LOBBY OF TRADE UNION EXECUTIVES ON MARCH 2 from an industrial correspondent Mr. Jim Hiles, secretary of the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions has made a call for strong support for the lobby of trade union executives, next Thursday at Central Hall. Ina statement issued on February 23rd, he pointed out that the T.U.C. was not against the incomes policy but wanted to take over the role of the Government in making it work. "Trade unionists should not be kidded -- the effect will be the same," said Mr. Hiles, "The same difficulties in achieving wage increase will be facing them and will have to be opposed just as much as direct Government interference," He defended his personal right and that of the liaison committee to organise and take part in lobbies and similar activities, "It is my inalienable right to fight to protect my standard of living -- it is not enough to leave it to others to do that for me." he said. The liaison committee does not challenge the authority of the trade unions he said, but strengthens trade union organisation, "The committee wants to wee unions doing the job they were created for -- to fight for the best deal possible for their memberships, This is to be found in the Declaration of Purpose adopted at last December's conference by nearly 700 delegates representing 60 trade union organisations."
"But it is apparent that there are organisations making strenuous efforts to use and discredit the activities of the liaison committee for purposes that have nothing in common-with its aims. We deplore the action of these people who have no standing in the Labour movement and show themselves for what they are -- disrupters and even enemies of the organised trade union movement. As for the lobby of trade union executives on March 2 at Central Hall, we only want men and women elected by their union and shop steward organisations to go there." Mr. Hiles' statements about “outside organisations" are understandable but regrettable. Trying to ban the ultra-left is no answer, I can sympathise with Mr. Hiles, especially in view of downright lies which have bcen told about the lobby and its preparation by certain individuals. The best way of dealing with the ultra-left is to tackle him politically, and avoid being drawn into organisational wrangles.