The National Federation of Building Trades Operatives have withdrawn the credentials from three London shop stewards for their part in the London Building Workers Joint Sites Committee. The three stewards are Bob Gordon, Max Bayer and Bill Thompson. The withdrawal of their stewards credentials arose over the December 7th demonstration called by the Joint Sites Committee to protest at the freezing of the pay award due to be paid to building workers on that date.
This move is one calculated to damp down the rising militancy of the London building workers. This militancy has been evident in a number of strikes on various sites in London ‘recently. The Myton and Sunley disputes are evidence of the calculated attempts of the employers to destroy site organisation and of the determination of the men to resist this.
Another move by the NFBTO also has implications for such developments in the future. It was decided at a meeting on December 14th that representatives of all affiliated unions should meet before declaring any strike official from now on. This decision originates in the friction between the TGWU and the ASW over the Myton Barbican site dispute. It is possible under the present arrangement that more strikes will be unofficial than previously, and no doubt lead to a swelling of the chorus from the employers about ‘irresponsible elements'. The real question is who is being irresponsible in the present situation, those who fight to defend site organisation or those who obstruct this? The Myton and Sunley disputes give the rank and file's answer.