There is much to criticise in the International Socialists approach to rank and-file work in the trade unions. However the metnoas dispiaved in your re port of the National Union of Journalists annua conterence are no improve ment.
The reason the lett was deteated on technology and the pay policy was simply that delegates did not agree with the basis of the left's position. They did not vote down the Journalists Charter supporters' motion on technology be cause it "failed' to call for opening the Dooks and the imposition or worKers control, but because they believed the right wing who told them what a good thing the new methods would be for journalists.
Nor did they, contrary to you. report, vote the motion down because it called for a freeze on new machinery pending more negotiations. The o say that the let s resolutions or technology and wages were defeated at the NUJ conference because the majority of delegates supported the right wing is to state the obvious and ignore the inadequacy of the proposals put forward by Journalists Charter supporters.
one resolution on tennoloov etrec tively disarmed the left in the debate. The employers' project of permanently eliminating tens of thousands of jobs in the print, press, and publishing industry is already underway with the open cooperation of the union bureaucracies.
But instead of posing a fight for demands that could put workers on the ottensive. ine resolutions supporters were constrained to argue: 'There is a big treat so nang on tor a year unti we examine it more closely As Car Garoner nas aroueo in ne Journalist: "To those who say the unions are not ready for such advanced demands, unfortunately the situation The same applies to the debate on wages policy. Delegates voted for wage restraint not so much because they thought it would save jobs, but because they belleved me covernment s es doout nat ing inflation - whose ravages they feel daily. the demand tor a sliding scale oi wades woule nave allowee Ine let to out Torward a wav or coping with tne erects of inflation without making the workers motion called for no such thing; what it wanted was a freeze while a committee or inquiry - elected trom the con ference - made its own assessment of the new techniques.
Nor was the motion on the pay policy defeated because it not mention because the majority of delegates eneved mat a vuruner cut in real say would safeguard their members jobs.
The defeat of the left on these questions had nothing to do with its non application or me INGs Der nostrums - it was because most of the delegates and membership still support the reformist case. The appeal ot the iNcs standard tormulas. inci ment dealing with these issues at the conference. - JULIAN WELLS, Secretary, Hemel Hempstead NUJ.
RED WEEKLY REPLIES bear the expense mator criticisms of Journals charter Com Wells has been among those who have arqued that the present fight for NUJ with freedom of the press. Journalists like those in Barnsley, who are now treatment of the trade unionists on sumaby Torowing donna duty the sectoralism and elitism reflected in agenda - supporters of Journalists Charter were to the fore in voting them down - other resolutions inspired by IMG members on support for 26 May, the calling of a labour movement press freedom conference, abortion, and the Working Women's Charter Campaign were carried at tae conterence the sliding scale of wages. It was defeated dentally, is shown by the fact that they did not appear in any motion or amend Comrade Wells does not refer to the closed shop issue.
made in Red Weekly's report of the conterence its consistent retusa to tae uo