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The derisory cries which greeted part of Jack Jones' speech at the FTA last week caused more than embarrassment to the principal hosts. Reaction from sections of the onethousand who attended clearly showed that there are still wide schisms in Britain's industrial relations.
It was, perhaps, too much for them to hear patriotic rallying cries from the TGWU leader. It was equally strange, perhaps, to hear him presenting facts like a salesman for Britain. He was obviously seen by many still to be playing politics.
And there were those who laughed at the prospect of the lamb lying down with the lion. But were they justified ? Seemingly incompatible forces have co-operated in the past to overcome adversity. Would not Stalin and Churchill have made strange peacetime team mates ?
Transport managers upon whom the country's economy is so dependent should not find too much difficulty in playing in the same team as union officials during these difficult times, just as long as they're both playing in the same direction. Cat-calling each other in public is hardly the best way to encourage co-operation or gain the confidence we so desperately need abroad.