union, last gear.
'extending the union's democracy', of course!
at the union's divisional level. Is holds monthly meetings in London before the union's executive commitlee The only 'open face" it has is revulne mass meetings al the union's national conference.
In the "60v the grouping had fairly broad support, and was responsible for transforming the union from a small craft-based union with a right-wing leadership to today's 150,000strong union led by the Broad Left, the Communist Party as the main politica: force.
Despite these advances in the concentrated in recent years on fighting for changes union' structure which are the banner "streamlining the union', 'more cifective. decision "cutting costs', and giving the executive committee "a national authority', the Broad Left has taken steps seriously curtail the control of rank and file members over the affairs of our union. Just take a few exariples.
* The executive committee has been cut by half, and its members are now elecied on u regional basis. Branches are represented on 26 divisional but the exocutive.
confuse union members and should be banned at branch meetings and weekend conferences. So argued Broad Left members at a Manchester divisional council meeting of TASS, the white collar section of the engineering DICK DAY writes that this kind of disregard for democracy continues unabated in the union, and the Broad Left has led this stack — all in the name of The Broad Left in TASS is committee is based on 11 regions. And so the direct accountability of the EC to the branches disappears, This step has been taken despite the lack of support from conference delegates in 1975 which even the intense change * The Broad Left espelled members who tried to modily its proposals, so that exceutive committee would be more accountable membership. This happened in some of us in Manchester won a resolution along these lines at oar branch * The executive committee last year made proposals to give divisional councils, rather than branches, the powers to ele conference delegates: of proposals from the EC these councils the right amend and select branches resolutions go to national conference.
Branches would thus be resolutions direcrly TETCHEE INCI ailer discussion and debte on all resolutions, to With widespread rank and file opposition, the EC finally compromised, CATCTEALL reduced the power of branches, bur increased three-fold partici pation in decision making, in proposals. * The Broad Left opposes Implementing electing all officials. They selecled by exocutive members and appointed for life.
Furthermore, members are bound by rules The opposes the right of candidates to publish election addresses. Of course canvassing does take place, but with these policies if 1s ground wansane canal How does the Broad Left Broad Left lobbying could justify these measures?
argues that a modified TASS structure will bring un cioser to the engineering section of the Amalgamated and Union of the belping along the process of 10- malgamation, But in reality, It has been these undemocratic right Wing engineering section have seized on to hold up the process Five years of negotiations taken place between different The ear! sections of union leadership.
gave The merits and deficiencies to the Working Proposals which amalgamation have been more than aired. The section losing because it has dragsed its feel send for so long to con- Other Ike the vehicle hailders and thi boiler with the TERESTREL union and the Municipal Workers' and agreed to This has This entineenbe sechion to extend an open hand. And none other than Frank Chapple of the electricians" union has grasped full-time union gT0 TBING union Broad with plenty Workers, thics for ground.
copineering wions, it! The makers, have merged workers General and Manoeuvres Union prompled mernhers will appeal for action has always case. Let's hope Boyd joins him soon.
undemocratic terins did involve therank and file. which Chapple will want to bold to in any amalgamation and deals behind closed doors excluding only make CEOMTTCEERE whole. Today's measures are a TEETHE for amalgamation which really SCANLON (lelt] and Boydat the opening of the AUEW musoum, Scanion will soon be put in a glass An important way to ensure that the ALEW becomes a fully amalgamated and democratic ubion is by extending and developing joint shop stewards involving both staff and manual workers.
conferences of shop stewards committee delegates should neet to develop lactics for defending living standards, And TO Work Out 3 stratens Do strengthen their union through democratic Combine slewands committee could also become a powerful leverin the fight for democratic amalgamation national structures were developed.