"The Fire Below' THE RESULTS of last week's Trade Union Congress reveal two striking features of the labour movement today.
The first is that there is a tremendous fire below in the ranks of the trade unions burning desire to see a fight with the Tories and to score some victories.
Only one trade union leader, Frank Chapple, dared to openly defy the overwhelming desire of the trade union movement to back the healthworkers solence from the Congress platform.
The second cardinal feature is that there is a rumbling crisis of leadership of the unions The vote to change the composition of th General Council to favour the then the vote for 22 September; the rejection of incomes policy followed the same day by the acceptance of the TUC/Labour Party plan which implies that very policy.
The trade union leadership is being forced to face both ways on nearly every single aspect of its policy bittered membership and a ferocious Tory government.
Only one of the trade union leaders Scargill - who dominated the platform of the TUC came near to approaching the type of strategy needed against the Tories.
Arthur Scargill however represents a tiny minority of the trade union leadership who are prepared for a fight with Thatcher. And the odds are that over the next period this section will become even smaller.
The changes in the General Council mean that many of the potential allies for a 'broad left' on the leadership of the TUC have been eliminated. strategy gradually increasing the influence of the left in the high command of the union movement is at the very least an impractical one for the foreseeable future.
No, the eyes have to be on the ranks. The way the Scargill against the Tory government can be into reality systematic organisation and mobilisation of these forces in the unions willing to fight.
The potential for such a conference was revealed by the rally called in defence of the Militant at the Wembley last Saturday.
Unfortunately Militant, both by inclination and capacity, were unable to translate the occasion into anything more than an impressive showing of opposition to the witch-hunt.
Both Scargill and Tony Benn do have the ability to call a congress of the left, both to fight the Tories and the right wing of the movement who are acting to obstruct the This is the next step for the Bennite movement. Al te unveiled his strategy of not challenging the leadership the party manoeuvres of the right to dump favour of Shore.
The question that should be asked on the left of the Party is not whether this tactical ploy is correct, but rather how has the left become so weakened that its leadership is forced to support the man who leads the witch-hunt against it.
Similar considerations trade unions. Benn's influence is weaker and weaker in the leadership of the party line, albeit after changes taking place in the trade unions. But Benn's support inside the rank and file of the party remains undiminished.
An intransigent attitude towards the inevitable introduction of the register - namely a refusal to tolerate expulsions on the basis of the register can only be backed up by organisation of the left, starting at the rank and file basis, both in the Labour Party and in the unions. Refusal to organise on this basis has meant that Benn has been forced to Both the Militant conference and the conference initiated by Hackney CLP to discuss action against the register are steps in the right direction, but as isolated events they cannot start to turn the tide in the labour movement.
Joint trade union and Labour Party action to force the Tories from office is not a pipe dream, as the support that is building up for 22 September shows. joint action between both arms of the labour movement must be extended towards the principle of organising the left's.
Then the fire below will start to take on an organised expression. And then the Tories will really start to sweat.
Socialist Challenge 11 September 1982 page 2 right wing;
- caught between an emwhich relies made by is through the Conference Centre conference Tony Benn the next dump Foot in apply as in the growing La lag, But the principle of 'I CAN reveal the source of financing of the Militant,' said Ray Apps WICKING September 12 Labour Movement Conference against the Witch-hunt. 'We are financed by the aims of industry.
British economy they tionalisation of the 250 monopolies.' Apps' cracks were d wercome reler warwas becoming a ritual denuntheir terrible capitalist system.' Almost speaker selected from the 2,600 strong rally was a supporter of Militant.
Pat Wall, prospective parliamentary candidate for Bradford NE, opened conference after remarks from the chair, ony Saunois. He reterred the Paitys witurishing in Partv. flourishing photocopy front page of the Express from June 1950. Thomas Williams of the GMWU had described Foot and the Tribune Group as wicehers and destroyers.
Williams feared future electoral prospects of the Party. Dirty *But the Wall Todae rank and succeed, said far more left and far more They were i the 1950's.' He 'there are over 50 delegates from Bradford North here today and that is no accident.
Tony Mulhearn, the platorm speaker; told his audience that was to decent assere Shore was getting his hair When Foot has done CUL the dirty work he will be cast aside like a squeezed iemon.
two letters he had received visit to roxtem last year 'Dear Tony' chimed Foot, * hope it is not too long Now he going URe CPSA elections, drew conIf you would like to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or would like more information fill in the form below Name.
Address Age Union/CLP (if any)......
Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. They are so desperate about the state of the nave come over to the natrade with another speaker from the Moor Slaw from East Kilbride AUEW he pointed out that the witch hunt was also underway in the unions. A later speaker the POEU explained that he was ban not to attend. 'But I'm here, I'm fighting and I'm with friends.
the Les Huckfield and Ken Livingstone made plain that in their view 'Constituency Labour Parties must commit themselves now not to implement measures flowing from the register.
This DI COSUIC proved important, as earlier in the proceedings Militant speakers lad said that it woue be wrong to nres the struggle to the point of dissafiliation.
Ammendments put in front of Conference The original statement called for struggle against the Tories to secure the election of a Labour Government committed to socialist policies • 'Campaign opposition to the register at the forthcoming Labour Conference proscriptions or any other witch-hunting and defend the right of CLP's to select parliamentary an NEC opposed to witch for Conference decisions and 22DOUS aspirations as stated in clause 4, part 4, or te party constitution.
cepted to include support for CLPs who refused to implement disciplinary measures, and to expand completely Militant dominated steering committee. The amendments, Brent East CLP, included support for Hackney North's Conference which is scheduled for 30 October and backed by 15 other CLPs.
This was opposed by Mulhearn summing for Militant as premature anc *Too conference.
This point of the Brent Was overwhelmingly defeated.
Most of those I spoke to who were supporters of the Militant agreed that the Conference was a tremendous show of strength, and a real blow to attempts uproot Militant from the offered On attendence the lunCHUHC DIOSS COHLCICHICCU Tony Saunois were: 1,622 delegates types OI Labour Party bodies, 412 delegates from trade unions and 042 visitors. But despite many Plea matteres to was that assembled *was Labour Party,' we saw an alarming lack of ideas and perspectives in the Conference proceedings. Calls There was much in the way of the need for decent holidays working the Isle Wight delegate movingly explained but little in the way of a clear cut statement of the battle plan.
Willar! appeared reconciled to some expulsions. Several explained the The great majori of Militant supporters wi remain inside the Labour Party...if they expel one will take CECI place...those expelled.. will continue to fight for Labour canardates (Peter Taafe, Militant COLEO from Conference, corleast message coming in the way it was organised, appeared to be that the way to combat the witchhunt was to join Militant.
porters nothing said Theresa Wrack from the YS Na•8012 COME LICE The witch-hunt, it seemed, was COLECS betweer the Militant and Labour's leadership But such contest would in the end be no contest at all. Despite the size of the Conference, the witch-hunt in the Labour Party and unions will proocca Ine power to unrov Ken Livingstone themselves now disciplinary measures register. 'Constituency Labour Parties must commit to implement any flowing the
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