ASTMS Conference: socialist policies out of order

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The strengt mittee It is once again trade union conference timelong weekends on union expenses for some-for others the fight for the policies and programme which will defend their members and their own jobs, pay and working conditions.

The ASTMS conference will burst forth-with 'left' rhetoric in abundance-this weekend in Brighton.

Agenda

But the final "programme of business" makes it clear that, regardless of the intentions of any of the delegates, it could well be classed as no more than a good weekend away.

All the motions that in anyway challenge, question or call for action from the National Executive have already been dismissed by the standing orders committee.

Rubber stamp

The only motions up for discussion on the final agenda rubber stamp NEC policy or else make no more than generalised meaningless, left statements which put no demands on the ASTMS The only possible embarassment to the NEC might be a motion calling for all racialists to be thrown out of the union.

Since a central plank of ASTMS 'left' policy has been the nationalist call for import controls which brazenly discriminates against foreign workers, the logical conclusion of such a resolution might be to expel virtually the whole union While fascists of the National Front stand opposed to the existence of trade unions and should certainly be driven out, the vague call for expulsion of racists is inadequate.

Socialist Rather the fight must be directed into the pursuit of socialist policies designed to stamp out the material basis of racialism, which festers in conditions of falling living standards, crumbling social services and mass unemployment.

The struggle break the anti-socialist coalition, to stol the savage cuts in health and social service spending and for a programme is crucial to defeat racialism.

And vital also is the fight to bring an end to the government's plans for permanent wage control.

The ASTMS conference will predictably again reject pay controls.

But if the TUC again accept them, there is no prospect that ASTMS or its officials will fight this year any more than in previous years to break government-imposed Phase 4 controlsregardless of demands from members.

Meanwhile as Clive Jenkins shouts about expelling Tories (who are not really being expelled-they are out of compliance and therefore lapsed) he is attempting to recruit Army officers!

The contradictions and contortions of union bureaucracies are many but every squirm highlights the need for a new, revolutionary leadership to actually tackle the problems of the working class in a principled way and not once again to wheel out the old cobweb-ridden left talk reserved for conferences and holiday speeches. Inside the nursery prior to eviction PHOTO: I