AS WE GO to press it is almost certain that the national dock strike will be called off. Only a revolt against the leadership at the national delegate conference will prevent surrender by the TGWU.
of what they wanted. The strike started over the cor22,500 tons.
The return' from 18,000 to 22,500 tons four in the OVCr WeCKS agreement is merely a facesaver for the union. The craig will get scab coal in sufficient quantities maintain production al current levels.
This docks deal will undoubtedly Culoulare the right bureaucracy who campaigned actively break the strike. The ISTC have scabbed on the dockthe strike, and it was their OFUSION IO cuts in coal supplies that enabled the BSC to hold out for the demanded.
Despite the role of the right, over 8,000 of the 14.W registered dockers were on strike and there was 1110 work. The fact that the strike was clearly in suppot of the monsiderabes considerable well out the strike spreading its effects would have started tore einst Around one weeks. Around one third of the country's import/export business wond have been hit.
The key question in the dispute iTSI the preparation of the TGWU secondly the working ports. A more vigorous campaien by the national leadership to picket working ports would have increased the impact the even if, as was likely, the never became per cent effective.
The rail unions had given clear undertakings about respecting dockers The terms of the return to work give BSC most This is what they have now got. picket lines. But Todd's appearance at Immingwam Hi the made dr the excellent though that was, was not enough.
The initiative picketting was left to local level and not organised at tallo la level the TGWU. Merseyside dockers had considerable success when they picketted some of the smaller ports. At Bristol, the pickets stopped a return to work The majority of striking dockers had shown that they would the activities of Medlock Bibby his like. This strength should have been built on.
The last national docks strike ended messily, with give way to blockading lorry drivers.
Failure to confront the pressure of the right, blockading lor drivers, Bill Sirs, or working dockers, will inevitably sture up problems for the future.
The future for dockers is still going to be an attack Dock UL registered non registered ports is a fundamental weakness in the union organisation of the Sun and News of the World print worker have produced a special newspaper which has sold 10,000 copies to date.
THE WEST Midlands Regional TUC has called a week of action in support of the miners from 8 to 15 October.
In Birmingham trades counci Miners' Souvenir Edition PRODUCED BY WORKERS AT THE VEWS OF THE WORLD AND SCH WORRY * We stand by our men ENTERING THE sixth month of th Message from Scargill and the support committee will be trying to ensure that at the minimum these are represented.
The meeting will also discuss plans for solidarity action to be taken on Thursday 11 October. This will range from workplace
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poration's refusal — with the backing of the ISTC - to accept a quota of 18,000 tons of coal a week. The TGWU, having started from 12,000 tons — enough to keep Ravenscraig ticking over — ended up offering the 18,000 tons. The BSC held out for
NEWS g RIGHT FREPLY SPECIAL
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