an editorial on Monday 13 May which tried to discredit the IMG's interventions in recent disputes at the Cowley Assembly Plant.
This article consists of slanders and lies. Is principle slander is that the IMG is responsible for Alan Thornett's victimisation:
'The only arguments that the management have been delighted to seize on to attack Themete's shop-slewardship are those provided by the IMG.
"In aileging "undemocratic and mnaip ulative methods" by WRP stewards (the IMG| is echoing the line of others in the factory.. the right wing.
"When the company withdrew Thorne Et's recognition rights on April 10 it was the provocative activities of the ENG more than anything else that had paved the way."
as as nonsense. The victimisation ae Thornett followed a defeat of the Assembly workers in face of a determined assault on the trade union mavement in Cowley Throughout Uhis struggle the IMG Ineglu for demands and tactics which were agroud by the stewards and the union branch, and endorsed by mass meetings.
The company felt able to move against Thornett hecause of the isclation of the Senior Stewards from most Assombly do lot need the IMG's ctiticisms to give them argaments. The cars of thuir shop. Near spies are ringing with complaints Red Weekiy 23 May 1974 Page 2 timeled to lies spread by the right wing Tho tragic irong of Cowley is thai the 'RP bes allowod demands for trade union democracy, which should be the key-hote la become the properly of TiEn wing opportunets who pervert legitimate com plaints for their own ends. In fighting for labor tradc union democracy al Lowits We hits nas always atlacked the manoeuvres of the right-wing and actively defcoded WRP members against the right.
The only example the Workers' Pres *Following an angry demoastration outside the administration office it was the LA scarlet calline for more " direct action which gave management the pretext for lasoching its witch-bunt in the factory against "discuptive" and "political minorities", ThE IMOS actory bullet thi reiner, discussco Sho two domons|ralont an four of the wighteen issues prod word during tere wispute In detence of the managements letict atlacking disrupters was put out to the night-shift of 26 March before any of these four issues had appeared.
The Organiser wever called for mone direct action. The demonscrations wen not instigatod by the IMG but decided workers, which results lergily from the mis- by ovcrwhelming votos ur mass incetings. The Organiser did say that tbe demonstramanagement to negotiate something also for their slanders, but again they totally distort is facts in the factory been lost on active trade has instructed the IMG to desist from petting out their leaflets and an investiga bon of tlicir contents is pending.
Following the victimisation of Thornch the 5/55 branch committee not the beanch, requessed, not instructed. the IMG to sefrain from putting out gives of the IMG% provocative activities is Baflets on the issue of the Mictimsarions, at that time The IMG complied.
investigation, as proposed by WRP memfor one who organised to counter the end-union marches of Cowley wine:
wee also disregarded by the women's liberation groops who saw the emergence of the lossewives as an opportunity to plead " the case of women in industrial disputes" and lo affack the WRP.
trade unionists, a section of the Oxford women's liberation group mado conract workers, and helped to orgaise the sue cessiol root of Carol Miller & Co. al Oxford Town 162l. The women's liberationists correctly sia the emergonce of Miller's Bons proved an cherise way of forcing the mob aca thecat to the rights and arganisa Bons of the working-class as thair baflers Workers Press claims anton support Nor has the role played by the IMG. unionists The 5155 branch of the T&GWU The 5/55 branch has wor agroed to an bers, who have yet to produce uny prounds Woncert Press also slanders the moron (Women trade unionists from Cowley!
Far from disregarding Cowley women The WRE still cannot understand the treat posed to the workers movement by the mobilisation of the wives of laidoff workers against the union, Workers Press was The oner dally papor dot to cyc mention the march of 250 women and Children at the factory on 22 April.
Workers Press accuses the ING of exaggerating the impact of such cuents. Hot the wivesrevolt helped the manage ment to open the factory and run it for thres days (on reduced production) with scab labour. This was a severe threst to the drivers' striko in defened of Tharnere Honkers' Press describes the organisa tion of women trade unionists and wiles , of workens in defence of the union as a "bogus and reactionary campaign to answer the housewives demonstrations by counter marcher by women worker?
What is the WRP's solution? Trade union business as usual: "To have turned it anto a women versus women assae aol have side tracked the struggle for hasie trade untion rights and removed it from the trade union movemient."
This ignores the fact that although the wives of workers are mostly not members of thie union, they are vitelly affected by trade union struggles. But they experi enue struggles as individuals at home, and pot in a united body at the factory. So they are espocially exposed to ruling class propaganda against the trado unions. This danger, whach the WRP ignores by pretendis tail aller and Co Porno support. car only be mercome by laking conscious. steps to bettEr Lames or workers actre involved in the factory strugges Thomer's vic tanisation is a threat, no just to his position, or to the WERP. or even to the left, but to the very existence of an effective unian in the factory. For that reason, the IMG will not be deterred by the WRP's slanders: we will continue to work, with all our creggies, to advance the fight to defend Alan Thornert. COWLEY IMG STOP PRESS:
Hide TaGWU Narional officials correnae To heuge on calbug on offin airie of the Thanapart Department to defend Thonett, the real reasons for hir vierininarions and the argent need to defear it have been underlined by the darest конушку ловет After recent cuthacks in Marina prod chow, the 1200 model is now to conse prostiction altopezher, while the night shot in to be abolished on the Maxi Meie, Further cut in Maxi production are ciso pierred. Asa result about 7000 men will Become surpics, and will be pur in the job pool on redised pay. The threat of our. right redundancy honer over them Each neargamistion of production will ado gie the company a new chance to spend-up the remaining mucks.
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