Yrom the Financial Times ~14-6-65
Whether or not the docks are to be the battleground for a major 40-hour week breakthrough will be decided within the next few weeks. Last week the port bosses rejected a claim for a cut in the weekly hours from 42 to 40 in British docks. At the same tine it was agreed that the twice daily "attendance money" paid when a docker reports for work but does not get any, will be raiaead from 7/- to e/~. In resisting demands for a cut in the working week, the port bosses will be strongly backed by the Government, who may try to refer the struggle to 'Nick' The vnions involved are the T&G.W.U., the N.UG.M.W., the Scottish 7.G.W.U. , and the Watermen, tke lightermen, and the Tugmen and Bargemen's Union. About 70,000 men are concerned. Whe dockers will go into the struggle conscious of their victory in securing 4 cut from 44 hours to42 hours in August 1962.
Among dther claims that remain outstanding at the moment for the 40 hour week is one for 1.25M English and Welsh building workes and another for 3.25M engineering an.’ shipbuilding workers.
Ra. Note: A breakthrough in one sector of industry for the on 40 hour working wei will give great momentum to demands for its general application throughout the whole of industry. Because of éectoral considerations, the Labour Party leadership will do every thing it can to discredit such a campaign. ‘The left must therefore fight all the harder for active participation by local C.L.FP.'s and Y¥.S. branches, to integrate them with the 1.U. struggle by handing out leaflets and organisin, demonstrations where possible, APRICAN WALK-OUT IN FROTEST AGAINST APARTHEID taken from Guardian
The June 19th Guardian reported that the African walk-out from — the International Labour Organisation Conference on June 1&th was "a carefully calculated move to push the 1.4.0. to the brink of destruction and to keep it there until 5. Africa either abandons apartheid or is removed from the I.L.0." Walking out as the conference was about to elect a new chairman they made it clear that their action "does not mean withcrawal from cr leaving the conference" and that the African delegates wil "continue to enjoy the rights conferred on us as delegates until we finally decide on a further sep in the light of developments" =
This has put the :conference in a dilemma. Unless they satisfy the demands of the African delegates they do not see how the conference or 1.1.0. can continue. Half the members have withdrawn and the Prench Govmt. delegate commented that unless the necessary 2/3 quorum was obtained "the I..0. will stop its operations on Jan lst." The Africans were followed by the Soviet Block, the non-Afric an members of the Arab league, and Israel. However the Ukrainian eting-chairman stayed behind and the Soviet block avoided committing itself to any qualified withdrawal. Most Asian and Latin- American countries stayed behind together with W.EBurope and Ne America is support of the argu ment put foreward by the I.L0. director general "if we adhere to the law, it will re-inforce the moralpurpose of the 1.10. in its struggle aceist racial discrinination and for the universal recognition of humen dienity" ‘He recomended to the Africans thatthey should pass resolutions urging the U.N. Security Council "To take up apartheid as an urgent natte"