IMG candidate for National Union of Students President, Johh McGeown, addresses NUS conference Reporr p. 8. Need for mass action proved Labour underwrites A delegate conference is to be held in the Kent area within the next two weeks to discuss action in defence of the jailed Shrewsbury pickets. This proposal was adopted at a public meeting held in Aylesham, Kent, on Sunday 31 March.
Jack Collins, Kent Executive Member of the NUM (who spoke in a personal capacity), told the meeting how he had fought in the NUM Executive for the miners to take a lead in support of the jailed building workThe Shrewsbury lads had only used in 1972, he told the meeting: *These six martyrs are the conscience should not rest until we get them out. He said that the miners could give a dead, and achieve the kind of united effort required, but, unfortunately, the NUM Executive had lined up behind the leadership of UCATT some of whom ought theiselves to be in jail for treachery to the working class.
Amongst proposals for action made adopted the same tactics as the miners at the meeting were the circulation of a strongly worded petition round the pits calling for strike action by the NUM, and resolutions from the of the working class movement and we branches to the Area Secretary. A demonstration for 1 May was also proposed.
The meeting elected a committee to organise the delegate conference, including representatives from the Tilmaston and Snowdown NUM branches, Jack Collins, and Dave Wimburst from the Kent University students.