The strike of 150 Internal Transport drivers at the Cowiey Assembly Plant in support of shop-steward Alan Thornett has been suspended.
They returned to work on Thornett's recommendation, ponding a mass meeting of members of the 5/55 branch T&GWU, ordered by the regional Secretary, to vote on whether to call for official hacking for the strike.
VULNERABLE
The drivers were vulnerable so victimKation thems ves if they con tnucd toc strike without official backing- The regunat ollice relasod io cocom mond official hacking without a Call from s mecting of the entire membetship. (The ALEW hos been bikely all aloog to give the action official support an soon as ibe T&GWU docs,)
But the maw meeting lis not yet. taken place. It war first fsed for Oxfond Town Hull which was too small for the 2,500 who turned up. Mon Evans, the rational officer roponsiblé, thea pastponed the meeting in the following Bot that evening the TAGWU drivt met Frans, They sharply critiched thi offictale for bem without official Chall weeks and foe manch oo afom the therir shop to the mamberihip, li h ouw biely that the TAGNU will ge the company tive dayi hutice of officat strike action by the dricers tintes a last minute meeting with Woman car worker puts rs Miller in her plece The national executive of the Nation. al And Local Government Officers association has started to give way to TUC presure to call off its London the company on Toesday works out a compromise settlemient.
At the same limo a antion enquiry into Alan Thomett's condaet N golng ahead. The regional committee of the T& GWU orginally decided to hold an enquiry into the charges against Thomett (which have been decisely refuted by Tx 3/35 peanen connstce-y But Lae regional secretary, Brian Mathers, has TILT O SULTCUBOH HEN HEI to a general "fishing expedition" into hornetrs conduct, Heanns are poms held in the factory und emplogees ane bring given time off (with pay) to give evidenot. So there b a dunger that right wingers in the union will try to turn the enquiry into an extension of their witch hunt aguinst Thornett.
The TAGWU rule-book sys Shop stewarde shall receive the fullest support and protection af the Union." But what comes out clearly from the present confused situution i that the regional and national officiaidom of the aniom have. stalled ant dregged their feet af every stage. The dechion to back the drive» who are defending this basic principle of shop-floor organiation of the uniem shuuld have bom taken a monch agu THREAT TO UNION just an attach opety wnit ALEN dentical to one of the charp pins Thomett If the fight to defend Thomett is not won, thea the company will fod free to move aguinst any stewand or militant in the factory who resists ther plans for speed up PAo cnaetp wow propos can he seen from the minimal extension OSECE DOODO MIDO EnE SaUn DraTH cume out at the beginning of April The Women's meeting votes over rwhelmingly for Thornett's reinstatement the "Reg Parsoos peace plan". This