19th from Mike Martin .B.: this article is based upon m*terial in a Lockcut Cormittee press release. Full details of the rally are given in an advert on page 12.)
The settlement between the National Union of Hosiery and Kyi!sedr Workers and the management of CBR Jersey Mills, Brighton, continues to provoke widespread indignation throughout the lebour movement. Protests et the behaviour of the union leadership have been flowing in from union bran hes and trades councils all over the country. The Brightcn Trades Council, which speaks of "shabby, squalid settlerent", regards the agreement which left the victimised trade unionists at CBR without ‘obs, as one "which destroys the whole basis of trade unionism," The Sussex Federation of Trades Councils passed unanimously a resolution calling for en investigation of the settlement by the General Council of the TUC, while the president of the Sussex University Students' Union saw the agreement as "nothing more nor less than a sell-out." Despite the termination of support by the union, money is still coming in; the Associstion of FOCs sent £97. 3, Od, and the Odhams Process Chapel at Watford continues to hold weekly collections. The widespread support for the CBR men is shown by the fact that the Lockout Committee press release is able to quote the reactions of a nurber of ‘ournals within the labour movement including Tribune, Solidarity, The Week, etc., all critical of the union leaders. New Left Review is «quoted as follows: "The news is,.not altogether unexpected for any of us; the union bureaucracy is divorced from the shop-flcor, deliberately so, since the existence of a bureaucracy supposes the existence of interests ~ its own - to defend," A Brighton worker is guoted: "As a trade unionist I was disgusted at the betrayal. the CBR picket has experienced by the ishady deal with the CBR management. It is at times like these thet trade unionists realise that even in their own organisations there exist such reactionary villains." The situation now at CBR is that the 13 men still locked out - having repudiated the settlement -— are now forced to recognise that the union is no longer trying to secure their re-instatement. Picketing has « continued, and there heave been allegations of assaults upon the pickets being made by some of the "scabs," It is likely that the workers and their supporters will raise the issue at the next meeting of shareholders, having bought shares for the purpose, Also the campaign for trade unionism at CBR may be revived in the future since local workers recognise the daneer of having a shop like CBR in the area, The Lockout Cormittee has been touring the Midlands seeking the support of cther hosiery workers and they ask: "We also wish tc have the names and addresses of any NUHKW members, collectors or committee members, so that we can pet in touch with them." (Any Week reader who can help should send the information to CBR Lockout Committee, 7, Sillwcod Place, Brighton.) The Lockout Cormittee continues: "We particularly wish our point of view to be stated at the whitsun conference of the NUHKW, Only district Committee members are delegates to the conférence. Unless cne of the committee members is prepared to learn from us what has been hanpening the truth will not come out at the conference. ‘ve would also like a resolution regarding the dispute to be proposed before ?lst February, 1968. We are also concerned to make the NUHKW more democratic at the 1968 Rules Revision Conference...."
Militant demonstrations are being planned in many countries to commem-
orate the first mass demonstration in South Vietnam against American
involvement in the Vietnam war. This took place on March 19th., 195,
when thousands of students took to the streets in protest against the
presence of an American warship in Saigon harbour and against the incr-
easing support by the U.S. for the French in their fight against Viet-
namese nationalism. A call has come from the Vietnamese for an Inter-
national expression of solidarity with them in their struggle during the
week of iiarch 17th - 24th. Already in Britain the Stop-It Committee is
planning a number of local actions durin, the week in cooperation with
local V.S.C. branches and meetings have been called in Glasgow and in
London to form Ad Hoc Committees to organise mass rallies, In London
it is planned that meeting in Trafalgar Square and a march to the U.S.
Embassy should be held on Sunday, March 24th, as the culmination of a
week of militant activity.
The main slogans will be "Solidarity vith the Vietnamese People Against
American Aggression," and "Vietnam, End British Complicity," but those
taking part will be free to march under their own banners and slogans.
The Ad Hoc Committee will be organised along similar lines to the one
which organised the successful October 22 demonstration and will remain
open to any organisation supporting its programme. The committee is
setting up small groups to plan the various aspects of organisation and
publicity; posters, leaflets, speakers, stickers, organisation of local
meetings to gather support, wetc. It is estimated that the total cost
of organising this demonstration will be around £3500; this includes the
cost of printing 25,000 stickers and leaflets and 5,000 posters, plus
postage and stationery, press advertising, banners etc. but does not in-
clude any office expenses or wages. The Vietnam Solidarity Campaign is
giving all the money raised at the concert on December 22nd., £150, to-
wards March 24th., However, if we are to make this even more effective
than October 22nd. then we must double the numbers involved - 20,000
people should be our aim. ‘This means that it is essential we receive
donations rrom other organisations and individuals taking part. We now
have the experience of organising a mass demonstration and what we now
need is the means to put this experience into action.
Donations should be sent to; March 24th Vietnam Ad Hoc Committee, c/o
Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, 49 Rivington St., LONDON,E.C.2.
Over the last two months V.S.C. has proved its will to contime as an
independant organisation and has raised sufficient money to the March
24th mobilisation. The future of the campaign after March depends on
us proving our relevance by our militant action. In this way we will
receive the support needed to ensure our future existence.
Groups plannong local activity during ijarch 17th - 24th or who will be
bringing coaches down to London should contact me at the above address
for help with leaflets, stickers, speakers at local meetings etc. ‘tle
will be organising work parties to make banners and flags and to arrange
for the distribution of leaflets, stickers and posters. At present
this will be at 49 Rivington St. every Thursday from 6.50 p.m. - 1.00 p.m.