How is it that a polically "moderate" union like APEX, ment Ministers including Hea and Mulley STEPSES became involved in one of the most militant struggles of the last couple of ycars?
I is rue thal APER'S involvement in Grunwick was somewhat accidental. Bat this does not explain the level of material support given by the union to the strikers, Official recognition quickly, as did strike pay which was increased as the proceeded. The union's strategy both in Grunwick and other leadership as militancy within THERE The emphasis is placed on official negotiating machinery.
Grunwick press conference SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 20 Aon| 1978 page 5 behaving responsibly. and the virtues of arbitration. Yet when this has failed, APEX has become involved in militant disputes, particularly in the fight for equal pay.
But the militancs within the law'approach came unstuck at Grunwick. George Ward didn' share APEX's respect for the nrocesses or armenon compromise, and he used the law only insofar as it supported him. came He could and can only be defcated by militani struggle, strike and as che Grunwick strike was: leading and the Government The and the Government APEX leadership called a halt losuch tactics.
On the other hand, it needed Grunwick strike to back the struggle and to do SO SE SUCH the value of its strategy of several melvine on the GOvernear S arbitration service. So while the executive suspended the strike leaders for their hunger strike outside the TUC, it victory at the end ol the ACAS rainbow Such JULIUS and surprise to those who knew the history ship. The executive's report for the CODETCE support for *the and at the 1977 conference the Tied with this, the executive rejected nicas from the Labour Party for financial help because of ine failure to deal with the report on the infiltration into the Labour Pany of groups principles".
leTs Is Common.
APEX There promised are proscribed.
These Came on no of the APEX leader.
spirit and taken.
militancy, Labour Party Young SocialWithin APEX, the executive operates its own democratic Talk of was pregnant. tration', outsiders, and split- was In 1971 a group called "APEX Action was banned as being an 'outside body", even though all its AnnIC 8I50 participants were members of stitcher, are rules to stop members from communicating Tor tood except through official machinery, and a cumber of both left BLIAOCE and right-wing organisations Noreen have siffled opposition and there are five conference motions critical of the union's policy on But -for such criticism to have a real effect, the opposition needs organ.- until her means fighting for night, democracy within APEX, both for the sake of the Grunwick country on strikers, and for the sake of Violence, their counter parts in the tuture who find militancy within the law to mican more law and less onwards rape Noreen Saturday.
younger toad.
munder.
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Through its involvement in the APEX has become one of the best known unions, and Grunwick will figure prominently at the conference. JENNY MACONDALD reports.