Support Builds up for Democracy Conferencer

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meeting. London at which Tony Kelly, In this confusion the district witch-hunted Secretary of Newham official called a further mass meet- N.E. Labour Party would be ing of the day shift (which has none speaking. took a vote for a return to work have declared support for the This attack on the right of socialist Charter and Socialist attack on trade union rights. For however, is far from clear since this reason the organising commit- they published a four page section Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement, the Ad-Hoc Committee which is organising the October 24th Conference on Wage Control and Union Democracy, met in Birmingham on Saturday September 4th and discussed the latest developments in the struggle for democracy within the Trade Union movement.

The main discussion was around the developments in Cowley with the BLMC management's withdrawal of facilities from four shop stewards in the Assembly Plant.

A report showed how the reaction of the first mass meeting to the position put by the T&GWU District Official and senior steward (who attacked the stewards involved, only to be heavily voted down by the meeting) showed workers real hatred for the role of bureauNO DIRECTION But the bureaucracy, after that mass meeting, consciously left the Cowley workforce with 110 direction. As a result some workers went on strike, while other tried to work, sowing greater and greater confusion. This went on for over a week alongside a vicious witch-hunt in the capitalist press and with the senior steward issuing a leaflet attacking ine decision or te mass if then carrer of the victimised stewards), and pending negotiations. workers to elect the stewards. of Fight. their choice was considered a major 43 FACE Seven of the 43 Right to Work Marchers arrested last March and remanded on bail on a series of charges are due to appear at Hendon Magistrates Court on September 17th.

Having marched 800 miles from Glasgow without any trouble, the march was broken up as it entered London when baton-wielding police waded into the marchers arresting 35 as well as nine trade unionists who had joined, the last lap of the march to give support.

INQUIRY Barnet Trades Council, which covers the area where the arrests took place immediately set up a trade union inquiry into the incident which was supported by a number of leading trade unionists.

The Director of Public Prosecutions attempted to prevent the tee decided to issue a special statement as part of the preparation for the conference.

Reports wère also given on the struggle against the closure of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in which the bureaucracy in the Health Service unions was reported to be trying to take action out of the hands of the local shop stewards movement and put it into the hands of the Regional Committees of the union.

It was felt also that leafl should be produced that wol direct towards the importance the Trico dispute and the dispute technicians at Smiths Industries Cricklewood.

The committee also decided to produce a special leaflet for the Labour Party conference, which would be used to seek the support or CMC'S for the Campaign Conference. leaflet will also be produced for the TUC lobby on September 8th.

In discussing the campaign so far it was reported that a highly successful public meeting on the theme of the Conference had been Hackney ana one in Central Uaataasn Political movements that so far Conference include the WSL, the The position of the IMG, at the Hendon hearing TRIAL arguing that they would in contempt of court.

The inquiry committee did meet and take evidence, finally publishing its report in mid-June.

The committee accepted evidence by marchers and independent observers of "excessive and indiscriminate violence" by the police and further stated that:

"If the Committee had clear evidence that on 19 March the violence had been caused or provoked by something the marchers had done, it would be difficult to say that there had been any interference with the right to protest. But the evidence before the Committee is to the contrary.

Fears that the police attack on the march was planned in advance ares supported by the fact that the National Secretary of the Right to Work Campaign, John Deason had far more serious charges laid against him and was comitted for trial at the Old Bailey.

Working class opposition to the Chronicle of Red Weekly on the fight for labour movement democracy which contained a statement with passages almost word for word from the Conference resolution - but without mentioning the Conference!

The ICL had two observers at the meeting and will be deciding whether to support on hearing their report. The IS and the WRP have sent no reply.

A report on union branches so far supporting the Conference was also given. These include NUPE University College Hospital, London (6 delegates), _ GMWU London Hotels_branch, Coventry No. 6 'AUEW/TASS and Oxford NUJ. A number of other branches have meetings in the next two weeks.

A motion of support is also to be considered at the next meeting of Newham NE CLP.

The Organising Committee will report again in one month's time to plan the conference which, as the campaign is now getting under way, it is clear will be well attended.

We call again on all our readers and supporters to fight in their union branches, students unions, shop stewards committees, Trades Councils and Labour Parties for support for this Conference, and to attend the Conference which open to all bona fide trade unionists and delegates from students unions.

Copies of the Conference Resolution submitted by the committee, together with a letter for trade union branches can be obtained from the Campaign Secretary, Kevin Lee, 44, Devonshire Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham 20.

CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE LABOUR MOVEMENT Conference on WAGE CONTROL AND UNION DEMOCRACY Sunday 24th October igbeth Hall, Birminghar Sessions 10am - 12.30pm. 1.30pm - 4.00pm.

Credentials, 50p, from Kevin Lee, Campaign Secretary, 44, Devonshire Road, Handsworth Wood;

Birmingham 20 trade unionists demonstrated on a weekday morning outside Hendon Magistrates Court when the Right to Work marchers made their first court appearance, and numerous trade union branches have voted support and donations to the defence fund.

PICKET

Now the National Right to Work Campaign is calling for a further mass picket of the court when seven of the marchers appear there on Friday 17th September.

It is important that this picket receives the maximum possible support. The Labour government has made quite clear that it is prepared to allow trade unionists like the Shrewsbury Two to remain in jail and will just as surely be prepared to see the 43 receive the most vicious sentences the Magistrates feel able to impose.

We call on our readers and supporters to attend the mass picket and support the demand for NOLIR LiwERe® Marchers from tRE HELPING - JU DO TO T&GWU Oxford Office -NHS COM the Elizabeth 3A 100--. picketed by Export Packing Services workers

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held in Oxford, and two such meet- ings were planned for London, one

RK BRO DISTRICT OFFICE