struggle trade union movement as a whole. Socialist Challenge went to press before the results of the FBU delegate conference were known. The indications were that the vote to continue the strike would be very close, and the areas in the forefront of the such as London and Glasgow decisively reject the executive's recommendation of surrender. Whatever the outcome of the vote the FBU strike, argues RICH PALSER has many lessons for the The FBU strike is the first official national strike in the union's bistory. demanding MERC industrial wage, plus 10 per would and file members of the FBU WOU YOLLO LOCO SUL SISL knew from the start tbey wee taking on the Government.
There was less certainty about the role of the TUC After all the September had voted for an immediate return to free collective bargaining' and had rejected pleas by the Government to accept a 50 per cent limit.
DECISIONS Eventually these decisions meant nothing to majority of the TUC's general council who on 21 December voted by 20 to 17 Government's incomes pousy mastered oy tas acceptance of the 12 month TUE. factor, Last Monday, justto ram the point home TUC Murray publicly called for the strikers to go back. For him the terms of surrender endorsed executive It is an indication of the SaDIES 01 among members of the FBU that his intervention probably hardened TOPPOSIO surrender. advances for Murray can be ranslated into the scrapper if cow dung for rank and fil trade unionists.
ADVICE advice of Terry accept the treated very Perry's opposition to the strike was there at the start, was shown throughout by his inaction to capaign support among other trade FBU and TUC confirmed by In mendation to return aVErAge FBU return to Congress in such an alternative.
there.
SUNDed Up I0 8 the waved as strike. Their leaders TESTED ProYco top truce!
secretary Len the FBU ecall of the TUC are very subbacking file return to bargaining' *Substantial boch strike action, As for beyond ship.
Neither is it likely that the to the ramy offer will b seriously.
for unions, and was finally This recom The attitude of both the majority in the TUC general counci and that in the FEE executive has been the main stumbling block to a quick successful strike. Wben Hampsbire members of the voted to support a wark its chairperson, Tom Garland was quoted as saying. The men are very dissatistied with the offer.., but they can see no alternative bur to accept it" A fighting campaign led by САССИРСАНО supported by the general council would have provided But an alternative is still confererice One aspect of it is placard the Scottish executive were meeting to left •nose who occasionaly Pould so entelle in members of the general the strike abould take up the More decisively they should also commit their own unions to STUTE of workerstbattakes up the call of the September Congress and strike for 'an immediate free collective This megn: financial assistance, and ultimately solidarity the FBU, it i doubt that its executive no longer reflects the wishes of its member Even if tbe delegate conference accepts the offer. it will do so by nothing like the 13-3 majority by which executive vote to accept Whatever the outcome of the delegate conference and it should be noted that the vote of the 7,000 part time firemen uhe have scabbed on the strike could be decisive - a major issue -CARTION will remain. That issue centres on the leadership of the TUCand FBC, who have ignored the arrived at decisions of the trade umon movemcar wir the same enthusiasm as they have scabbed on the strike A major campaign lor the removal of these is now the immediate need. That way Callaghan's talk of a new round of incomes policy with a five per cent limit can be reduced to a pipe dream. A defeatnow for the 10 percent even stop pipe dreams.
SOLDAAn listin Ameri Cuban Sim Lucia Fri 19.19 08 meet Conse LSE