Bombs apart, January 12th went off quietly. The number of workers on strike was certainly no more than on the December 8th day of protest called by the unofficial London Committee in Defence of Trade Unions. In London one might almost say there was a flop; elsewhere there were some very large demonstrations in medium-sized industrial towns, and, as usual, Scotland and Merseyside were to the forefront in terms of numbers on strike. What picture emerges from the mass of confusion?
One thing, above all, that was demonstrated was the complete inability of the TUC to mobilise or enthuse. And how can one expect them to do so? On the very day of the demonstration, the Financial Timez in its lead editorial noted that the "fundamental attitode [of the TUC] is probably not so different from that of the CBI... Its readiness to negotiate with the Government can be read between the lines, in references to the need for higher productivity sis on security of incomes and employment". The differences, the paper added, were mainly a far wider mood. This was confirmed in the about whether or not unemployment was desirable in the process of ending inflation and ensuring more rapid economic growth. In other words, all the TUC proposes is an alternative capitalist strategy to that of the Tories. The experience of the Labour Government's failure shows that such an alternative is not possible. do very well, neither did the left. The so-called RED CIRCLES/RED MOLE CONTACTS BELFAST: Alan Morris, c/o Red Mole. BIRMINGHAM: Val Graham, 72 Cambridge Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham 14. BRISTOL: Dave Prior, 7 Ravenswood Road, Redland, Bristol 6.
CANTERBURY: Brian Grogan, Elliott College, Canterbury.
CARDIFF: Susan Lukes, 42 Llandaff Road.
Canton, Cardiff.
COLCHESTER: Ken Browne, Flat 7, Room 10, Bertrand Russell Tower, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex.
COVENTRY: John Presland, 27 Paynes Lane, Coventry, Warwicks.
DERBY: Bruce Bebbington, 41 Leopold Street, Derby, DE1 ZHE EDINBURGH: Brian Gilmore, 17 Hiliside St., Edinburgh.
GLASGOW: lan Stevenson, 3 Done Gardens, Kelvinbridge, Glasgow, HERTFORD: Malcolm Harding, B Parker Ave., Bengeo, Herts.
HULL: Malcolm Ball, Students Union, Hull University, Hull.
12th Secondly, it was shown that there are big sections of the working class which will respond to a militant lead. The London Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions almost disappeared minority in the TUC which is in favour of more after December 8th, and yet hundreds of thousands of workers responded to their vague call, made over a month ago and not energetically reiterated at all, for industrial action on January 12th. This was done in spite of all the appeals by the leaders of the TUC, supposed leaders of the fight, not to strike. Indeed, one can say that there was an almost instinctive. response by very large numbers of workers. According to Tom Jackson, secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers, his members are itching for a fight against the Post Office Corporation which has made an "insulting offer" in response to the union claim for 15% wage increase.
Thirdly, it was clear that the militants have not been in the least deceived by Wilson's sudden conversion to the defence of trade unions.
holders at the Albert Hall rully was indicative of negative serise, too. Nowhere did workers curry alogans calling for the return of'a Labour Gosernment. At present the memories of Wilson's pioneering attack on trade unions looms large in the memories of the activists.
Fourthly, we must say that if the right didn't LANCASTER: Brian Heron, 29 Clarendon Road, Lancaster.
LEEDS: Ron Thompson, 132 Askaren Chase, Hunslet Grange, Leeds 10.
LEICESTER: Jean Holman, 7 College Street, Leicester.
LINCOLN: Dave Thompson, 65 Tower Ces., Lincoln.
LONDON CENTRAL: Frank Hansen, City Polytechnic, Slesdents Union, Moorgate, EC1.
NORTH: John Weal, 182 Pontonville Road, London N.1.
NORTH-WEST: Tor.y Fry, 101 Park Avenue North, NW10.
SOUTH: Tony Jones, Furzedown College of Education, Welham Road, SW.17.
EALING: Will Rich, 8 Burlington Gdns, W4, (994 6882 weękends)
HAMMERSMITH: Eddy Arnavoudian, 20 Thorny Hedge Pd, Gunnersbury, We. LOUGHBOROUGH: Ann Black, 4 Russell St, Lougborauch