JOE McCARTHY would have been proud of Sid Weighell, general secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR). who is determined to rout any subversives from his union and the Labour Party.
Documentation Weighell. which has fallen into the hands of Socialist Challenge, shows that he has begun a systematic the NUR. His target is, of course, the left.
special subcommittee is investigating six members of the NUR with a view to either fining or expelling them from the union. Their 'crime' is being 'associated with the issuing unofficial literature'.
This, according in breach of Weighell. is union rule 10, Section 1, Clause 10, which states no-one car issue dry cular unless it 'is sanctionby Trina Shane NAC/LARC Trade Union Liaison Committee Two years ago this month, the TUC called major defence of a woman's right to abortion.
of women and men in the labour movement, abortion was recognised as a class trade unionists.
Their success has opened the door for other campaigns different aspects of women's lives to become legitimate areas Commemoration Meeting Wed 28 Oct 7pm Committee Room 15 Friends Meeting House, Euston Rd, London, NW1 Speakers from NAC, LARC and the TUC.
Here is a man ed by the Executive Committee or the General Secretary in writing...
This rule was originally introduced to prevent fascists organising in the But like all such rules, it has only been used against the left.
Weighell's are leading NICHOCES Lic newly formed Broad Left in the NUR, the Militant tendency, the Railworker Group, DIUCommunist Party Forum.
The problem will Weighell is that he doesn't seem to nave any taith in his members being able to make up their own minds.
He is very concerned, for example, Militant demonstation in to all for trade union concern.
The demonstration Abortion Campaign well links NAC was able to Lne movement subsequently Have been strengthened through its Trade Union Liaison Committee.
The Liaison Committee has not been able to reach all sectors within the trade union movement but the success the trade ised the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign (LARC), was a step in the right direction.
In 1979, a big victory was gained with the defeat of Corrie's anti-abortion amendment bill but the still pamphlet Fighting Programme for the NUR have 'tried press our members to buy at 25p each.
Weighell obviously wants to save his members trom themselves. He certainly wants to save them Tronally intluence they might receive from anyone not of his political, right wing persuasion.
As he explains in his dossier, Weighell wrote to the 'accused' Olic Broad Left supporter, Tom Dovie trom Sheffield informing him that Organisilig meeting designed to inNUR policy...he was in breach of the rule'.
Weighell also had
neat answer TOTI those members of. the union who speak in a persona capacity' — a normal proceaure for trade unionists who are not speaking on Kate Holman, NACILARC Trade Union Conference Hangs over women.
Much still needs to be done implement the proposals which came out of the trade union conference on positive legislabehalf of their unions.
He wrote Geoff Hensby, Secretary of Paddington No Branch:
'The fact that he was claiming to be addressing the advertised meeting in a personal cavality Cill he was aware that hae leaflet was did constitute awalc that the an unofficial circular. and breach of the rule.
Sid Weighell has made no pretence that he wants to kick our une enrom the unions and the Labour NAC Trade Union Liaison Cttee, addressing tion which could take the campaign for abortion on the offensive.
The NAC/LARC Trade Union alason Comillec Sid Weighell (right foreground) - determined to rout out subversives Party. abetted by Bill Sited was aided and steer UHON general secretary, who tried to get the Labour Party conference to discuss reintroducing a list of pro. scribed organisations.
He is now hoping the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party will put a stop 'the entry into the Party of sort of elements whose dedication to democratic socialism is, to say the least, highly dubious' Writing in the 9 October issue of the NUR aper, Transport Revier veronel soers our wad in the frontline of attack You will know that I am referring to the evidenc Militant organisa LON prepared by Labour's former Nationa Agent, Reg Underhill'.
But Sid Weighell, despite protestations that his main concern 'democracy' the labour movement, seems have Cone himself in the NUR and another for his attacks on the Labour Party, which is The micro-chip that's getting up the Lucas workers' nose union's journals to viciously attack the left inside the Labour Party.
He used the occasion of a memorial lecture to launch an attack on the NEC of the Labour Party which was then circulated to all NUR members as 'a statement of NUR policy' He further attacked the Labour Party NEC Transport Review for failing to uphold the expulsion of members on the recommendation of local constituency parties. This is not NUR policy, yet Sid Weighell freely circulate his unsolicited literature Members of the NUF should protest loud and clear for Weighell to stor this witch-hunt and get on the business of achieving better pay and conditions for his members. And if he can't do that then he should be the one to go
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Thanks to the unstinting efforts issue, of concern