great and the latest govern ment cul-backs mean that thousands of young, qualified teachrs will have lace ne beak rcalv ot ine cole dueue this September. Standards This continual erosion of the teacher pup! ratios does not Just mean young students will be faced, years' training, with no job. means reducing educational standards as pupiis (particularly immigrants high industrial areas) find themselves being laugni in larger classes by overstretched staff, in out-of-date schools The Labour government (walking rough Manitesto oromises) is quite willing to sacrifice both job prospolicy of directing money away schools and into lailinal industries like The struggle launched bv the students is not, in this sense, merely a struggle Rio work but also one on behalf of all pupils to maintain (& im•rover eaucational slandards erves the support of the entire stud -ent anu lavour movements, It is important, of course, that in the coming period the occupations be ex -tended as widely as possible to the government that its cut-backs are such occupations become real 'action centres! for gaining wider support for the struggle. particular, they can be used to force the teaching unions (such as the NUT. to give real and not just token support • slent leachers alongside teachers in the schools, demand that the implement at once the ino cover! pro -and fight seriously to reduce class sizes to 30 or less.
Such combined action between stud -ents & teachers would not only help the job prospects in the period ahead. could also begin to pose a real fighting opposition to government and unleash a real struggle against the that after It also monin. •at tne Trades in Wing TUC policy.
It S from the to allow Posed by ›•cia contrac tes. motion out OT was against lur policy.
Nervous The fact that the TUC to go to such show Social Contract'.
NUT _ this, The real meaning of the TUC's new 'Rule 141 became crystal clear, last annua conference Councils in Swansea. Rule 14 (recently adopted by the TUC) states that Trades Councils are denied the right to support any activities oppos.
Exercising such right can lead to suspension This obvious attempt to 'gag' all opposition to their policies was revealec when the TUC leaders present refused discussion on a motion propBethnal Green and Stepney Trades Councils) calling for the rejection of Healey's latest stage of the Terry Perry (TUC General Council member chairing the session ruled the order on the grounds it : is prepared lengths indicates how nervous it is about carrying the Social Contract with the rank - anc -file of the labour movement. Even the right to disagree is now seer too dangerous a threat to allow. Despite the antics of Perry. however. the 350 delegates present voted overwheimingly in support of a watered -down resolution calling on the TUC to 're-examine its commitment to the The fact that there was such unanimous feeling against the social contract snould serve a clear warning to the TUC of what ¡l can expect in une monms anead.
As discontent with growing unempl oyment and plummeting wages rises the feeling registered at Swansea is bouna to grow and it will take more than bureaucratic gags to stifle it.