THE 1971 CONFERENCE OF DATA The 1971 conference of the Draughtsmens and Allied Technicians Association, held at East.
bourne from 3rd-7th May, was one of the most class-this pathetic attirede means that otbe important union conferences this ycar. This was organisations will have to take-up the fight true not simply because of the political resolutions that were adopted at the conference. attempt to pressurise the Trade Union Mover but also because it was the first conference held ment (including the Communist Party and the by DATA since it became the Technical and Supervisory section of the Amalgamated Union effective action of Engineering Workers. This union amalga:
ration can potentially be of great simificance THE CRUCIAL MOTION if the addition of DATA delegates to shop Noor shop stewards committees can be used to create an atmosphere of solidarity between "blue" and white" collar workers.
unions in the country but its represantatives to conference are also amongst the most politically aware. The main political power inside the Union is the Communist Party, together with a sprinkling of Maoists and Individuals from the International Socialist Group and International Marxist Group. The right wing within the Labour Party have absolutely no influence, with the "Tribuneites"
content to sell their paper.
Because of its militancy and political awareness the union is frequently sugled out by the capitalist class for attack. A circular has been picked up, which has been allegedly sent round employers by the Engineering W Employers" Federation telling the former that the Federation is hoping to kill the union "by exhausting its funds'. The Association is certainly having a difficult time financially at the moment since 1300 out of a total membership of 110.000 are unemployed.
It has been estimated that this number will rise to 2000 by the end of this year.
With DATA paying out 15 per week to its nemployed members, it is obvious that a great financial burden is imposed on the Association.
It seems clear that the employers will select "test cases in order to sap the strength of the organisation. In this situation, the DATA Conference decided to raise the level of subscriptions and impoue a political levy to help the unamployed members. Also the rate of strike pay has been reduced from 80% to 60% of nett pay, although this figure is still the lighest rate for any union in the country.
With this increase in subscriptions. a pulitical lery, a reduction in strike pay.
mounting unempioyment throughout the country (even in areas not usually associated with high unemployment Le. the Midlandsi and, a Government hell-bent on destroying the Association, the subjective consciousness of the DATA members is in real seed of an organisation which will be able to formulate a programme to bring down the Tory Government.
POLITICS AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY One influence that was cotably absent from the conference was the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions, it never showed itsell once at the Conference, and yet. the Communist Party has almost complete political domination both inside the Liaison Committee and DATA. Why did the Communist Indochina and the other South Africa. Both are Party not bold a meeting outside of Conference hows (even if it was not under the suspices of the Linison Committee) to discuss the fight against the Bill? Is it because they have a wait and see' attitude? The showing at Conference would certainly suggest this if it were not for the fact that a aumber of Communist Party delegates voted for the call of General Strike. It may be that there is a split inside the organisation. or they put-on a left" face. having full knowledge that this motion could be restructed in the future Revolutionaries of course, especially in the Trotskyist movement, know flat the Communist Party leadership will hold back any attemp is a independent working class action Asthe rapid decline of capitalism is becoming even more apparent, so too are we acutely aware of the passive restalance of tle Cammunist Party. At the Conference the Communist Parry delegates were much more concerned with internal electoral juggling. than with mobilising a section of the working class in a political fight against the Tory Goverment: Because of the obvious lack of discussion or special meetings held by the Communist Party it means more than ever that this organisation will not lead a struggle against the capitalis inside DATA and other trade unions in an Liaison Committee) into more politically The most important motion on the Agenda was the dealing with the Industrial Relations Bill, It was a composite motion which read as Tollows.- This Representative Council instructs: DATA is not only one of the most militant the Executive Committee to oppose any form of anti-trade union legislation by using the industrial and political strength of this union if necessary. There were seven amendments to this motion, two of these were withdrawn and two were lost in the vote. The most important amendment was the 4th, which read, 'Add at end - including calling upon the T.C.C. for general strike action" This amendment came from Newcastle West Branch and the delegate who was an 1S member. According to the Workers Press' report (who by the way gave an excellent coverage of the Conference, although they had no delegate), "The mover of the crucial resolution which calls on the T. U.C. to organize General Strike action against the Bill" told them "that the trade unions should all pull together to prevent the Tory plan to smash the organized working class" Workers It's nice to put forward such sentiments, but a pity they are not put into practice! When the Newcastle West Branch delegate was approached the day before the amendment was moved by a member of the International Marxist Group who wanted to second the amendment, the original mover stated that he had no objections In face he said that he had not as yet contacted anyone to second the amendment? Imagine the shock the International Marxist Group delegate received when the original mover stepped on to the rostrum the following day and promptly asked for withdrawal of the amendment!!
Fortunately the President moved the amendment, Che Clydebank Branch delerate, who was an IMG member seconded. and after a mumber of speeches the vote was taken. The Executive Committee were against the amendmeat because it would out down "the area of flexibility", However, the rank and file of the Conference voted in favour of the amendment The suitstantive motion was as follows:-"This Representative Council instructs the Executive Committee to oppose any form of anti-trade union legislation by using the industrial and pol itical strength of this union in conjunction with the A.U.E.W. inclading calling upon the T.U.C. for general strike action. This motion will be submitted to the A. U.E,W. Conference in June.
MOTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL TOPICS Internationally there were two motions which should set the scene for some action within the DATA membership. One motion concemed to be submitted to the A.U.E.W. Conference and both call for real action, The motion on South Africa was already being put into practioe by DATA merhars employed at the Westland Air maft Company, who have blacked? the supply of aircraft co the racinlists in South Africa. Let's hope thar in the future, DATA members will take similar action on Indochina. They should draw inspiration from the Austrakian trade unionists who refused to work on a Vietnam supply ship. The scope for such action in Britain is tremendous, since there are numerous Tines throughout the length and breadth of this country where goods are supplied directly or indirectly to Indochina which aid US Imperialism. The resolution on Endoclins is excellent itself in that it clearly recognizes the necessity of an NUI victory.
DATA « NEXT STEP The next stage in DATA's evolution will be of vital conceru to all trade unionists, for. together with the other sections of the A. U.E. W. it will he looked upon as the organization which will give a clear lead in the coming struggles However, pure trade unionism will not succeed; unless the politics of the situation is seen we will just have continual defeats like that inflicted by the March 18th TUC decision. The DATA decision however shows just how trade unionism and politics can be biended.
Douald Waterson BLACK PEOPLE IN BRITAIN ORGANISE A vitally important conference took place in the Alexandra Palace on the weekend of May 22: 23rd. It was the first all-Britain conference of Black people, and aimed at drawing together Black organisations from all areas and laying the basis for effective action against the racialist Immigration Bill. The main tendencies involved were the Biack Panther Movement, and the Black Unity and Freedom Party, The conference was evidence of the growth and maturity of the Black movement In Britain. The development has been fantastic; not only has the movement extended much firmet roots into the black community. especially amongst young people, but its political analysis has deepened, and it has grown in self-confidence and audacity. At first the movement in Britain was, inevitably, very much influenced by the movement in the Dnited States, but now it has developed its own dynamie, and is focused around the problems faced in Britain. The Afro-American experience is of course a basic factor but le part of the general background of the movement. Many pitfalls have been avoided In particular "Cultural Nationalism, which has tended to be a divisive question in the US, in Britain is simply one strand of the movement, it plays an important role in creating self-confidence and unity, but is subsidiary to The conference bad three main themes:1) Bloch People have a right to be in Britain.
sense, but is based on the fact that the exploitation of Black Peopie as slaves was a vital part of the accumulation of Capital in Britain, which led to industrialisation, and that at Important junctures in the history of Britain Slack people were used to provide necessary cannon fodder, and cheap labour. These facts are very important for black people who might be disoriented by the press propaganda that 2yThe struggle of Black People in Britain is port of the struggle of the people of the Third Work!; the struggles are interdependent, one helps the other. In particular there is a very direct relationship with the struggle in the Caribbean. 3) The Liberation of Black People can only be consummated by the overthrow of capitalism in a socialist revolution. In this revolution black people will be Gehling side by side with their white fellow workers, but in that struggle Black people will play an extremely important part, and right now, because of their oppression, and because of the reformist and reactionary mystifications that grip the mass of the white working claas, black people are going to be vitally important in creating the conditions for a revoluInevitably the conference showed up some gaps In the movement; the most serious being the lack of any real participation by Asian organis ations While the West Indians had pulled in a wide spectrum of their community the handful of people from tbe Indian Sub-Continent were committed political, militants Beside this the other things which can be said are relatively minor. The scructure of the conference did not allow the development of any discussion from the floor, again this was practically impos sible in the Ally Pally, but more seriously there was not a real hammering out of concrete plans for action against the Immigration Bill. Itisto be hoped that the national links formed between the previously very localised Black organisations will speedily bring this about.
NEED FOR ACTION Finally, is chere anywbere now, esen in the embattled corridors of Clapham High St, any - white "revolutionary" who still holds the liberal Tabian notion that the black morement is "racialist"? Such people are going to be exposed us the reactionaries they are as the Black people swing into action. But also those who pay lip service to the importance of Black people organising themselves had better start getting involved in some action or they will be left bebind. The Black Panther Movement is organising a demonstration on Saturday June 5th at 1.00pm from Handsworth Park, Birming ham. See you there comrades?
Bob Pardie BLOW UP IN THE GEALTACHT Everyone knows about the situation in the North of Treland, but British revolutionaries have virtually ignored the struggle in the Gealracht. (the leich speaking treas of Ireland). while it has reached new heights of militancy. Despite the claims of the Pianna Fil governmeat, that it is trying to protect and revive the Irish language, its economic policies are leading to the depopulation of the Gealtacht. Unless this trend is reversed, in the not too distant future there will be no native Irish speakers left, and Irish will be as dead as Latin. The "Republican" twentysix county government will thus have consumnated the rask started by British imperialism.
The people of the Gealtacht are determined not to accept their fate without resistance, and led by (Ghthaisencht Chearta Sibbialta na Gealfachta, (Gealtacht Civil Rights Movement) have been engaging in a number of very militant demonstrations.
The latest attack on the Gealtacht is the wHooJa war tor the summer of too payment ot unemployment benefit to single males in rural aTeny The muswer Iron the trenitache was tim the local office where benefit forms were signed in Ros Muc, Co. Galway was blown up. Despite the fact that all the windows were shattered, the building was left a shell, and the front door was blown thirty feet, Jocal people "...were asked if they had heard or seen anything unusual dur ing the night. They said they had not". Grish Times 18,5.71).
Ol, and by the way, the office also happene to be the local Garda Siochinn. (Fuzz)
Clamn na hEireann IRISH FREEDOM RALLY SUNDAY MAY 30th.
Speakers: EOIN O MURCHU Gaeltacht Organiser for Sinn Fein.
DERMOT KELLY, NICRA Parade from Speakers' Corner (Marble Arch) 3.00 pm march to Trafalgar Square. Rally RELEASE THE IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS Tuousned by Clann. 318 Lillie Rd., Fulham SW6.
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