work.
They extensive troublemakers', which are freely available to the employers.
Photo: GM COOKSON Steph Grant - one of the Cowley 13 fired for their political views meeting discussed the press attacks on question:
executive considers that recent articles in the press regarding have presenten a wholly unbalanced view of the dedicated serious work of this committee.
We recognise that this commuee represents broad spectrum of political views from within the Labour Party, as in all such pressure groups.
This reflects he fact that all sections of the party support the policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament. This was clearly shown at the last Labour Party conference when the resolution disarmaComposite 5l, won witch hunt by sacking two more workers on charges of having falsified their job application forms. The continued witch hunt by Leyland has spotlighted once again the question of political victimisation at This kind of political victimisation is nothing spy organisation, the files militants Labour CND Socialist The followper cent of the votes cast.
We congeer that differences on this committee have heer exaggerated out of all pro. portion bi the press ana we defend the right of members to express them. selves in an open and democratic way. We believe the media attack is an attack on the cause of disarmament and should be recognised as such.
We call on the CND executive declare in a press release their recognition of the imwork of CND in promoting CND's aims in the Labour Party* The CND executive has declined to issue a stateto the press defending Labour CND.
The existence of black lists Is notorious in ine bulaing trade ana otner industries. period of especially good conditions for weed out those people they consider politically undesirable.
It is high time a campaign was formed to defend all those victimised at WORK and to uncover the workings of the police branci organisations like the Economic League.
La campaign is belg Sel fight for political rights at work. The founding appeal is as follows: 'We are deeply concerned that the recent dismissals British Leyland Cowley for their views merely one example of increasing victimisation of WOker considered radical or socialist In our view an employer is not entitled to censor ideas belaise normal trade union activity.
Blue bress redmend the Cowley story was gravely disturbing assuming guilt where none was proven. Yet few voices were heard in criticism. This is a new McCarthyite tendency to condemn peoassociation taken with activity of organisations like Economic League, it is a tendency which ought to be reversed. Alan Thornett - sacked at Cowley last year 'We would welcome your support in forming a committee to counter this tendency and to give support to those who are vic. timised at work for their political convictions'.
Already a number of MPs, civil liberties activists and labour movement leaders have signed this statement. Next week Socialist will publish full list signatories and murinel 100 00 Derek Robinson - another victim of BL's anti-trade union crusade details of the campaign.
meantime Socialist Action supporters should collec many signatories from the beyond. Many people already signed various petitions supporthe victimised "This committee a) condemns the sacking of the victimised Cowley workers as an attack on the whole and calls for their defend any Metal Box worker if they receive similar treatment c believes in the right of 'At a special Executive Committee meeting ... delegates were unanimous in their view that the sackings were carried out solely with the purpose of removing active trade unionists from a workforce uncowed by management's bullying The reason 'The President of the LCATC, Fred Porter ... slammed the "political decision taken at British Leyland" in their sacking of thirteen workers. He contrasted Government and establishment suppor of Solidarnose victimised Polish workers with the reverse stance taken at Labour movement every union member to be able to argue for their viewpoint with no fear of victimisation from his/ ner boss o witch hunt from the press d) will give whatever support it can fighting on behalf of the Cowley workers.' Hemel Hempstead given by the Company that false statements were made by the thirteen on their applications was felt to be a convenient smokescreen for a management bent on crushing union effectiveness at Cowley'.
Cowley... Calling for opposition "through every avenue possible" to the linking of recruitment policies by employers to the education level and political opinions of workers he asked "Why should a degree in political science not be a qualicalon lo worl on an assembly line"?' witch hunt
----- pull-quotes -----
employers' Economic League, was founded as long ago as 1919.
attacks witch hunt THE EXECUTIVE of Labour CND at its last
Action supporters on the committee and allegations of deep splits in the LND leadership. ing extract is from the LCND resolution on this
4.950, 0h mich was LAST week Leyland management stepped up their
Rights To that end
against the witch hunt Metal Box Combine
and District trades council
Lancashire Association of