The rule of Law
Page 4
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Who runs the country? That is the question on many lips today During his term of office, the Prime Minister has abdicated much of his authority in favour of the trade unions. Recent events suggest that trade unions executives have in turn abdicated much of their authority to the shop floor. This view was publicly expressed by Mr Callaghan last week. It was illustrated amply by Alan Law, trade group secretary of the West Midlands area of the Transport and General Workers Union the same day. Once more Mr Law has taken over as union spokesman on the tachograph issue, but by whose authority does he speak? Has Mostyn Evans also abdicated, or has he appointed Alan Law as the official union spokesman? If not, he should advise his over-talkative colleague to keep quiet. Have the rank and file members from all over Britain authorised their West Midland comrade to speak on their behalf? If not, he is exceeding his authority. His claim that drivers will cripple the country with an all-out strike before accepting the tachograph is wildly out of date. This country cannot continue to break the law because a West Midlands trade union official says we should. Trade union leaders are quick to inform us that it is the members — the rank and file — who make the decision. We suggest Mr Law sits down quietly and lets all the members speak for a change