from an industrial correspondent the Tobacco Workers' Union held its Anmal Conference at liarg.te last week. In keeping with its militant traditions, the union took up a firm stand against the war in Vietnam, and showed y2ry clearly that it was not at all taken in by the Incomes Policy of George Brown. It also carried a resolution opposing Ifen Coates' expulsion froin the Labour ‘arty. The Contorence heard some astonishing stories of bad conditions in told delegates, "A blood bank recently came to Nottingham asking for blood donors. When women volunteers went forvard a lerze number of those volunteers were rejected on the grounds of blood deficiency. fhese women had been workin, excessive overtime for sev..ra!. months." br. ‘ughes was seconiin, a resolution urging the Goverrment to reduce from 48 to 40 hours the maxirum permitted weekly hours of work for women and youn, people stipulated by the Factories Act, This resolution was carried unanimously. Later in tho day Mlayers' issued en indignant Genial. Clearly tie; had been touche. on the raw. Nottinghay spea.o1s also took a major part in discussing a successful Bristol resolution opposing compulsory overtime. Seconting the resolution, hr. Curzon said: "We have women workiny from eight in the norniny until seven at night. They are away from home 12 hours a day, and this is causing distress and inc nvenience in family life." hy, Stan Smith said that Iupsr al Tobacco Comany employees had to sign a document agrecin, to overtine when they joined the firm. "You haven't got time to read all the little print at the bottom, You are just asked to sign," he said. "Ym are signing the rest of your life away on overtime." Supportin, a resolution on safety and health, calling for a Notional Safsty and Accid nt Prevention Committee for the tobacco industry, and for special attention to be paid to mental fatigue and noise, hr, D. Trussler referred to the "soul-destroyins torture of
ding". On noise he added, "The infernal whine of oclectric mo'sc 4 other machinery turns the modern workshop into something resembling London Airport on a busy day,"
LIAR by Ken Coates As we enter the last week prior to the seminar on Industrial Democracy, registrations are arriving in bundles, Among the latest batch are 3 NUR delegates from Falkirk, 5 from Glasyow, 4 representatives of the London dockers including Ken Britton and Brothers Walsh and Vincent. hore Scunthorpe steelmen, Yorkshire mineworkers and busmen have been writing in. Colin Barker, co-author of the recent very effective exposure of the Incomes Policy~ ‘Incomes Policy, Legislation and the Unions', will be coming from hanchester with a number of other people. Joe Kenyon, editor of 'hiners' Voice’, will glso be bringing a party with him, ‘Liners' Voice' devotes a great part of its first issue to the question of Workers' Control. Joe himsg1f contributes a very sharp analysis of the crisis in coal, in which the demand for a realistic and honest fuel policy is scuarely put. The National Union of Seamen have just published a very important pam-hlet- 'Not Wanted On Voyage’, which answers the Pearson Report and makes a stable-mate to the Anti-Devlin Report, It lashes the employers' secrecy about their accounts, and attacks the distortions of the Fearson lieport. It should certainly be discussed at the seminar, if only for its very shrewd attacks Ps the present incomes policy. (price 2/- psp. from N.U.S., Postern Gate,
The Centre for Socialist Education is publishing a series of papers in its Bulletin, which will be out at the Weekend, These include itens on Incomes Foliey, lining, Docks and Safety, Authors include Walter Kendall, Tony Topham, Jack Jones, the Socialist edical Association and Joe Kenyon. The need for offers of hospitality in Nottingham is now desperate, Can we appeal to evory reader in ilottingham who has a bed to spare, or a couch, to cone forward with an o fer as quickly as possible ? Offers of beds in Nottingham, and now registrations, s.ould be rushed Telephone: lottingham 281364,