THE MAJORITY of those attending the LCDTU conference on Saturday needed no convincing of the need for a co-ordinated strategy against the Tory government.
And it is worth remembering that during the 1970-74 Tory regime the LCDTU did offer a forum for the mapping out of such a campaien. Not that the LCDTU was any more demoeratically run in those days. But was able to organise powerful strikes in 1970-71, and this in turn put pressure on the TUC.
That perjod was the heyday of the Communist Party's strategy alliances the 'lefts' leadership of the the AUEW TGWU.
build Senes This was especially the Relations Act.
forces LCDTU could national impressive show.
of the To do individuals such as Hugh Scanlon of and Jack Jones of the Accordingly the CP was able to of "Broad Left' who organisations capable of attracting a evel significant number of shop stewards.
case in the fight against Ted Heath's Industrial leaders Even after the fall of Heath the still an conference either inspired on unemployment, held in Birmingham in 1976, was attended by 3,500 delegates. But the conference organisers refused to call any action.
would have been to endanger the alliance with Jones and resulted decline. Neither Saturday's conference nor at the CPsponsored 'Re-instate Robinson' conference two weeks ago were there anything like the numbers attended the earlier LCDTU It is significant Saturday's platform was decorated by the most significant LaDonnade left, such as Tony Benn or Arthur Scargill.
But it would be wrong to write off the CP or bodies like the LCDTU because of the fall-off in support. The strength of the CP in industry is still qualitatively greater than that of any other party or group on the left. In no way can any other of the present organisations in the at onslaught.
The biggest lesson of Saturday's Derek conference conferences luxury.
Communist Party that sufficient to bring out the troops.
The 'troops' nOW that it is worth their while attending such conterences. achieve such a response is to provide rea. forum for discussion can arrive at real decisions on action In order to learn these lessons the recall conference should be organised by a committee open to all those forces present on Saturday. with the declaration as its starting point, can be held.
Not the lor Unions' wasn't clear is that democracy Why the no longer need convincing The best way to issues which proceed LIUH centralise was arsis This way a real debate, social services made women a special target and how a massive ideological campaign was being waged to push back into the An attempt was made to add 1o with the resolution the Defend Our Unions conference. Principally this called for joint action between 'Defend Our and the LCDTU. But what exactly such joint action should consist of - aberber i would be in the CP'; farzaiti a building on the TL C's initiates. for the extension of general strike action against the tones from the If March date as called by the Wetsh Clarification on these and other could • have come if been allowed properly. The declaration provided a starting point. The debate now needs to concentrate on how io the present siattered LuIs redundancies, around the steel sinie With the general aim of getting nd of the Tory government.
Sacialist Challenge, 31 January 19880 Pape
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Unfortunately Linda. Smith did not link this up with John Corrie's anti-