Cowley Witch-hunt Threatens All Workers

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And another elected conspiracy must be Thornett had been union branches, stewards union" the charges and an end to charges which the TGWU head office, to Region proceed at once. Oxford. troopers escort scab Any worker will be open to expulsion from his union for the 'crime' of disagreeing with union officials if the unprecedented McCarthy-style witch-hunt against militants within the TGWU is allowed to continue.

Nine TGWU members from British Leyland's Cowley Assembly plant were summoned last week to a two-day "inquiry" held by the union's Regional Committee.

Political views

They were interrogated as to their personal political views and affiliations.

And they were asked if they agreed with the views of the TGWU leadership by a closed kangaroo court of hand-picked Regional and District bureaucrats.

The victims knew before the "hearing" even started that a previous inquiry by the Oxford District Finance and General Purposes Committee had recommended that two newly elected Deputy Convenors in the Assembly Plant, Frank Corti and Tom White, be banned from all office for life.

Flimsy case

Deputy Convenor, Alan recommended for expulsion from the union for "campaigning against elected and unelected officials of the But so flimsy was the case, and so spurious the frame-up proceedings were based, that even the hired hands of the TGWU's kangaroo court clearly felt reluctant to French elections .....

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Instead they called in additional assistance-from AUEW District President John Power, and ASTMS Divisional Council member Keith Dancey, President and Secretary of Oxford District Trades Council.

Further inquiry

Using charges laid by these right wingers, TGWU officials announced there would be a further inquiry-into the conduct of Alan Thornett, Dave Pinnington and Tony Homer at Trades Council meetings!

This new development makes it quite clear that an inter-union conspiracy is involved, with implications much wider than the TGWU, and much wider than Cowley.

If the TGWU attack succeeds, no militant in any union will be safe from frame up and attack.

The trade union bureaucracy is not simply attacking Trotskyists.

Desperate

In carrying out a turn to unprecedented levels of class collaboration in every industry, union officials are desperate to impose discipline on their members, and crush anyone who resists.

In steel, in shipbuilding and throughout British Leyland, union chiefs have lent their support to no-strike clauses, to speed-up and sackings.

And, after three years of wage control TUC leaders are now openly discussing plans for a fourth phase of pay restraint.

They know these moves are not accepted by their membership. Only last week EETPU leader Frank Chapple was chased off by 100 power workers furious at his refusal to lead a fight on their 40% pay claim. SELL OUT •pp.6-7 But dedicated as they are to advancing the pro-capitalist policies of the Lib-Lab coalition government, in defiance of the interests of their members, these union bureaucrats see no alternative but to increase repression of dissenting views.

The crackdown on democratic rights within the unions is thus part and parcel of the moves by the whole labour and trade union bureaucacy to block any independent movement of the working class in defence of jobs and wages.

marches While those with the temerity to oppose the official leadership are lined up for expulsion from the unions, workers are denied the right to take independent action against the fascists by the Lib-Lab government's ban on marches.

The fight for democratic rights within the unions, as part of the fight for a principled programme in defence of jobs and living standards, must therefore connect with the fight throughout the labour movement to break the reactionary Lib-Lab coalition.

Conspiracy

The TGWU McCarthyite challenged not only in TGWU committees and other bodies, but in every other union also.

Resolutions and petitions demanding the dropping of political witch-hunting in the trade unions must be sent to 5 headquarters in West Bromwich, and to 5/293 Branch Secretary Frank Corti, 4, Queens Close, Botley,