the workforce, sulting in a mass meeting of the 1,200 workforce last week.

Tam Shields, T&GWU branch secretary, though forced to make militant noises against the employers' arbitrary action, had previously shown his completely unprincipled and reactionary position by calling for a solution through the ending of free fares for pensioners and in demanding a 'fair' sacking policy to include white-collar workers as well!

CONVINCING

At the mass meeting Shields, with the willing assistance of a local T&GWU full-time official, had to spend well over an hour in convincing them to return to work on the basis of a worthless agreement from management that the situation would be "reviewed" in one month.

Such refusals to give a strong lead in defence of jobs acts only to confuse and demoralise workers and prepares the ground for further attacks under conditions more favourable to the employer. reporter Peter Sturges, (a central figure in the Oxford section of the scab "Institute of Journalists") the new T&GWU official, Mr Geoffrey Hulett, a former cas transporter driver, revealed the true level of his commitment to the working class.

When Sturges asked him why he applied for the full-time post he could only reply it was:

'Because I did not fancy the prospect of being a transporter driver for the next 20 years".

Not that the urge to better himself and win increased status (not to mention more comfortable working conditions) could be fulfilled without sacrifice.

Hulett claimed his new job would pay him "considerably less" than the £5,000 a year he earned driving car transporters.

This claim was plainly too much even for Sturges to report without comment, and he felt obliged to point out that Hulett would not give ais is hardly surprising, since any mention of a cash salary would immediately raise questions about the other perks and benefits that go aiong with a union official's position. important to defend the status of the union and to defend the interests of the majority of members against minorities."

Hulett's concern for the feelings of Leyland management and his carelul use of the abstract terms "majority" and "minority" are the hallmarks of an experienced witchhunter, determined to keep the working class down to the lowest possible level of militancy and class consciousness.

EXPOSURE

The only way the interests of the T&GWU members can: be defended is by the exposure of the role of these bureaucrats.

The practice of simply appointing full-time union officials in the Talw and other unions must be brought to an end. the membership must have the right regularly to elect and, where necessary, to recall full-time officials, with elections held in branch meetings.

Careerists and self-seekers must be driven out of official positions by ensuring that no official earns more than the average wage of the members he represents - this being subject to the scrutiny of the membership.

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massive unemployment in the area, has received a setback