Follow Cowley Throw Out Right Wing!

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PHOTO! Chris Davies, Report "One of the most disastrous decisions ever taken in the history of Scargill saw-as he could hardly fail to see what the 15-9 vote in favour of local remove them in the hea of a hysterical witch-hunt in 1974 has returned them to their previous positions.

The results confirm that for all their appearance of strength, the right wing and the bureaucracy can be beaten.

In the vote for convenor Fryer received 1,195 votes to Parsons' 995. In the deputies' elections Thornett came fourth out of the 28 contenders, winning 796 votes. [Full results p.11] Frank Corti, Secretary of the TGWU 5/293 Branch of which Thornett is chairman was elected as a deputy convenor-as was another left winger, Tom White.

Arrogant

And this morning Parsons the man who was so arrogant he did not even stand in the elections for stewards' positions, was back on his job.

These results are a blow not only against the right wing in Cowley but against those in the topmost echelons of the union bureaucracy who have supported them.

Since Alan Thornett was elected Chairman of the 5/293 Branch two years ago, these forces have made repeated moves to destroy the Branch and the principled line it upheld.

This summer, the right wing District Committee, with full co-operation from Leyland management, set out to "reorganise" the union in the plant and set up a new branch, hoping to destroy the 5/293.

Kangaroo court

The plan badly misfired and the majority of members remained in the 5/293 Branch.

In October the right wing claimed a meeting of the Oxford District Committee had been "disrupted" , and used this as a pretext for setting up a kangaroo court. They produced a dossier of charges against all their opponents.

Almost every leading left winger was charged, including Fryer, Thornett, Corti and White.

The nearings, held lat week, were contirmed as classic kangaroo courts whe it was openly stated that th same six-man committee ha selected those to be charged named the charges; would s in judgement; and would the recommend the sentences!

This mockery of justic was presided over by TGW District Chairman, magistrat Bill Roche.

These plans were carefull laid, and recommendatior have now gone for endorsi ment to the Midlands Regior al Committee.

There is no doubt howeve that the election results hav hampered these moves. Whil no-one can predict what th next move by the TGW Alan Thornett bureaucracy will be, it will b much more difficult victim ise successful cand dates than defeated ones.

The support for the le wing is rooted in the can paigns of the 5/293 Branc against 'participation' ', again the corporate bargainir package, and in support of principled policy on wage Branch policy is to call for