from a r published b farers’ liaison Conmittes.. por 7 ed by the Bristol Channel Sea~
Brothers: we all know our immediate aims :- To get ri 56 hour agreement, to implement the N.U.S. 1964 AGH felity kee + still valid, the 56 hour deal being illegal under N.U.S. rules. We want the Same things we voted for in 1964, at the AGM; 1. A 40 hour week at sea and in port, 2. £5 monthly wage increase. 3, Overtime rates as follows: time plus a half Monday to Friday, double time for all weekend work. What is stopping us from going forward for these aims? Nowadays, we are organised to some extent. in rank and file matters. We don't lack expere tence or militancy in going after what we are entitled toe However we can only start moving effectively, if we are united nationally around & pational rank and file seamen's policy, In 1960, we took united action on @ national basis, supporting the call from our Mational Committee, around the national policy they gave us. In June 1961, we were conceded that policy in full. Our failure to crush the 56-hour Sellout early in 1965 was due to lack of national unity. Some districts took strike action, others didn't, We should either have struck nationally or stayed out nationally. As it was the strike was a fiasco ~a graphic illustration of: ‘United we stand ~ Divided we fall.! A National Rank and File Committee can only be created by rank and file seamen themselves electing their own committee-members from the various port districts of the U.K. and also by electing delegates toa National Rank and File Conference. The Conference would bring about discussigns ona national basis of all our future aims. It would provide the Policy for our National Committee to lead us to success in achieving that policy, We feel that the National Committee should take part in the Conference, acting as delegates during the Conference and thereafter as the Natioml Committee representing U.K. Seamen and their aims. As soon as there are enough districts represented for a National Conference, the date, and location, etc. of the Conference will be circulated. Editorial Note: To carry on their fight, the seamen need as much help as they can get from the rest of the labour Movement, Readers in the South West can contact either G. Foulser, Editor, 'Bristol Channel Seafarer’, c/o M. Crawley, 36 Whitaker Road, Tremorfa, Cardiff, Glam., or M. Nogan, Sec. Bristol Channel Seafarers' Liaison Committee, _ 15, Pyle Road, Bly , Cardiff, Glam.