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The reactionary headmaster-dominated National Council of the EIS, at its meeting of 11 and 12 February, rejected a proposal from General Secretary John Pollock to affiliate to the TUC. Opposition to Pollock's attempt to take FIS into the "corridors of power" was led by Glasgow headmaster Norman Meleod who argued, What we are witnessing if this recommendation is passed is the proletarianising of this Institute" Affiliation was rejected by 60 votes 1o 53 after a recount.
Council sources have told Scottish Socialist that Pollock was very angry with the decision, and had been heard to mutter that "Rank and File are right". Rank and File, the EIS ginger group supported by the Socialist Workers Party, has long campaigned for the abolition of Council as a way to break the power of the headmasters. As revealed in the last issue of Scottish Socialist Pollock is already secking ways to do this. Meantime it is expected Pollock will retaliate by bringing the matter of TUC affiliation to the floor of the EIS AGM in June.
Pollock's attempts to take on the headmasters and affiliate to the TUC will be given critical support by the left in FIS, but it must be understood that it is John Pollock and not the headmasters who is the chief obstacle to transforming FIS into a weapon to fight the cuts and the Social Contract. Pollock's method is that of maneouvring with his Labour Party cronies in the "corridors of power , whether in the Regional Councils or the TUC or the Cabiet. He fights shy of any attempt to mobilise the membership of EiS aganst the cuts under the guise of constitutional wrangling over the small print of the contract of service.
At Pollock's prompting, FIS chief negotiator Keir Bloomer has made fiery speaches about industrial action over proposed teacher redundancies in the Highland Region. Scortish Socialist has been informed that Pollock, far from contemplating strike action, could well be preparing to cat his words and trade Nexibility on the contract (bigger classes) for a withdrawal of the redundancy threat. Pollock, and not the headmasters, has been responsible for EIS scabbing on the NALGO March 9 anti-cuts strike.
Meanwhile, Glasgow EIS militant Kenny McLaughlin has failed in hid bid to win a place on the ballot for the EIS presidency. In EIS, would-be candidates have to be nominated by their local branch. Against expectations, Melaughlin came second to a right winger for the Glasgow nomination.
It had been expected that McLaughlin's candidature could have served as a focus around which to unite the fragmented left in the union. Edinburgh Rank and File member, Myra Armstrong was to have been vice-presidential candidate on a common ticket with MeLaughlin. In the wake of McLaughlin's failure to be nominated, Rank and File has withdrawn from the vicepresidential spot.
The loss of a slate is a serious blow to the left. Sources close to FIS headquarters told Scottish Socialist that Gencral Secretary John Pollock had been very worried about such a challenge.
Scottish Socialist will continue to campaign against the fragmentation ol' the left in HIS in the face of Pollock's mancouvring. As a part of this campaign, the pages of Scotrish Socialist are open to contributions from Rank and File, the CP-backed Organisation of Progressive Teachers or any other Socialist Teachers.
Meantime, the next President of FIS is dable to be a certain Terance Twatt, a headmaster from Oban.