was dominated by the proposed merger with TASS voted to take the next steps in the merger. This was delegates who understood dustry. and TUC.
ASTMS no 3 Divisional Council (personal capacity)
There is no visible move against the merger although bots she Tory although both the Party and SDP are calling opposition to it and des bite ConCern non-engineering sections of ASTMS about TASS's lack of understanding OI their problems. A special ASTMS was called for 19 September to aiscuss a postal ballot the membership The ASTMS NEC has been in structed to try and reach agreement with TASS's executive on some of the main features of the new unions.
Ballot The outcome of these negotiations will be reported the special It will play a big in deciding whether a mi ballot the membership is called. TASS will hold a parallel If it is agreed to go lo a balul, allu lik result is a simple 'yes' maloritv the merger will go ahead.
Differences which
emerged were doom type of structure and deciTHE 1987 ASTMS conference, held on 16-18 May would greatly strengthen both unions' members positions in inThe proposals for the merger would result in the new 700,000 strong union being in place by January 1988. They would create the third or fourth largest union in Britain, the sixth largest in Europe, and the largest white collar union in the world. The union would have a presence in every sector of the British economy and be a major force in the Labour Party within the TASS and ASTMS have very different conferences.
TASS had 135 divisional delegates year's ASTMS had 1000 branch Ically delegates.
Delegates ASTMS delegates clearly want, voted almost unanimously for, the retention of a branch based conference, maintaining the right of branches and divisions to 10 per cent cent have delegates on the and TUC delegations, and for electing the union's representatives to the 'UC genera council. The platform did these 10l DIUposals, and agreed to seek agreement with TASS on them. These votes reflected disbelief in Ken Gill's claim that TASS is more open and less centralised than ASTMS. Votes The issue the platform wanted win was endorsement the agreement with Ass for each have delegates to the first rules of the union. This would. be held within six months of the merger. number would be double the aclegales wno norlally altend TASS conference.
ASTMS COference, on a card vote of 160,240 to 63,780, SuD against the platform a resolution calling based ries revision conference which COLU 1200 delegates from each union. The ASTMS NEC will now have to discuss this with TASS.
Diluting.
The reason for this vote was that a larger conference is seen as one way of diluting the influence of TASS's powerful 'Broad Left' at gathering that will decide the character of the into the 1990s In ASTMS no broad left TASS's CASIO 'Broad Left' is a closely knit leadership organisation which restricts rank ana le participation in ASTMS TASS members *should strongly support the merger - but fight for every measure increases the the development of an organised left alternative the present leadership the two unions has to be a goal of the merger is being carried through and after it is completed.
• We will report other decisions our Clive Jenkins Ken Gill — general secretary TASS — general secretary ASTMS THE two TUCarillatea teache NUT and NAS/UWT have named 52 areas where their members will take strike action in the ten days leading up to the Half the education and Wales will be hit by the stoppages which will involve 50,000 teachers.
Of the 52 areas, 28 have not yet been involved in the campaign of half-day strikes against the Tory withdrawal of teachers' The union leaderships have said that they will seek a meeting with the leaders government before deciding whether to continue with the strikes.
RESULTS of the ballots by civil servants over strike action on 8 and 9 June will be announced on thursday Union leaders are They have pledged not to 'disrupt' GCF and CSE examinations but the NUT has advised its 200,000 members not to attend annual parents' meetings as required under the 1986 Eduestion (No 2) Act The NUT leaders say they will attempt to unite with other teacher unions on this nonreponse to education minister. Kenneth Baker's refusal to give an assurance that th meetings will not be used for complaints or criticisms of individual members of staff.
Teachers in inner
London are still posed to take strike acuon 4 June in opposition to compulsory redeployment. The JubA Is relusing lo negotiate. determination to win a decent civil service from a new government.
to lobbly all candidaters in their constituencies to
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and the impending general election. The conference clearly supported by the overwhelming majority of
respec- avely or dues, for dreisions
Teachers decide on strikes
Civil servants action ballot