iT U.5.D.Ae/s CONFSRONCE. - Although the platform won out on the question. of defenco policy, the right wing leadership have not had it sll their own way by any ocans at the USDAW annual confercnece On two domestic issues they suffercd roverses of some significance. The first bcing sn the question of an enquiry into why the union loses one third of its membership aench year. A rasolution fron the South London branch ealled for the setting up of such a committce and the seckingof ficlds of lerge senile recruitncnt. Alf. dllen, the gconcral scerctnry, said thnt the sctting up of this conmittes would be "tantamount to a vote of no confidcnee in tho executive", this brought widespread shcuts of disapproval from tho delegates. From the chair, Wolter Padloy ordc an llth hour switch to avoid an ovorwhelning defeat for the lendcrship. He eallcd for Oo unanimous vote for the proposition.
The scoond, and mora significant, defent wns on the question of cqual pnys The union is committed to oqual pay for men and woricn,; of courac, but it hos negotiated meny ngreenents which perpotunte or cven inercase the difforentinlss Branches wanted to romedy this anonaly by conmitting the union to refuse future wage incronses which do not "assist in achicving" cqual pay for men nnd wonon. The cxecutive opposed a resclution slong these lincs from the North West London branch. Padlcy however, unwilling to nocopt dcefent, enlled for a onrd votc.e. It was then enrricd by 121,691 votes to 108,286.