THE NUM-TUC TALKS last week laid bare the TUC leadership's present course: that of abject capitulation to the simultaneously adopting the Tory argument of the inevitable decline the advising 'reconciliation' Union of Mineworkers and Lynk's scab UDM, TUC bosses have made plain their intention to lie down and die in the face of government attacks on the working class.
They have shown that they share Margaret Thatcher's priorities. first is getting rid of Arthur Scargill and destroying the fighting leadership of the miners' union.
According the Financial Times last Thursday, to whom . the finance and general purposes committee report was leaked, the TUC view the prospect for the coal industry of 'асcelerating decline'. They back this up by citing the number of pits likely to closthe failure of the TUC leadership to fight for acThatcher government. By British coalfields and the National tion by other unions support the 1984-85 strike played no small part in the closure of the pits. however - a factor which the FGP committee doubt fail highlight. They confidently predict further closures, with concomitant loss in capacity and in employment.
The report also says that the misnamed Union Democrate Mineworkers is. 'solidly based' in Notts with ine prospect of expanding into other areas, especially in highthese mere seems to be miled scope, if any, for a further campaign to be mounica by the NUM supported by lne luc against the new organisation.
RUM, the FGP committee the Iepoil argues agallist illas. action Hillialives like the proposed lobby of parliaInstead it suggests targetting what une TUC winnable Cascs — with the clear im plication that others must be dropped.
Taken the passages , from the report leaked by the media paint grim picture the TUC's attitude towards the problems of the miners' But this should hardly come as any surprise.
Throughout the NUM strike the TUC leadership refused to try industrial solidarity action by other unions in support of the miners. like the Labour Party leadership, made clear at its conthis that would stand back in the уса face of further Tory attacks.
As far as Norman Willis and Neil Kinnock concerned Arthur Scargill is the real threat to the labour movement, not and the capitalist class in whose interests it acts The Scargill leadership. of the mineworkers clearly a threat to the pre ent policies of the TU leadership. He offers a real alternative the within-the-law-regardless approach Norman Willis and company.
Scargill's answer is to CONLIC EU interests of his members fight for the and the interests of the working class. The whole of the labour movement has a stake in supporting that. YOU NEED THE
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