the law Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) ALL OVER the country, unions are coming up against the law. In attempting to make payments, known unions and political groups, they are running up against the Tories' redefinition of legislation regulating such donations.
The problem arises when students, donate money the miners. women or other such subversive causes, vote to do just that out of their union funds. Instances of this have been increasingly numerous since the beginning of the miners' strike.
So far Thames Polytechnic, Manchester, Cardiff, Essex and Sussex universities have, or are trying to, donate money to the miners. Some of these are now being 'investigated' as the government has deemed that student union funds are to be used purely for education or welfare purposes.
Of course, supporting our class allies in strug gle is not part of their definition of 'welfare'. Union officers are told that they will be breaking the law and personally liable for any uitra vires payments. overcome the obstacle of a president or sabbatical officer who will not sign their cheques, even before facing the possibility One example is SOAS, which has twinned with Grimethorpe Yorkshire. union per head in Britain, the decision made last week to donate £500 to the miners was important and unprecedented.
After buying 'education packs' hugely inflated price (since, as yet, laws against selling at a huge profit!) the money was eventually sent off. raise money through socials, a special 1p price increase on all drinks in the coffee bar, as well as following the advice in the current National Studonate the profits machines.
However, it is impossible to support the miners without breaking the law. The use of the law during this strike has made it clear that laws are created specifically to crush certain developments in the class struggle.
Local student unions on their own cannot stop these laws without the maximum support from all students and youth. It is vital that the NUS takes a stand condemning the use of ultra vires rulings and organise a national campaign in support of student unions faced with court actions for making such payments If NUS fails te lead, then the students unions committed to making organise to defend themselves. This will also mean challenging the current leadership of the NUS on how to defeat this type of attack.
The issue of ultra vires payments will be crucial this year. It is our chance to show the Tories that we will not be stopped from supporting the miners.
• National CND Conference, Sheffield, 23/24/25 November. Deadline for delegates is 5 Nov. Don't delay, make sure your college sends its full delegation.
NUS Women's Conference, Birmingham University, 10 November. All women supporters in attend.
London Socialist Action Forums:
City London Poly: 'Women in the miners' 14 November LSE: Ireland and the struggle for socialism', 21 • No Nazis in our colleges! Picket NF member Harrington at North London Polytechnic, Holloway Road Extension Site. Every Friday, 8.30am.
support for PNL's stand against the NF!
Want to advertise meetings or events in the activists' diary? Write to Activists Diary, 328 Upper Street, London NI 2XP.
local students' popularly ultra vires payments, to other eager to the Greenham This results in many unions having to of massive fines from the Support Group Being the most underfunded student wrangles and protracted battles over from the NUM at a there are no We have also decided to games