election - his view on the conference.
This conference will be Frank Chapple's last as see any change in union policy after he has gone? When a leading and controversial figure departs, it can be said things will never be use same audit.
However a number of years will pass before the EETPU changes direction. The right will consolidate its grip on the union after this COMIC CI another six years.
Major changes will onthe mile book cha ing rule fullest participation of the rank and file is needed for that.
What progress for rank and file EETPU members The enables rank and file activists to participate in open democratic arguments is this process, undertaken by the rank and file over the years, that has convinced them that change is necessary. shopfloor and branch level discussion essential. through collective discussion that we will win people over to the case for change.
Most unions have failed to respond the Tebbit laws. What action do you think should taken, given recent experience in the Shell dispute? This week's EETPU conference starts the new 'after Chapple' regime in the union. Socialist Action asked IAN BROWN — craft convenor at the Shell Carrington works and left wing candidate for the National Secretary of the plumbing section in the last The Shell dispute has shown the comic mess that can arise where there is a legal intervention in an industrial dispute.
The resolution I am putting to conference calls on the union to give maximum support to its members who carry out the democratically decided TUC policy, especially when the membership is engaged in industrial action the majority of resolutions on anti-union law call on the EETPU to support TUC policy.
Fears have arisen that the union is not fully com mitted to this policy over its handling of the case of Sean Geraghty during the health workers dispute.
The extension of trade reforms to attack Ц110I the political levy and the unions' links with the would plunge the Party into deep crisis. What should the EETPU be doing to resist this latest Act?
To me this is probably the most important issue for the movement this decade.
We know the reasons for Labour setting up its voice in parliament. Without an effective political voice for ordinary working people, this country would move further to authoritarianism Our political opposition in parliament can only by dustrial wing being able to •noony mactic love.
Cutting off funds would sever the main of our voice. Mass unemployment is one way of cutting off finances to the Labour the direct approach of this Act the other.
I believe that the union should be at the forefront of recruiting to the Labour Party and should be offer ing assistance encouragement for the setting up of workplace branches The anatony of the lory party John Ross Pluto fA Press has been pulished about electoral politics for a very long time.' Available from the Other Bookshop — London and Birmingham.
These could be a vital part in politicising people at shopfloor level, to counter the lies of the media. We are in the process of building a Labour factory branch at Shel We feel that it is essential to end position where many members of the shop stewards' com mittee are not members of a political party.
The declining membership of the Labour Party must be reversed.
Tony Benn said 'This is by far the best book that
Socialist Action 11 November 1983
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Arguments for Thatcher and friends