Last month's Scottish TUC saw a serious opposition em Contract.
Chancellor.
While calling for 'early reflation" with the Chancellor' to obtain a higher ceiling. STIRLING RESOLUTION alternative.
those threatening large-scale redundancies.
It is no wonder, AUEW, but upon those proposed by the Stirling Trades Council. delegates, of leading a "...
STEP FORWARD Jones' red-baiting tactics were not too sucessful, being backed by delegates from NALGO, members they the TUC) who are trying to ram through pro-Tory policies. step forward. to continue seling the Social Contract tightened by the 49% to to lead ens' attes. ts Jack Jones, While prepared to tolerate criticism of the pay deal (as too low), his main aim was to win support for the 1UC's position of negotiating greater flexibility from the Iron Opposition to this position was not spearheaded by the Com nunist Party who have long had a firm base in the Scottish TUC (traditionally more 'militant' than its English counter.
The real opposition to these class collaborationist policies came from the delegates of ration by a rising scale of wages and unemployment by a 35-hour week. on union leaders to demand the 'opening of the books' of large companies & nationalising concentrated their fire not upon the ineffectual and divisive policies of the that Jones, Jones indulged in a hysterical form of red-baiting, clear attack on the TUC and the Labour government, a clear attack on millions of workers - Tory central office would be proud of its approach".
nowever was able to pick up (on a card vote) the support of about one third of a million workers.
represent - that the real attack upon the labour movement was not being made by the stirling delegates but by the Labour government (and their supporters in The support won for clear class-struggle policies at the Scottish TUC is an important It is policies such as these - strengthened bv others counteracting anv attempt to discriminate against women or immigrant workers - which will have to be consciously fought for in the coming period in trade union and Labour Party branches. 'Ihis is the only way that ever-wider lavers can be drawn into struggla to build unl P Brain original architect of the Social import controls' and 'increased investment' alongside other leaders of the GMWU and the CP In order to isolate the stirling accusing the resolution The Stirling resolution AULW/ 1ADD UCATT and the eye representation al ine nearing' and cannot call witnesses; and only have right of appeal to the National Executive While this attack on democratic rights was opposed by the left as a whole (with the exception of (Per Max Morris), the new rulings were accepted bv a majority. They are sure to be used by the Executive in the coming months against militant members who Lane action ne schoo cans ans cuts without first securing 'officiall ton support. Tasks Ahead The fact that the NUT leaders were able to ram these policies through Conference is an indication of the illusions still held by the majority of teachers. which was isolated at Conference & onlv able to seriously challenge the Executive on a few issues such as the 'redundancy! agreement, is going to have to develop a far more serious and systematic approach in the future. They will, helped in this by the fact that manv teachers, faced with the reality of 'cuts! declining wage levels, begin to challenge union policy.
In such a situation socialists can begin to vocalise this growing opposition around clear-cut, class struggle wnich can, while relating to the consciousness of members, alternative to the policies of the existing Icaders. Chief among these will be a struggle against ine executive's retusal to fight teacher unemployment, educatthe government's wage freeze and the anti-democratic practices in the union itself.
The time to be preparing for the struggle is now. it is only by build a real class struggle tendency now - that also takes up kev issues besides wages and jobs - that it will be possible
June 76 - SOCIALIST ACTION