by many labour movement activists.
Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in Labour's new NEC statement, Defence and Security for Britain, which attempts the impossible: full commitment unilateral nuclear disarmament Inter together with full support for continued membership of NATO!
Ithe document DIU° poses to campaign within the alliance for a nuclear-free defence strategy. Labour may just as well demand that generals fly. Since its inception, nukes have formed the bedrock of NATO war-fighting strategy.
Over the years the Strategies inemselves have changed. The InterContinental Ballistic Missiles 'hit 'em with everything ya got' plans AMONG THE resolutions calling on this year's annual Trades Union Congress to campaign for peace mitment to the American nuclear alliance — by adding a rider that such support is given only if it accords with other TUC and Labour Party policies — is a sad reminder that the real role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is still not understood of NATO's early days have turned into the sophisticated phoney) concept of 'limited' nuclear war in the theatre' But the basic element nuclear remains the same.
In Labour's attempt to reconcile cilable, something will have to go. (Cynics suspect it will be our unilateralist policy.)
There is no attempt this year at either conterence - to openly ditch unilateralist policies. But the tran. Chapples Dennis Healeys would have otherwise. Introducing support for The TUC's recent policy has been of silent compromise with membership; the EEPTU's resolution represents the first attempt to get congress' active support. It must be completely rejected.
defence document introduces 'non-nuclear' defence policy in the form of a pro mise to rid Britain of all nukes, but to up spending on conventional forces varuculay the navy the central European front (Germany). This will volve spending and of increase military fers the least threat to our stable membership of Hence keeping NATO sweet is responsible for losing policy close to the unions' heart: diverting military spending into socially useful production. This will begin to cast doubt on the whole of radical social change.
of course, exist to protect their members' interests, first of which is having a beer chary because of the possible loss of jobs in. volved in getting rid nuclear weapons.
The TUC's OWI discussion Defence Jobs, shows the nuclear not jobs producing.
DOll cies will of 80,000 1988 (compared 1979 figures). putting massive into military blocks potentia vestment.
does no the interests It locks NAI the interests of capitalism in general and American imperialism in particular threatens, not safeguards, jobs. Congress should clearly reject he EETPU resolution as a first step towards committing the TUC to a policy of withdrawal the bosses nuclear club.
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and nuclear disarmament, the EEPTU's one-line af- firmation of Britain's NATO membership stands out like a sore thumb. An attempt by SOGAT '82 to compromise on the electricians' full-blooded com-
NATO onto the TUC con- gress agenda is the first