Photo: PETER HARRAP (Report)
What sort of strategy do you think the trade union movement will have to adopt if it is to deal with the effects of inflation on living standards and The inflationary situation we're in at the moment is a disease of our economic system. As far as I'm concerned there has I think that you have to bring everyone to the same level now, then for every percentage rise in the cost of living there should be a flat rate given to everybody.
and Ricky! socialists One student trying to climb in was attacked by a proctor and dragged onto spiked railings, where his leg was badly gashed and he had to be taken to hospital. The police refused to take action against the proctor, claiming he was entitled to use reasonable force' to prevent 'trespassers from entering University property.
The University's handling of the occupation was the more frantic because honora! degrees were due to be presented at a ceremony in the Senate House to General Gowon, the Nigerian military dictator, and the Queen of Denmark. In consequence, however, they were ready very rapidly to concede a written guarantee of no victimisations and to establish a working party of one-third Nursery Action Group, one-third University Staff Trade Unions and one-third University authorities to draw up plans for eştablishing a nursery. This was a partial victory but a significant one. Full support by the Students Union could have made possible far more extensive action and a really major victory. In face of strong state tactics both here and at Warwick and Lancaster, the broadest unity in action is vital if student struggles are to be carried LABOUR CORRUPTION Frank McKenna was a well respected man in the North East. As the Newcastle Evening Chronicle put it: "Who could doubt Frank McKenna? He was a practising churchgoer. He had served on councils for 34 years"
However, Frank McKenna had one small fault. He liked to help building firms do well. And for a small fee he was prepared to make sure contracts went to deserving people. Unfortunately Frank (like his mentors, political and criminal, Dan Smith and Andy Cunningham) got found out. He was found guilty of fiddling contracts for Cari ton Contracts, a building firm, and jailed for a year.
All this may seem a fairly regular occurrence in the corrupt Labour Party machine in the North East. However, the most noteworthy thing about this trial is the judge - Lord Justice Mais. Trade unionists may remember his name; certainly two of them do. Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson were sentenced to three years and two years respectively by the noble judge. Their 'crime" was to organise pickets to go round sites in the Shrewsbury area during the national building strike in 1972 The only crime committed by the Shrewsbury pickets was to fight the big build ing firms and try to reduce their profits. boost the profits of the building frims. That's why he got a lighter sentence than Des Frank McKenna, on the other hand, tried to