After the nagnificent example set by the Hull dockers, the Hull fishermen, one of the nost neglected sections of British workers, are showing renerkable solidarity in their struggle for 100% Trade Unionism on the trawlers. Two men have refused to join the T&GWU. The owners refuse SMto sign them off. The trawlernents unofficial strike connittee are determined to procure s disfaction, Behind the strike lies a steady build-up of union consciousness and nilitancy over the past few monthse This week~end, after a mass meeting of 500 men, the decision to continue the strike was taken unaninously, and a further step to strengthen the strike was takene The 500 marc.ed from the meeting place to SteAndrew's Dock to"sign off" their trawlers, which means that the employers cannot now clain legal authority to call upon then to return to their ships. The committee want to see 100% unionism on all trawlers, and are sending . delegation to Grinsby to enlist t..e trawlerm:n there in sympathetic actions They are also calling on the T&GWU to make tue strike an official one. If trawlers are diverted to Hull from other ports, to supply the Haster market, the question of Hull bobbers'? support for the strike will arise too. The wives of several strikers have issued their ow "press statenent"saying: "we support the men in what tuey are doing". The T&GWU has recently nide great strides in the fising industry here, and had reached the point where almost all trawlers were sailing with 100% nembershipe Owner's "runners" who take on the crews before voyages, have been coniig to the Union office on the dock, asking for pernission to sail, wen crews have been shorthanded. This final explosion demonstrates a very deep deternination to "close the ranks" for a united struggle against one of te nost backward and ruthless set of employers to be found anywhere. Whether ti.e strike is nade official or not, there is no doubt of tiie impact which recent events hrve had upon the attitude of the union towards its members. Whilst the old guord of regio...l officials continue to deplore the actions of "irrespon~ sible elements", the clesr treng ig tow rds closer underst nding-=the younger officils :re much closer to their members. ‘These young officials also find the present olicy and leadership of the wnion- p -rticularly its opposition to tie Incomes Policye very nuch to tueir taste. Meauwhile, the negotiations on tle revision of piece-r.tes in Hull docks, precipitated by the ten one-day strikes whic! ere now "suspended", “re producing major increases for dockers wlio were almost prepzred to believe that nothing would sift the enployers of Hull, 50% increases heve been conceded: a new tougii style towsrds employers is evident fron the T&G, who have drafted a London docks officer, with London piece-rate standards, into Hull. "he employers are te opposition" is tie new ( for Hull's old gu:rd officials) message. It is rapidly downing on Hull's workers and unions that t.uey are an isolnted, backward, low-wage areae Unions which f2il to respond to this new mood will probably feel t e scourge of further unofficial strikers' impatierce. The effect: cainot but improve the whole tone of t..e Labour novement heree Hull's "Young Workers" omittee" 4s adding its new voice to the movenents their first leaflet says""The bosses think that because Hull is isolated they can get awry with poor w ges, poor working conditions, exploitation of young workers".
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