wn's pons egistered dockers have faced the sack. PROMISES Humberside, of the National Ports Council THOV anth. However, Hodgers nas made it clear tnat ational Strike Action. The one day stoppage was called oppose plans of Preston's Tory Council to close the Closure would put 1750 jobs on lopping block. It would be the first time since 1944 that The decision to take unofficial action was made at a meeting Preston last month. One hundred shop stewards from for ports mapped out how to fight this latest attack kers' jobs — increasingly pushed to the wall in the interests ones' response to the decision when it was taken was nediate. He quickly tried to put the damper on. Strike action as just a bit too severe, in his opinion. He readily told Fleet treet that 'any talk of strike action is definitely jumping the gun'.
The dockers took the risk and jumped the gun, rather than ly on the strength of promises which have all been broken in past. They were joined by other workers in the industry.
for example, ancilliary workers in the fish e backed the dockers' action. In Grimsby and Immingham — ere 400 dockers have already been on strike for a week over a nning dispute — 200 lumpers' in the fish dock also came out. Jack Jones' alternative for the dockers was, as Vice-Chairman to put forward the 'radical"
asure of relying on this body to call for an investigation. Transport Secretary William Rodgers has backed up Jones' call due to report by the istance under the Industry Act would only be forthcoming if concerns.
they see the ports as 'a running sore'.
end of the any financial workers since 1968.
made our to De. most undemocratic Sped out plans cuts which all share one common Jack the Rat was the dockers' slogan as they occupied Transport House the report is able to prove the future 'viability' of Preston ports The jobs of 1750 dock workers do not figure in Rodgers The response of the Tory Council to the published, is not hard to guess. The Council has made it clear The dockers will go ahead with their fight, despite Jones inactivity. But one-day strikes on their own will not solve the madness in the docks which has wiped out the jobs of 20,000 Aided by one of even
Report, when
containensalion gone through the motions cruelt to brick campaigr and the fight against the social statement appeal to the supposed been sec questioning rebirani •ine terms unde. which it would be acceptable. No anc also goes into his usual speech on the It voted then, that many rank and file militants are concluding that Fisher's words are Mount Hospital near Southampton is a A black worker at the hospita sacked for alleged union working class cuts ensured been only eu.
OUT to do it *tant face.
of all bus companies declaring tootsiens or se ours. felt Deni to be kept in line with inflation.
and for a 35-hour week without oureducials loss of pay provide a good basis for beginning to group bus workers in different depots throughout the country in defence of their Its call for an immediate reduccoupled with the However, call from workers attending the London transport union meeting for a free fare day on 21 April — are first steps towards ensuring that the transport system operates in the interests of the working solely for •INE profit-hungry firms which Labour Derek Stainsby-Tron [8/82 Branch What is needed is an organised fight throughout the country for the nationalisation of the docks, under the control of the dockers themselves. This is the way to ensure that dockers in the smaller ports, like Preston, will not be thrown into the same scrap heap as other workers' affected by the introduction of It is also the way to ensure that a strong challenge is levied against Jones' policies. they are designed to do little other than to preserve his Holy Alliance with the Labour Government, at the expense of his members jobs and living standards.
patients. Workers felt that this had racist overtones anc was being used to blame workers *rank for the appalling conditions.
4 24-hour strike was held earlier been called for 2m Ming was - called discuss further action on working 'Save Our Hospitals' conWorkers in London last 220 health workers in London need Dointed indenendent rank and file action almost against the Social Contract and for support for the 22 March lobby NHS unions, the 3 April TUC and national strike action An amendment from the Ham mersmith Hospital Stewards Committee, calling for a national rank and of hospital shop stewards in the autumn was supported. This king conference •orovide thrash •OUT policies needed to build a social ist opposition to the NHS union leaders