AT AN AUEW presidential eve-of-poll rally Left candidate John Tocher came strongly for a 'no' vote in the coming ballot on acceptance of government cash. 'Once an independent union starts accepting state funding,' he declared, "it's thin end of the wedge to state control.' Tocher challenged his audience not to think this is impossible. 'Our history shows it is true. He who the piper calls the Days Voting in this, the first round of the battle fo president, goes on until 29 recenteer Tocher spelt out what he now considers to be the chief issue of the the crossroads. people have shown that they want to take us beyond the Rubicon. mem bers al c already consorting with the scab union of Nottinghamshire miners.
hey're opposed to ai ruggle with the gover ment or the employers.' Tocher condemned what he described as the 'ultra right' leadership of prepared to see a spire AUEW. *They LIC Hammond they have been blatantly flouting TUC decisions daring the general counci to take them on.' He contrasted the hard in the face of TUC decisions with their stance towards the bosses. 'That's the thing with these people. They get very tough with They get very iough with trade unions. But if they meet an angry employer can't see them for dust!' But Tocher backed the Willis-Laird agreement. I think the general council did the right thing. Now must for a there's another . "yes" vote, trade union movement will either have to be prepared for a split or dilute its policies to accomodate the AUEW.