"Don't take trade unionists for granted', was the stern warning delivered by TUC General Secretary Len Murray to Harold Wilson last week. There is no danger of that, Mr Murray. Harold Wilson already knows that without the support offered by you, Jack Jones and other TUC leaders his policies would meet with a massive wave of resistance in the working class.
Some union leaders are beginning to feel the hot breath of the member ship down their collars. TUC leaders were last week faced with a proposal for a special congress of the TUC to debate the economic situation and the action needed to defend jobs. This was backed by the Fire Brigades Union the Foundry Section of the AUEW, the print union SOGAT, and the Society of Civil Servants. These unions have been joined in their call for a recall of the TUC by the CPSA and NALGO, both of whom want a congress to re-discuss the TUC's support for the Government's incomes The call by these unions reflects the growing anger among trade unionists that working class rights won in years of struggle are being eaten away while the TUC leaders, both right and lett, play cat's cradle with the Wilson Government. Other labour movement leaders are feeling that anger too. Last weekend in Liverpool, Eddie Loyden MP called for support for mass action to change the policies of this Government Loyden intends to do, if anything, remains unclear. But his words reflect the pressure which is mounting. The conference at which he was speaking,called by the Liverpool Trades Council, voted for a national day Many workers must feel that it is remarkable how clear' and militant the left MPs are when confronted by 250 delegates angry at rising unemployment - yet when they return to the House of Commons their courage deserts them LIKE VOTING FOR a budget which slashed social services AND ABSTAINING on the Labour Government's policies of driving up Mr Eric Heffer, speaking at the same conference, made his suggestion on how such betrayals can be halted: Support for Labour MPs must be based on their support for correct policies, in particular their attitude to rising unemployment'. The Red Weekly agrees wholeheartedly with this proposal. Labour MPs must be made accountable to the labour movement organisations which put them in the House of Commons, not to the needs of the capitalist class reflected through their organised power - the state and its executive committee of Parliament.
Time is pressing. Every day the working class is undergoing fresh attacks on its standard of living. The recall of the TUC and Labour Party conferences is vital to organise action for a workers' answer to the bosses' crisis. The IMG will be fighting for policies which can set the British working Open the books of all companies threatening redundancy.
For a policy of work-sharing with no loss of pay.
For nationalisation under workers control of all firms unable to meet this basic right. * For a crash programme of public works — to meet social need and employ the jobless. * For a sliding scale of social expenditure to compensate automatically for inflation.
For a sliding scale of wages and a minimum wage of £40 per week