[AS an NUR activist, I must try to…]

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AS an NUR activist, I must try to answer Brian Whitehead's questions. (Letters, SO92).

The permanent attack by Sid Weighell on the left is the mark of a man in panic. The Broad Left inside the NUR is a serious threat to Sid's undemocratic rule. The rule changes proposed at this year's AGM are a sign of the growing awareness in the rank and file.

The Broad Left is a grouping of left wing activists campaigning for rank and file control of the NUR (amongst other things). While it's small at the moment, it is an alternative to the right wing dominated bureaucracy.

The fact that 30 AGM delegates were elected unopposed shows the indifference many people have to the union. This apathy is a big disadvantage to Sid and his right wing reactionaries. The Broad Left must encourage people to stand on a left The strike date was not the one the NEC wanted. Sid Weighell deliberately delayed the reply from BRB reaching the NEC. This meant that the start of the strike coincided with the start of the AGM. Sid Weighell knew that he could twist the AGM round his little finger as no NEC members are present.

Negotiations on pay were stopped because while the AGM sits it is the ruling body of the NUR and makes all decisions.

The NEC is composed of 26 members who cannot be everywhere at once. Locally however, NEC member K. Turton attended an open meeting for all NUR members. This meeting helped put over the union message.

But what has been shown is a crying need for an alternative to 'Transport Review": This 'paper' is usually two weeks late, and puts management's views across better than 'Railnews' Secondary picketing was not mentioned nationally, but any branch activist should have been pushing for flying and secondary pickets from the first. All places where freight and Sid Weighell should be shamed - but not the NUR ranks passengers have been transferred to should have been picketed.

Finally, if all Brian Whitehead can see is the loss of two days' pay then he should come north.

In Sheffield area the unity behind the strike was marvellous. Many people showed doubt and worry but on day one we had about 94% out. Even after Sid manoeuvred the AGM to call off the strike we still had less than 10% scabs.

This area now is ready for action.

One picket said that if he had asked the workers to stop out an extra day in protest at the strike being called off they would have.

That is what has been gained from this strike, a sense of unity not known before and a growing awareness that Sid Weighell is not the nice person they thought he was.

Sid may have lost face in front of other unions but the workers have nothing to be ashamed of.

I must •say personally that I am proud of the response in the Sheffield area and I applaud the pickets who not only turned up on Monday, but also came on Tuesday, despite having been knifed in the back by the traitorous 'hissing' Sid Weighell.

M. SIDAWAY NUR member, Sheffield City Branch (Personal capacity7

Dear S.o,

ALTHOUGH the report of the anti-nuclear conference held in Brussels, July 2-4,

We invite readers to send us their letters, up to a usual maximum' length of 400 words.

Send to

Socialist Organiser, c/o?8, Middle Lane.

London N8. in the Socialist Organiser of July 8 did refer to the "great confusion over political aims and solutions" there, the report struck me as insufficiently critical of that confusion.

We learn that 'the feeling of comradeship and of