TUC waves the white flag
BRINGING together representatives of over 9 million workers, this year's 119th Trades Union Congress in September managed to produce only "a typical piece of the TUC fudge", as Arthur
Scargill described it. A series of crucial resolutions proposed to congress on questions of union organization, growing nonunionism, strike-free/single-union deals and related questions were all shunted off to be looked at by a Special TUC Review
Body, which will report back next year.
Only a small minority of delegations challenged this procedura move, according to Scargill "the most dangerous precedent in the history of the TUC", In the name of avoiding divisions and preserving unity", the right wing and centre leaders gave a green light to unions like the EETPU (electricians) to continue their strike-busting, pro-management role. The EETPU played a major role in the defeat of the printworkers' year-long strike at Wapping
In the face of continuing Tory government attacks on the unions, there are two clear approaches: fightback or surrender.
This year's TUc firmly set itself on the latter path. Behind the glossy brochures and promotional videos lurked the real Intent of
MPAN
SIU
MURLUC
HAMMOND'S
BRITAIN
HYENAS the so-called "unity preservers", as exemplified by AEU
PUT 6,000
(engineers) president Bill Jordan. He explained that the TUC would not support militant action, and that the union champions of confrontation had had their day: "They have lost - and we
ON THE have lost members as a result". (Financial Times, September 7.
DOLE
As the Tories prepare a new batch of trade union legislation to further weaken union organization, employment protection and legal rights, the majority of the TUC has chosen to roll over and play dead. "Nice doggie!" Thatcher will be saying, as she claps was the price to be paid for the 600 jobs on offer, it should be accepted.
Scargill has consistently defended the union's policy of fighting for a shorter working week. As he said at the confer-
"To suggest that projects like
Margam are being designed to create additional jobs is a lie." It was clear that British Coal planned to introduce
"at least 31 sible. This would mean pits will be closed and 40,000 jobs de-
Delegates at the July conference voted 49-22 in support of a resolution to reject "the six-day working week, or any lengthening of the working shift, and to hold an individual ballot vote
[of the whole membership] on this issue, recommending support for this resolution."
Alternative strategy on new technology
Leaders of the company union, the
UDM, rushed to accept six-day working
But their enthusiasm is not shared by the ranks. Secretary of the Notts NUM,
Henry Richardson, reported that this had resulted in 300 UDM members rejoining the NUM in the space of two weeks.
The NUM conference debated and
1987.) her hands with glee. * passed resolutions for "an alternative strategy" to British Coal on new technology, and "to wage an intensive campaign...around the theme of increased basic wages, shorter working intensified safety legislation". Since the year-long strike, miners have had wage settlements imposed without negotiation. A resolution against mine closures was adopted that called for the leadership "to re-kindle the pre-strike campaign against closures nationally, to be followed at an opportune time by a ballot vote of the members as to a form of industrial ac-
An emergency motion was adopted unanimously, instructing the executive to call a ballot or ballots for one-day strikes for the reinstatement of the 356 miners still victimized, out of over 1,000 sacked, after the 1984-85 strike.
International links were also strengthened. The previous NUM conference in 1986 welcomed James Motlatsi and Cyril Ramaphosa, president and general secretary of the South African NUM. Since then, the NUM has distributed a booklet, Miners united against apartheid, to every union member, as well as posters and regular features in the union's press promoting the struggle against apartheid. Recently, it has also organized joint actions with the Anti-Apartheid Movement for sanctions against South African coal.
The NUM conference unanimously adopted a resolution supporting solidarity with "the continuing struggle of the people of Nicaragua to maintain the development of social and economic progress within the country, free from the economic and military interference of the United States. "Regenerate the spirit of the historic miners' strike"
In 1986, the NUM became the first trade union in recent years to support the demand for British imperialism to withdraw from its colony in the north of Ireland. The Annual Report noted that the union had been represented at the annual conference of the Labour Committee on Ireland, and that it would be participating in a conference this autumn against employment discrimination faced by Catholics in the north.
Summarizing the sentiments of the conference, Scargill said: "This union must regenerate the spirit built up in the historic miners' strike. In association with the magnificent women's support groups and others, the NUM must begin a massive public campaign and fightback in the coalfields to stop any further butchery of our industry and our communities. September 28, 1987 • International Viewpoint
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