This long chain of sell dutist breeds cynicism

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itart talks OP on an pports it irnment." o do with aim credit i General nd claims aat it will nd." Foot i-out with it is : about at only A day protest would be too much.

1981 as divided. Though nearly half see people in need, bitter memories of a handful believe Labour will carry if the Labour leadership which has made it I of hostile media coverage - to convince ipport the party of the labour movement. y the refusal of the leadership to argue br the Manifesto policies they drew up, let iolicies.

hiserable and broken-backed election camif the last four years. Labour is the party ost workers' recent experience of union issions and betrayals by their officials at Edwardes Plan over the dead bodies of our members."

Ron Todd (TGWU) on steel closures. "The TGWU will not accept one redundancy or one closure. We will demand to look at BS's books. We will challenge their whole notion of profitability." (Three months later TGWU lorries were routinely crossing steelworkers picket lines as the leadership dodged the issuing of clear instructions to hait supplies).

December 1979, Bill Sirs: "our cooperation in the closure of steelworks has apparently been interpreted as a sign of weakness"

December 1979, TUC announces plans to combat cuts and anti-union laws: a demonstration on March 9, and a 'Day of Action' on May 14! A TUC spokesperson explains that the delay is "to allow the cuts to bite and give union leaders time to assess the rhetoric, vacillation and downright sabotage.

rally behind the Tories and the Alliance.

Jan 1980, steel strike. Bill Sirs. "The steel unions are engaged in a political fight with the Tory government. A general strike would be a very frightening possibility." Sid Weighell "(NUR): «Trade union action confined to South Wales would not be enough to stop BSC's plans. It's .a 1926 situation."

Welsh general strike already called for January 21 with NUM support. TUC urges calling it off - take out court injunctions against BSC instead!

February 1980, Moss Evans appeals to Edwardes for "more talks" to further delay outstanding BL pay struggle during steel strike.

March 1980, TGWU pledges official support to any struggle against sackings on Merseyside -but Dunlop's Speke workforce is led onto the dole queues by their convenor, TGWU national chair, Stan Pemberton. May 14 TUC 'Day of Action' -tens TUC Of thousands strike despite appeals for only lunchtime meetings. Fleet Street unions defy courts and halt the presses.

June 1980, John Baldwin (AUEW construction section): "It would not be disastrous if all the laggers in construction came out on strike. We would send our members through the picket lines and they would do the laggers' work, wherever it became necessary.

August 1980, Len Murray to NW TUC: "The General Council recently consulted affiliated unions and I must tell you thére is little or no support for a repeat of the Day of Action in the near future.' October 1980, Terry Duffy, AUEW declares willingness to "live with" the Prior Act, while Frank Chapple (EETPU) urges bosses to "use it properly." November 1980: BL pay fight sold out through intervention of General Secretaries who declare: "Both parties acknowledge their unique responsibility for the success and competitiveness of facturer, major British car manu- the sole Immediately afterwards, Tories announce 6% public sector pay limit.

Spring 1981, Lee Jeans: sit-in against closure. NUTGW take seven weeks to declare it official.

September 1981: British Airways announce wage cuts, TGWU national officer responds: "We are getting very close to the situation where we will have no alternative but to start fighting."

January 1982: Duffy opposes plans for limited action against Tebbit's Bill, calling for joint approach with employers! "We feel that they have a bigger influence in urging the government. to change from a course that will undoubtedly lead tò confrontation."

April-May 1982, NHS pay fight. Alan Fisher *opposed to strike action by nurses, *opposed to action before agreed by TUC Health Services committee, *in favour of arbitration! TUC Health Services Committee eventually proposes ... 2 hour strikes once a week!

Summer 1982, NUR strike:

ASLEF instructs members to report for duty and 'make personal decisions' on whether to work with NUR scabs.

ASLEF strike: knifed by IUC. Ray Buckton: "Throughout, British Rail's actions have received the full support of the government. Now they have received the support of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the TUC. The public utterances of the General Secretary of the NUR have been contrary to every AeTOnS.

British Rail Board at every stage."

September 1982: Sapper and Evans (TUC F&GP members) follow their betrayal of ASLEF by insisting at TUC that they would rather go to prison than pay fines levied under the Tebbit Bill.

October 1982, Tories announce 32% public sector pay limit. Evans: 'The Tories are throwing down the gauntlet and saying to workers 'Take us on'."

October 1982: As Spanswick -opposed to all-out NHS strike -proposes petition campaign and day of action on November 24 NUPE leader Bickerstaffe announces: "We want escalation. We will reaffirm even more strongly [!] on this occasion the NUPE conference policy lof May!| for an all-out strike with accident and emergency cover. Very many people are coming to believe that is the only way forward."

October 1982, Moss Evans: boasts of 3-year pay contract signed with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. Says he might favour "progressive" incomes policy "but my Executive might kick my backside for saying it.

December 1982, 16 week DHSS jobs strike in Oxford and Birmingham wound up. SCPS declare this comes after "initiatives by the TUC and the intervention of Opposition spokesmen in discussions that reopened this week." march for jobs.

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feelings of the rank and file"!!| nati

(millions) Registered unemployed 1982