Industrtal Ne Fbu Witch-hunt
Socialist Press1977 1977-06-08Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 10 →
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Delegates to Fire the Brigades Union's Annual Conference overwhelmingly supported their Executive's recommendation to reject a Phase 3 of the Social Contract, and to go forward with a claim for large rises based on a job evaluation document the EC has produced.
The EC also, said that they would hold a recall one-day conference to discuss the results of their claim.
This "left' position prevented a resolution from Bucks firemen calling for a £10 increase plus a cost of living clause even getting a seconder from the 200 delegates.
The EC argued that their claim could mean an increase of much more than £10!
The angry mood of firemen came into the conference with delegates quoting some of their members working a 48 hour week and still drawing suplementary benefits.
By putting on a 'left' face the EC also managed to get the conference to endorse a reactionary move that they had made before the conference started. They actually barred two delegates from the conference and sent them home.
The delegates-one from Essex and one from Strathclyde-were accused of lending their names to an organisation called the "Rank and File Firefighter"
One of the leaflets of this organisation had a photograph of the Essex delegate, Terry Segars, addressing a rally of Essex firemen, held to fight the cuts.
When the Executive demanded they say whether they supported the "Rank and File Firefighter" neither delegate denied it, and they were both sent home.
Neither of their names was on the leaflet, nor were their addresses.
The victimised simply The Greenwich occupation. not denounce it and therefore this meant that as union representatives they were giving their name to a rank and file organisation.
The "crime" of the leaflet apparently was that it called for strike action against the cuts-a policy the EC opposes. They claim strikes are unnecessary because although there has been a drop in personnel, nobody has been made redundant.
The action of barring elected delegates from a union conference sets a dangerous precedent and must be strongly fought.
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ACTORY CUPIED