[The conference called last Sunday by the Liverpool…]

Scan page 10

The conference called last Sunday by the Liverpool Trades Council in support of the firemen provoked a very important discussion on the way forward for the strike.

The motion from the organisers in front of the 160 delegates-half of them firemen-called for general support including a one day solidarity strike on January 16; this was modified by the authors to read "a one day strike if called for by the FBU recall conference on the 12th"

In opposition to this policy was an amendment, moved by Bucks FBU and seconded by Darlington FBU, calling upon those trade union leaders who say they support the firemen to call their members out on their own claims now.

Moving the main resolution, Terry Fields, a new member of the FBU executive from the North West who voted against acceptance of the deal, made no mention of the tanker drivers or power workers in a 45 minute speech.

The successful amendment said:

"In order to break the isolation of the firemen and win the full claim it is crucial that other sections of workers take strike action now on their own claims.

This conference therefore calls upon all sections with claims outstanding, in particular the power workers of the EETPU and the tanker drivers of the IGWU to come out now alongside the firemen to break the 10%.

Further delay would not only leave the FBU in isolation but would make their own claims much more difficult to win if the firemen are beaten.

Both the TGWU and EETPU supported the firemen at the TUC. Now is the opportunity for them and the rest of the 17 who voted with the firemen on the General Council to put their words into action"

The amendment was bitterly opposed by the Communist Party controlled platform.

The chairman said that was wrong to point the finger at particular trade union leaders. What was required was "general solidarity"

Moving the amendment, Mick Rowlinson from Bucks brigade argued that the only effective way to break the isolation of the firemen was for those sections with claims outstanding to come out now.

One day solidarity strikes he said would solve nothing and direct away from real action.

Supporting the amendment, Alan Thornett, a delegate from the 5/293 Branch pointed out that since the Lib-Lab coalition was formed in order to continue the wage control policy it could well fall if that policy was destroyed.

This fact he said had motivated the TUC and the entire official leadership of the trade unions since day one of the strike, to ensure its isolation.

No mention No-one who held the view that the present government must be supported above all else could in reality support the firemen.

Eddie Loyden. a local left MP pledged his full support to the firemen but went on to say that the government must be protected at all costs.

He defended one day strikes and made no ment ion of the tanker drivers or the power workers.

The WRP moved an amendment calling for "campaign to bring down the conspiratorial coalition government" which was narrowly defeated.

The conference, although small, provided the forum for an important discussion on the way forward for the strike.

It is essential, now that the perspective in the BucksDarlington amendment, which was carried overwhelmingly by the conference, is taken into the recall conference on Thursday and used as the basis for rejection of the offer. of