Amidst frenzied scenes, an alleged "meeting' of Camden Trades Council finally agreed last week to accept the new Rule 14 into its constitution.
Rule 14 is the dictatorial instruction from the TUC prohibiting trades councils from supporting any organisation which does not support TUC policy. The implementation of the rule would mean that trades councils would not be allowed to support the day of action against unemployment called for 26 May; and it would prohibit support for such organisations as the Working Women's Charter, the National Coordinating Committee Against Cuts answering no questions.
wnen askea under waat standing orders and what constitution the meeting was operating, he replied: *I am taking no discussion on constitutional matters. When secretary Gregory was asked to explain why he had refused to consult the Executive Committee of the Trades Council, an embarrassed Lloyd stopped Gregory's pathetic attempts at self-justification with: "Sit down Sid, don't answer them.
Such behaviour set the tone for the rest of the meeting. delegate challenged the chair, Lloyd ignored the challenge. He refused throughout to take points of order any critic to sit down the minute they tried to speak.
chair were accompanied by stormtrooper tactics from the supporters of Rule 14 on the floor. At one point a delegate whose branch opposed Rule 14 was grabbed by one of the self-appointed TUC policemen and threatened with physical violence.
When a with such shouts as we'll put you in boxes, 'we'll break a few bones bureaucracy.
or points of information; he ordered Vindicated Such jackboot tactics from the The same individual and others constantly interrupted the meeting approval to such tactics unless they had a purpose in mind. That purpose is to use Rule 14 against those who seek to challenge the current anti-working class policies of the Labour leadership and the TUC Furthermore, the meeting completely vindicated those in Camden who had argued against capitulating to Gregory and signing an undertaking to support the rule. Although Gregory had said that only those who gave in to this blackmail would be allowed in, and although one or two parmenic attempis to eurorco this ruling were made, delegates whose branches indicated opposition to the rule were admitted and their votes were counted.