Fight Phase 2 Thuraeti

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said Alan Thornett, candidate to replace Jack Jones in the election for the General Secretaryship of the TGWU.

Thornett was speaking at a press conference last Saturday called by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement. Despite the powerful movements in the working class against the social contract, said Thornett, "we simply can't say it's all over bar the shouting"

He warned that the determinimpose a third year of wage cuts on union members meant that there was a long if bitter struggle ahead.

SLIDING SCALE He recalled that the resolution from his branch - calling for a sliding scale of wages to match inflation - spearheaded the opposition to Jack Jones' launching of the TUC-policed wage control at the TGWÜ Biennial Delegate Conference in July 1975.

A vote for his platform today 'hornett argued, was a valuabl blow against the ruling bureaucracy in the TGWU and for carrying forward a principled record of struggle within the union.

Thornett warned the policies put about by the "lefts" and Stalinists and mainly represented by the candidature of Alex Kitson within the TGWU, were dangerously deceptive.

Their series of Conferences -like that day's LCDTU Conference were "bureaucratically controlled" as was that called by the Stalinist-led BLMC Combine Committee.

"Their position", he said, 'is one of being opposed to actual action against Stage Two now" postponing everything to "a return to free collective bargaining after July"

LABOUR MOVEMENT Commenting on the present stage of the TGWU election campaign, Thornett said he was glad to accept the CDLM's invitation to a press conference since it was only open to the press of the labour movement and the left, and was called by a body that had waged "an essential fight for demoracy in the unions and on the wages question"

The four main candidates presented by the capitalist press, Saturday 26 February saw the ridiculous sight of two separate demonstrations opposing National Front activity in the Stechford by election.

Proposals were originally put through the Trades Council and District Labour Party for a demonstration to be held.

This was opposed by the Comunist Party who argued that there was a danger of confrontation with the NF.

After losing the vote the CP then used their influence with the "moderates" on the Trades Council Executive to have the march routed away from the immigrant area of had already debated their electio positions in interviews • on tele vision.

Thornett pointed out that wher he himself was the target of witch-hunt he was beseiged by invitations to appear on the media SILENCE But when, , as now, he wa standing for union office, there wa a blanket of silence. In his view, hi added, it was an essential principli of democracy in the labour move ment not to cooperate with thi capitalist press and media.

'On the ballot itself he warner that:

"this election is being run, onc again, with no protection agains corruption, and with ballo procedures wide open tr corruption."

He demanded to know i1l) counting will be at Regional le el contrary to rule 13 of the un :n which gives that responsibilit: tc branches.

Thornett demanded that vote for each branch should declared, and called on all Tr members to attend their Bre meetings, to discuss VC procedures and to elect damand aranort from eruntin: „änn c vốx Answering questions on c left candidates in the elect Thornett commented that Tor Riley, backed by the Right to l Campaign, lacked any se: programme and stood mainly more "rank and fileism"

"Except for the election officials" , he said, "all Ri demands could be supported most union officials. What election address leaves out is account of actual struggles he been involved in"

BELATED

Remarking on the belatec support from Newsline, paper o: the Workers Revolutionary Party for his candidature, Thornett wris observed that he was describe i a: "an incurable syndicalist enc opportunist"

"It seems strange to me, " he remarked, "that Newsline sho c now be advocating votes for oppor tunists!"

Thornett is completely righi to insist that the issues in the TG VL election are vital to all workers, 1o: only TGWU members. Voting end: on March 19th. Socialist Press call: on all TGWU members to ask thai their branches invite candidates to address them before voting take place - and to fight for support fo: Alan Thornett.

TY The major demonstration at Stechforc Stechford to Birmingham Birmingham City This was unacceptable to the immigrant organisations. They demanded a change of plan, but could make no headway. Eventually they and the left groups were forced to call a separate demonstration.

The Trades Council Executiv Committee did nothing to mobi for their demonstration.

set off, leaving a rather anger == ber to form the nucieus of the sacond demonstration, what grE= io something like : 500 people.

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

*The breaking of Stage Two is now the central question"

including Jones' appointed heir, Moss Evans, and Alex Kitson,

Eventually a motley contineras of 50 CP and 'Militant' supporters