have no power to make policy.
Last year's conference, following a 13-week strike and 50,000 redundancies, was cancelled because of alleged lack of funds.
General secretary Blll Sirs is a proud supporter of the right-wing Labour Solidarity Group and through the union's journal, The Banner, he has built a campaign to reverse the Wembley decisions on electing the party leaderSilly The headlines of the journal's conference issue trumpetted: *Michael Sid Weighell to speak at Gormley and Core ence But this time Sirs didn't get all his own way. His passionate speeches on behalf of the could not stop the overwhelming votes in favour Even with the big guns of the Labour right platformed for action against Wembley decisions. the resolution to defend wal defeated with a vote of 110 or and o dealst Many delegates conthat this shift showed the impact of Benn's campaign for deputy leader.
Sirs' conference address reflected This demands for 'radical alternative for vorces shone. working week and restric1 CO nationalisation without compensation' for a plan of public works, scrapping of the 'costly' Trident missiles.
Confirmation of these threats from Sirs of an in vestigation into the sponsors ol lie mccungs Labour Solidarity's Denis Healey, drew only half this number, despite the glossy ference officials on the seat of each delegate.
the left's mayti Davies member Ray the Llanwern Steel Action noted:
Jobs "There is a demand for change in our union. This was felt today with the Market. The democracy Jight spilling into The call for democracy has come clearly from the constituencies.
The biggest obstacle to change are the full-time chair Scunthorpe ISTC "This make break conference. We will go back from here to further decimation of the industry. There's talk of more slimming down, but the only slimming down left major plant closure.
Drawing the meeting's attention to the absence of a jobs fight, he continued:
'Let's look at the Lure ference resolutions. - how many are there _opposing closure.
Triple Alliance coming in behind us in the fight for jobs? .
'It's all very well talking about nationalisation compensation, like Sirs did this morning, Something about it? Ain but needs is a statement from policies through is to fight for them. There are plenty of channels to do this. We should not be frightened back into the Lab ur ar socialist policies ty and the trade unions, where ger elet the fringe meeting illusions that this campaign democracy and socialist policies in the ISTC will be an easy task. Tide The failure to adopt connerence make full-time officials electable and accountable, and the absence of a real fight show what a way there is to go But a ball has been set rolling and Bill Sirs and his co-right wingers find it easy to turn the tide. Sirs - veiled threats Socialist Challenge 25 June 1981
THE ISSUE of Oxford (Oxford CLP)