The Communist Party-controlled district committee of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers in Shefficid has taken the unprecedented step of over-ruling a decision of the shop stewards quarterly meeting.
As reported in last week's Red Weekly a meeting of fifty shop stew ards supported a resolution moved by IMG member John Wilkinson to take strike action along with the Yorkshire miners in support of the One week later the district committee overturned this decision. A statement in the district committee minutes states that 'insufficient time" prevented the AUEW from organising a day of protest. They have orpanised SHAM This is a total sham, Who decides A meeting of shop stewards from foctories throughout the distriet is just the body which best understands the feelings of the members What a boost it would nave been to the militants in the factories if the district committee had given its full support for the resolution, When the members feel that they have the full backing of the union they are most munist Party does not think or act in this way. Its main concern is to keep its cosy relationship with the trade union lefts such as Hugh Scanion. They are scared what the Sheffield resolution would do to that.
As John Wilkinson explained to Red Weekly: What is crucial to the CP is not this particular resolution. They see it setting a precedent of the district taking action without a ballot and without sanction from the national executive. This could cause real embarrassment Hed Weekly 4 July 1974 Page B to their alliance with Scanlon in the months to come."
SUCH SUPPORT Kath Cirket, another IMG mem ber and the seconder of John's resolution added Whenever the question of the district taking independent action has come up at shop stewards meetings in the post, members of the district committee have always told us that it was unconstitutional to go ahead without a ballot or executive sanction. But there was such support for the resolution at the last meeting they were foroed to manoeuvre behind the closed doors of the district committee:
"If we are going to stop them getting away with this then factories should put into action the resolution and campaign in other factories for their support This is the way to prevent the CP Troin sacrificing overything simply to whether it is feasible to get u stoppape? maintain their relationship with HOT AIR Nurses who have been campaigning "for Joint action with the miners and engeers are bitterly disappointed A student nurse from Middlewood Hospital remarked When we had our demonstration in Sheffield a month ago Grotge Caborn, district secretary of the AUEW spoke at our rally. He prepared to take action. But the Com- told us that we could depend on the fuli support of the engineering district committee. Now we know that this n so much hot air:
A stall nurse from the Northern General said: The original resolution from the shop stewards was a big boost to the confidence of our members, which was flagging at our last mass meeting.
'Now we will have to concentrate on the rally and make it known that the real way forward for the nurses is industrial action like the Yorkshire muners are taking
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