THE RELISH with which labour and trade union leaders joined the vicious anti-NUM campaign over the Libya question will have sickened every militant in Britain. But it would be too easy simply to dismiss the reaction of Neil Kinnock and Norman Willis as yet another example of chauvinist hysteria. threat behind the trade union leaders' reaction.
David Basnett's statement that 'Roger Windsor's tree flight to Libva could prove to be the most allu productive trip by a trade union representative ior a very long time,' was not a mere expression of an opimon. Il coula also read as a statement of intent.
DASBELL. rest of the centre and right of the 1UC nave lonne that the decisions of the TUC Congress to support the miners have landed them in the middle of a fight for which they do not have the slightest stomach.
The hope of the TUC was that a slow tightening grip on the power stations would finally the government to make some compromise on major issue and then the TUC leadership would impose a the NUM.
Not only has the leadership of the NUM refused any sell out deal but the government has dramatically upped the stakes. It has launched an immediate massive Walker has already announced the government and NCB refuse to shift the terms of the NACODS settlement - a settlement that would continue the pit closure programine. Scargill and the NUM executive, rightly, have out the NACODS deal.
But the prospect of an escalating struggle lasting into the new year horrifies the Thatcher openly shown her deterCOstally step up the stakes in the The tion of the NUM's funds will be followed by further court action in all the NUM areas. The financial noose which the Tories are trying to draw around the will be inexorably tightened all the LUIC quickly because of the lack of response by the TUC to the sequestration — a lack of response which will in evitably give rise creasing demands that the TUC should act.
craven surrender to There is a far more serious Worse still other going to be If the government cannot DICaK the NUM rapidly then huge pressure will for legal attacks anions the over sorters unions AUEW, TGWU, GMBATU against the NUR , ASLEF, NUS that operating the boycott on movemenu coal. Delivering TUC Congress alone anything else, would involve a central confrontation with the law.
The have already ruled, in the case of Ilford films, that even an overtime ban without a ballot is illegal. It won't take the Freedom Association long, if necessary, to power worker to take the TGWU, or GMBATU, to over their coal bovcott policy power stations. The TUC is faced with a head or confrontation with the law the which Basnett, Willis and al c absolutely prepared. And Thatcher knows that they are 11U1 prepared for it- • which is she is upping the stakes constantly.
The only way out for the TUC right and centre is force deal the NUM which the Genera Council would claim is a compromise, but which in reality would be a victory for Thatcher.
This is the policy which Willis, Basnett and co are considering behind closed doors at Congress House. Getting Arthur Scargill isolated is a crucial part of Kinnock, Willis Basnett jumped rapidly to join in Thatcher's Hauscalllg attack on the NUM.
For if the TUC were to continely the pollens continue implement the delcome will be tery the outcome be very different. The latest most authoritative study the governclaim on coal stocks are not une Willis and Basnett Even with coal deliveries continuing at their present rate, and with the maximum possible substitution of oil burn for coal, stocks at the power stations will be • completely exhausted by late February/early March. Power cuts, or a massive movement of coal bv road will be posed before that point is reached. concerted drive by the TUC to deliver on its pledges at the power stations would radically alter that picture more rapidly in favour of the miners.
power workers boycott the oil now being delivered to • substitute for coal, and retuse to handle her coal supplies victory NUM guaranteed Failure to campaign for such action, and failure to give full support to the NUM is actually to give aid and comfort to the enemy. The enemy the TUC should be fighting is Thatcher, not Gadaffi.
But instead the statements of Basnett and You can't break the law!
Schizo! Willis will encourage the government harden their attitude stil further So will the types of TUC policy openly discussed in the press for example that the TUC should draw up its own dratt agreement over the heads of the miners leaders. Refusal by the NUM to accept such a deal would then be used as al excuse for the TUC to withdraw support.
The TUC leadership do not want the miners to secure an outright victory OVCI they prepared for the confrontation sucn a viclor would require. Not only would such a victory mear a huge increase in militancy in the working class. would also mean that the Scargill wing of the trade union leadership would be strengthened — a prospeci which would be even more frightening for the TUC leadership ll would for Margaret Thatcher.
Careerists Leaders like Basnett Willis, who have reached their positions through the career ladders of the bureaucracies through experience of struggle Calllio tolerate the class struggle leadership of the Scargill wing which emerged NUM leadership not out of the corridors oi Congress House but out miners' strikes of 1969, 1972, and 1974 and which still rests the militants of the NUM.
The left wing in the movement must fight the right wing's treachery the death They • must clearly expose decisens and fign rest decisions fight them to be totally delivered. The TUC as body should appeal to the power workers to carry Full financial backing must be delivered to Lilc NUM. Any court attacks must be met with industrial action.
Any stab in the back to sell out the voted decisions of the TUC Congress must not be met with diplomatic silence in the interest of a unity. Traitors should be exposed to the hatred of the whole movement. That is the way now to hold the line firm and deliver the still within the grasp of the NUM and the entire trade union movement.
SORMA Not really -I've just got a little KINNOCK in my head!