October, 9,25 pm.
No capitalist newspaper has ever supported a strike unless of course it was a reactionary strike, But once the strike is over-and particularly if it has been defeated-the BBC is prepared to consider sympathetic documentaries or plays (though only if the playwright is fairly well-established).
Now Colin Welland has produced a play in the saine tradition, though much more effective than any play I have previously seen on television.
Welland's theme is the stake of clothing workers in Leeds during January/February 1930. The bulk of the workers were woren, many of whom had been working for decades in the industry The trade whion bureaucracy had negotiated a national agree ment which amounted to a com plete sell-out, so the women at Toln Black & Co. Ltd. docided on direct action.
An unolficial strike was begun with an elected strike committee. Within days the strike bad spread to The cotire clothing industry.
BRILLIANT SCRIPT The brilliant script and Roy Battershy's equally effective direction oute mood or the we movement, wenands pession cor detail and his ability to reconstruct the meetings of the bosses, the committee and the ordinary Tank and file militants come over on the screen with deranate eLeCt.
The CP shop steward Cridley factories of characters they have to deal with every day. The divis sins amonk the bosses are also well pertrayed.
The more intelligeat boss i livid with the owner of John Black's for not giving in. He says Hed vicey 31 October 1974 LEEDS UNITED by Colin Welland, produced by Kenneth Trodd, directed by Roy Battersby, BBC 1, Thursday 31 his line is more effective give them a wage increase tied to a productivity deal, and thus strengthen the union so they can force the workers to accept layoffs in the months to come.
LESSONS
The strike is finally defcated as a result of the machinations of the trade union bureaucracy and the CP. but the oxperiend has been a lesson in itself. Where Allen is in portraying the richness of the lessons contained in the spontaneity of the masses.
In other words: workers in volved in struggles have a much better idea of the tactics deeded to STALLELT LI LEACUREL ARES so called communists. Where they fall down in precisely that they have no lang-term view -no siralers The shop steward Maggie (port rayed by Elizabeth Sprices is an excellent militant. She hates the bureaucrats of whatever variety but husband and the failure to claboCONVICARS TIATAL WAR CRISE SUS bolpiessly as the strike is sold out.
Some questions arise: was any effort made by the strike commiltee to get support trom other trade unions and local Labour councils? Was the obstinacy of the basses reinted to the re-election of Tory Govertment? Did any local Inhour MPs take a stand on the strike?
CLASSIC
Hut these are relatively minor questions. Relative, thal is to what Welland is trying to put across When all is said and done, Leeds Batted will becone a TV working class classic.
It will educate many people and it should be used by reachers in schools and by socialists and women's groups, and that it is in. moments like these that the hold of bourgeois ideas is amoncasurably weakened.
(British section of the Fourth International)
97 Caledonian Rd., London N.1.
1 would like more information about the IMG and its activities NAME into practice, This new court will have ot her duties, dealing with unfair dismissals and other provisions of Labour's Trade Union Bill. The proposal that it should oversee the normal functioning of the trade unions has been sinuggled in to prevent the court looking too 'pro-trade union' in the House of Commons.
This must be the funniest thing Foot hus come up with in his long and witty career. The principle at stake for the workers morement is rather less funny. If this proposal is accepted then a basic element of control by workers over their own organisations will be lost to the capitalist state.
So far, the only response from the trade union bureaucrats has been a remark fron TLC General Secretary Murray that some place could be found for Foot's scheme, The fight against the Industrial Relations Act was a light which involved the struggle for the right of the closed shop. If Foot and Murray get their way, it would now be surrendered witbout a whimper The strike at Wingrove and Rogers
ESSEX UNIVERSITY called them Union Which will struggle wainst ther threatened to close the University in the eveat of an occupation.
TIP OF ICEBERG
direct action, the victimisations, the use