RAILWORKERS: AL steam to diesel and electric traction. SUTCE other railworkers and without strike Dav ther were starved back to work.
The present three days of striké coupled with the work to rule are having a big disruptive effect with minimal problems for drivers. BR has lost an estimated £60m and it 1s believed that the The three days of action are having their effect on coal, steel, post and other big of the MUSES railways. However, dustry is managing, by and large, to cope. total closedown would increase the pressure dramatically.
The Observer reported frantic lobbying by BR's main users to prevent a Unions Train drivers need all the assistance the labour movement can give if we are to win. The present could well be throwing down the gauntlet on the part of the unions as Tebbit's CIELENIE proposals go before Parlament.
An all out strike would require the rapid use of secondary picketing to stop goods normally taken Broad transport, be on the spot. What a betway to attack Tebbit and the Tories than ensuring a victory for the train drivers.
Forward ever, backward never (especially to 1919). meeting was organised in solidarity with ASLEF.
Dennis Skinner also drew Lne oe weenune the right wing is up to in the NUR executive and what it's doing H THE LADOU ETNA Il's no accident," he explained. someone like Russell Tuck, a union delegate to the Labour Party's national that body. Atter ali, he comes the right wing or from a union that supports ideas as an IL-OBLOS DONCY.
Skinner called on all trade ONSLOCOmeleneaco: ASLEF and reported that the NEC passed solidarity In his view, the concern of the meeting should be now to iganise dewon, not silipl a talking shop.
Unfortunately, the leadership of the Rail Broad Left -comaRten by Militant tendency falled to heed his words Mike Cleverley DHe CISOE Ca Rat Broad Left and hunt inside the NUR at some 'DON'T BE frightened to talk about getting rid of this government, because that's what we've got to do. That was what Dennis Skinner from the National Ex ecutive Committee of the Labour Party told a London raily called by the Rail Broad Left last week. Th length. But he only referred in passing to the ASLEF strike ane ine unofficial action teken by NUR guards oppos. ed to flexible rostering.
Speakers from the floor were left to provide a way for ward for the present struggle.
Apologies were given the speaker ASLEF's executive, but Steve Forey, OrANEn secretary Kings Cross, spoke from the floor. Forcy stressed the need TOT UNC CACCIRIVC OI ASLEF IO call for support other USSOHS SNCLE organise secondary picketing *Only an all out strike will win.
He was encouraged by the support from NUR guards in his depot and by widespread industrial action taking place.
In his view, the role of Broad Left was to cordinate such action.
Other speakers cchoed Forey's remarks. Ray Varnes, a guard at Kings Cross called WPOI CICHECC mCHOCTsO the NUR executive who voted agaunst ficxible rostering to •Only in that way. he ENTELECT can we deal with a witchhunt. If Tan Williams Broad Left supporter on the ACCUIVCT made e sarenen today, he sing flexible rostering, would be sup. NOTECE by THOUS2TEL of guards Geoff Hensby, branch secretary of Paddington NUR, Naale by aging from te responded that 1030 prote warste orin present action stated that the Broad Eeft would be supporting an allLondon conference of LDC (shop stewards) to do ust that. A solidarity leaflet to explain the issues at stake will be distributed by the STONCEC Socialist .Challenge supporters in the rail industry ше кав вгоас Left should hase itself upon those railworkers who ready and willing to struggle.
hore shut ocen lil those struggles. This Break down the Isotaton anc give those involved a sense of their own strenet- ANO 1 would publicise more broadly the issues to others within the TLUSTY This should go hand in hand with organisation within the machinery The re-call of the union's Annual General Meeting (AGM) and ine Grades Conference could provide a forum to deal with flexible rostering and al LIC OLIE ISSUs •LIVOLCE . The forthcoming Rules Revision AGM • DC VILEE Broad Lell to nut forward alternative policies and structural changes to democratise the union, giving the rank and HECTOOV Most impor tantly it should organise around thosc policies CH OTSEe TaRs Sidney Weighell and the right wing leadership not only machinery of the union at their disposal, but they have the Tory press, the and the government singing their praises But we are not disarmed We have a se of alternative policics and the strength the rank and file. A broad left e coomco to tamure te te tric: to deal with the union leader ship by AGROCUIYE and resolutions glone - withou putting the organisation of the ranks at its centre.
If there is any lesson which the present leadership of the Broad Left should learn, it': that a failure to respond to the needs of the ranks will lead to nothing but its marginalisation.
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