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West Midlands leads
Page 4
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The 1979 TUC Conference must go on record as the most indecisive ever. Posturing there was in abundance, and some of the performances before the TV cameras would shame even Equity members.
What was missing was a constructive approach to industrial and labour relations. The problems of the 12 million trade unionists were proclaimed. They are also the problems of the population of Britain and cannot be solved in isolation.
While the TUC was taking blinkered looks down TV camera lenses, however, one of its constituent parts was making a positive move towards industrial common sense. No. 5/35 branch of TGWU must be applauded for its display of good sense in trying to establish negotiating machinery based of democratic principles.
The applause is the more merited since 5/35 branch was that militant group led by Alan Law who is now described by his former colleagues as an -autocrat-. Mr Law's approach was described as informal — it would more properly be recognised as -divide and conquer-.
The new approach is to be one of consultation, negotiation and even Oonciliation The unions want a formalised procedure and the employees agree. All, then, seems set fair for a winter of less discontent in the West Midlands than the TUC predicted for the country as a whole.
No. 5/35 has given the lead which others would do well to follow.