Ireland: betrayal and the story of a The TUC 32
were Cleared out of the shipyard over five Hundred loyalists: had been caken on, and agam in can he stressed thar "Sinn Feiner" What this last quotarion suggests is Lat the loyalist workers and the management were now working band in glove tu recruit was a euphemism tor carbolic The Harland and Wolff shipyard - scene of sectarian mass expulsions of catholic workers domination of Although this that unions general baller their members on such a general srike army was a good deal less radical than in sounds - Britisli Ireland and even recommended the resolution recommended withdrawal from the country. demned British military secure Strice twenty ten to zero to strongly object? - out of a membership ul 283. A mass meeting of union membership in une ol the smaller shipyards stated that the ex- ecutive should cave politics aside' other- vut of a membership of 105 - the other by wise it could cause dissension in our ranks" the carpenters'
protestants to the jobs from which the The lovalists organised themselves into vigilance commir- lees in the shipyards and elsewhere and it was these whn operared a rather twisted form of workers control' in terms of who was catholics had been chased emploved the resolution wak knowing full well that such a course of action pathy of trade unionists in Britain were: with the 70 per cent who had voted Sinn Fein in * fir reflection of where the political syra the 1918 general election. would not be fullowed The person who chaired that meering was William Barrlay, a member of the barer Inionist Labour Association, a body set up Barclay's concern about causing dissension in our ranks' was illustrated the lollowing ing procestants from labour to unionism. by the Unionist Party to wean away any err
Such was the rauber difficult situation into which the carpenters" union decided to in- tervene. On 24 Augusr members of the ex- of proposals. These included reinstatement of all the expelled workers, the outlawing of ccutive committee went to Belfast and mer the managemenr of the largest shipyard, Harland and Wolff. The union made a series neither the popular support for Sim Fein or FOR THE loyalist working class of Belfast, the decisions of their British rex: cut much ice. The month of August saw. the atrarks on catholic and catholic nwned property reach new depths, A British newspaper described in as live weeks of ruthless persecution By assault, and plunder fire. boycott. month when be chaired a further meeting t the shipyard which reanived, that wt. the unionist and protestant workris. declare Also that in all future applications tor employment we respectlully suggest than the that we will not work with disloval warkers.. first consideration be given to loyal ex: servicemen and prorescant unionists"
33 at some future date. The union judged this for all the expeller workers on their return to employment in the shipyard and protection the yard. In response the employers claimed mise only to consider the union's proposals they "deplored the troubles but would pro- religious or political discrimination start of August that they had gained a great , while another claimed that, "since the Sinn Feiners A loyalist shipyard worker boasted at che victory and they had struck Sinn Fem and rod flag socialism the worst blow it had culminating in a week's wholesale violence* reccived in Brifast for thirty years! Members of the carpenters union were. dien, both being expelled from and expelling in the shipyards, but the anton itself was hot Indeed a special congress of the TWO was held on 19 July 1920 to discuss that very topic: Que of thr resplutions passed con- the only one discussing the centen Treland SOCALST OUTLOOK #4 November December 1967
was a courageous move to makr, but ic was one informed by trade umon principles so basic that Jor anyone who took those prin- The union could be criticised for condem ning management when it was their workers who had offended But confirmation of the tarianism came at the meeting suggested in Harland and WollT's letter of 12 September. Ar it the vigilance committee initiallv agreed to drop their demand that any returning vic- timised worker should sign a declaration of loyalty to the empire and hatred of Sinn Fein. But they reserved the right to ask for of any renaming worker diat Ley were not connected with ciples seriously there was little option. management's involvementin the "word of honour' LABOLRANDIRELAND tion of loyalty to the British empire and state, "T do not belong or symparhise with Sinn Fein, and I deplore and abhor all inflicted upon humanity by this dangerous and disloyal It was now two tonths since the expul- sions began, In thar time the carpenters union had seen hundreds of their members driven out of their jobs, including a member of their executive: they had seen attempts to consult with their Bellast membership bann- ed by the military authorities; they had as well as from the FUC. They decided it was September they instructed all their remain ing membeis in the shipvards and other witnessed prevarication Irom management, and outrages tune to act, At as EC The leadership of as prevarication and decided to call a mass meeting of all thei members lo decide on their next course of action. The meeting was to be privare and held indoors. At this point the British army and government interven- ed. The meeting was banned. According to one major-general, EGT Brainbridge of the British army's Ist division in Ireland, it was Hone un the grounds that the mecting would To the next two weeks further expulsions occurred. Among the victims this time was an executive member of the the one union which had attempted to do about the expulsions this theniselves became the latest targer of the give rise to grave disorder. 'moderate labour man",
More significantly, Harland and Well! agreed to the proposrerous suggestion that in given the role of "defending any catholir in tee had overseen the assaults in the first place. the transformation from poucher to ganickeper was rather rapid! The crux of the mater is that by these actions — viting of those victimised, and giving them a future officially recognised this sectarian grouping, vigilance committee to hold acetings 11 the yard from assault. The vigilance commit- the vigilance committee to the steting. negotiating with them on the retur to work role at the shipyard — the managemenr bad Henecforth the management permitted che wirktime and even set aside moms for thee endorsing its right to operate in the vurd. where they could conduct their busines future the vigilance committee vigilance committee firms affcored by the expulsions to come out WHO SAYS WE'RE TO HAVE HOME RULE? on strike. They explaincd:: Such was the challenge facing the TUC when it met at the start of September in Port: not one union had paid any attention to the motion recommending a ballot on strike ac- tion passed ar the special congress in July. But the expuisions affected the unions direct- ly and a deputation of the expelled workers met the standing urders committer of the TEC on the eve of the congress. It agreed to table an emergency resolution. This was leader and president of the TUC. Members ol His own union in Treland had recently laken industrial action over the transporta- tion of British army munitions, This had not pleased Thomas and when he moved the south for ics annual congress. Predictably moved by IH Thomas, the milway workers?
effect on Harland and Wolff, although one enginering firm, Melaughilan and Harvey. agree to ensure that all religious or ACEC but six hundred obeyed the strike rall, two In Takine this artion there had substan- Even belore the executive arted one So the strike call did not have the desired valved the test for the carpenters union con Ir could hardly have surprised the coccuse that only a minority of theit members came thousand did not The strike-breakers were tial support among the rank and file in Bri- branch un Elbum bad passed a rescution When they did cerned how many would obey the strike call withdrawi. For the rest of the companies in carplosmient promptly expelled ian the upion: favouriog such expoisions. rests polmeal did We have taken this drastic step to timised men have observed the rules of our and the employors Ir is a gross violation of prescrye the freedom of our members and the solidatity of our urganisation. The vic- society and conformed to the working rules agreed upon berwcen our Bellust members that any expelled worker who the vigilance committee said declaration of loyalty to the wanted to return to work would have to sign a British empire emergency motion there was a suggestion of mixed feelings. Men are being prevented because nf ; but he located this victimesation in the anxiety to The resolution instructed thr parliamen- tury committee to rall together the executive cent disturbances an Belfasr with a view 1o taking a common line of action for the Despite the provese of a delegate lorn the who wanted to leave the situation to the workers ol Beltest" the motion was casily car- ried Honever, given that the situation had ol the various trade unions affecred by the re rcinstatemenn of all the trade unionisrs ex- Association. Mt Swan from Sunderland, pelled from their work in the Belfast arnol their religious and political opinions", uphold the umon jack in Belfast from working; he explained,
occur only four branches of the mion are un religious unrest among the members of our hearill congratulare them in the betion they have taken and express our tol. As lur the strike breakers, they went to the leadership of the unionine in the north of SOCIALISTOUTLODK 104 Nevember/Disember T087 Laplaming Is action tie executive said r record as opposine the actop The contrary view cab be summed up in a trition from a branch in Carlisie. passcul by 58 to eer0: "That we. in realising the difficult task our EC had to: taoc in tackling the Belfas i contidence in their judgement. The i solicitor to seck legal advice. He was also records 13 branches passing such a rese Ete sterclary of the Lister unionis: council, December cdion of the If tie employers eleer to rule. We are convinced that the Bellast rest of the value of our society is its ability to driven from their employ becanse they an suspected of not bolding certain polinical or discriminate between our members, then we have no option hur refusing to allow them the use of the labour of an of our members. All or none must in ordinary Fairners be our employers.could, if chey had so desired, have and vindictive keep the avenucs of employment open to all In taking this action the executive knew the difficulties the union faced, given thre divisions with their Belfast rank and file le these rules for employers ro allow men to be hoveott of sections of their workmen our members." (Original ciuphasis.) presenied this disgraceful religious úpinion... been developing for two months it could be not siegest what not of action Could be MEANWHILE IN Bellast, the employers valed. The vigilance committer was alco sovitro. It made its position clear when ir caid that ariv expelled worker who wanted ro renup to work would have to sign a declara- asked why the parhamentary commitice had not acted sooner, Or why did the resolution posals made at the meeting of 24 August. The respunse came in a leuer of 12 September No specdic relerence was made to the carpenters demands. Instead, a fur- cher meeting was proposed between Harland and Wolff managemen and all the umons finally replied to the carpenters' union pro
LABOURANDIRELAND 1912 Demonstration against BELFAST 27. Scpl RULE • •ULSTER• • HOME OLSTER HALL
DHOMOHE LIGHURN CHUMIN LINCONDERUY; ENNIEKIULEN COLERAINE BALLYRONEY. PORTALK OMARH PORTALEN BALLYMENA, NEWTOWNANDE BAI MONAL, GHAIGAVON
35 Sume of chose the delegation derided in to be nverrom in view of the general situa- tion", which was nor the winning back of the workers. but was rather the dispute which existed berwech the execulise of the woodworkers" (carpenters: So the major issue the delegation dealt with was not no, the chief issue was, according to Puch, to The carpenters executive ad those they had ex- rusion that there was one problem that had the fact thar many of chem bar been physically assaulted, even killed or driven Pugh, was later to say. "we came to the con the victimisation of 10,000 trade unionisrs. not just from their jobs but bomes a well. suhsidiary issue. As onc oftheir number, A berween utton! and their people in Belfast". the situation pelled for strike-breaking. jobs al the victimised that up: 'clear Thie. At first the commiccee seemod to be takine. September meeting thee of their nsenthers were appointed with plenary powers to go in Belfast with a view of "bringing about such had not vet been found crnvenient" to gor to there' a change in the situation is would ar least be nearly five months after the first victimisa- congress was to formulite a line of action to Alter this inutial Belfass, and it was not mil 6 Deccaber. as the thier person delegatin helpfal to trade unionists ln Bellast invoteed December meeting of the MC: was told dan it To recap, its brief, given to it by rhe 1921 went about their work that became a very dions that the TUC deputation arrived rhere. win hark the johs of the victimised workers. burst if energy things slowed down seriously in the present rontlict ЦЕНРЕСНОНЬ However. Unionist rogues gallery circa 1914 Licit had taken up the only possible position to unions whose members have been flung uut on the streets have nor yet thought lit to reserve the union of our organisation They we deeply regret that the other stand by is in this important struggle: In uur judgement the trade union movement, it it will act boldly, can, by firmly insisting on the observance of its own principles, end die in- fernecine strife in Ireland which is fostered and fanned by unscrupulous comployers for SOWHAT OF the rest of the trade union movement, and the TUC in particular whose the parliamentary commiree to formulate a common policy on bebalf nf the victimised their own political and industrial purposes SOCIALIST OUTLOOK: in a November December 1987 instructed har policy congress workers? added,
on the principles of the freedom of our: tion first cnunciated when the strike call was In September 1921 the TUC again met un congress and the sad history of what had happened in Belfast and of the role of die FOC in those events warrecalled. A delegate from Belfast, although noc a member of the Referring to those who were victimised he They romained expelled from the onion, and persuade the leadership of the union to take members and the solidarity of our organisa- akbough the TUC made further attempts to back their ex-members the union stood firm members of the union declined to withdraw, mass meeting the a subsequent LABOURANDIRELAND tee was that the existence of such a body and the methods employed in regard to suspected men. le those expelled, can hardly be regand- rional government has broken down in Treland generally, its redlex in Bellast need generosity of rolerance it is hardly surprising that the TUO could further report that its mecting with the vigilance commiree was Nor was it surprising that the delegation did not see the need to counter the sec: ed as consticutional machinery of law and order, but in view of the farr that constitu- TUG's overall view of the vigilance commit- conducted in a pertectly friendly spirit. not occasion any surprise: When the delegation submitted their report to the 1921 congress it reflected the fact that the majority they had met were either unsympathetic to the victimind carpentets and two cunimitlees representing consulted the management of two shipyards, the unionist lord mayor, a represenrative of strike-breakers, the lovalist-inclined district committee of the engineering and ship- miltee of the shipyards. The FUC met them mecr in Belfast reflected this priority. They the government, a group representing the building trades, and the joint vigilance com the victimised workers.
trouble in the north of what the conscquences would have been of ellect by uniomsts when they argucd for the the summer of 1920, the British trade union movement had challenged and defcared such atritudes then that would have been one less union (carpenters) and joiners' union aline, had they then, unlonists continued to goods and raw materials going to Belfast, und coal and steel and other things required for their industries, 1 earlessly assert that one formnight of that action would have settl- It is difficult to disagree with this argu- Tr is hard to imagine, if British trade unionists had organised a blockade of Bellisi until those victimised were allowed to return to work, that the sectarians would nut have caved in, or their employers would not have made sure they caved in. And who knows such action. Certainly the apparent intran- Belfast shipyard workers was used to good partition of Ireland the following year. If, in argument in favour of the - We thought rhar the great English trade unions would come to our assistance. We lonked with confidence to the artion we hoped they would take, bur the joiners took strong acrion. Had the other trade refuse to obey the union order, prevented unions took similar action.. und sectarian if the Belfast trace should be brought togther for the purpose of tarianism of the vigilance committee and the managements as their main task bur instead Referning to the decision to throw out the strike-breakers from the union the TUC tex- pressed no opinion' but a nod was as good as a wink and throughour nur stay we were continually met with the view that in the cir- cluding picces of advice. The frst concerned the victimised workers and those who had most broad minded of the men on both sides was the facile recommendation. The advice given to the cumstances, the course taken was a mistake". supporters was the first reason promptly expelled from the *the presence of Sinn Fein given for the expulsions' *the strike-breakers were driven them from their workplaces. The TUE delegation ollered two concentrared on the carpenters" union' the difficulty" pulsions. The second was the murder at third was that on 22 August district inspec- tor Swanzy was killed in the streets of Tishurn" and the fourth was that on 25 September two policemen on duty in Falls These were the limits of the TOC's ex- planation of the expulsions. No mention was made: of Carson's incitement specch, no reference was made to the presence of organisations such as the Belfast protesrant association, and there is no listing of the reasons. First, thar during the war 'there was of Ireland" Into the shipyards, and that of Feiners or were strongly sympathetic to the Just how bug this 'number was, was not estimated. But the delegation did say that it was alleged thar many of these have openly avowed their in- tention of obtaining the domination of the nor one specific instance of 'open avowals" was provided, Instead a further allegation is reported that a number of Sinn Fein sup- porters was the first reason given for the ex- Cork, on 17 July, of colonel Smyth, DSO, an asterman who had served in the war', the workers, or acrively hosrile to them. In a sce- tion of their report entitled causes of the a large influx of men from the south and west these a number were either active Sinn Thus, the presence of Sinn Fean the delegation mention Sinn Fein movement in Belfast' Road, Broadway, were shot', Sinn Fein movemen' porters carried arms'. was provided.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no i November/December 1987 the minutes of the parliamentary committee of the recof June Tr was decided to comply with a request committee, that he should be supplied with the report of the delegation to Belfast as A And then, a few months later at another mecting of the parliamentary connitee, cil, arrangements for a special congress, tonal situation, were being discussed when it was reported that a delegate had applied lor permission to take a collection in the hall In aid of the catholic workers expelled from Belfast'. The minutes of the general council The TUC opred for a different course: Twn small incidents sum up what chat was. The from Mr Gorman, secretary of the vigilance which by then had become the general coun ironically on unemployment and the interna- record: resolved: that no collection of any confidential communication' kind he taken in the ball'. • fast was reported in congress to secure the re-omployment of those victimised in Belfasr because of their from Belfast the executive of the union agreed to meet a delegation from their ex- members. The central request from the union was that they should withdraw a cir- cular they had sent our saying they would work only with those who proved to be loyal subjects' and gave their word of honour that they were not connected with Sinn Fein". Al carpenters" union was much more specific: means should he found whereby the rela- tionship between the ASCCI and their expell- renewed'. In other Such was how the leaderslip of the TUC fulfilled its mandate from the Seprember the carpenters union maintained a firm bur flexible approach. Shortly after the TUC delegation returned words, the scabs should be readmitted. religious or political beliefs. ed members shall be For their part. - but perhaps most with strong prejudices but claiming intense 36 loyalty to thr British lag and empire". The scale of the pogrom carholic families suf- fored. It was almosr as if the TLC were justi- fying the expulsions and that in reporting that representative bodies of workmen were emphatic in their declaration against work- Similar prejudicr teatures elsewhere in the report. The point ol view ol business managemenr" was relayed without comment thar the presenr position under which firms have in lact conceded to the vigilance com- mittee the right of deciding on the question of reinstatement of their workman. is but Those victimised by the expulsions is underestimated by the TDC - 5,000 is op- breathraking of all is the account of the mecting held with the vigilance committee. The delegation recorded that 'we found men deciding not to challenge such attitudes: ing with adherents of the Sinn Fein' the least of two evils pused to 10,000
REVIEWS people's The flag
IT IS NOT often that you come moving T can promise anyone across a documentary series that Is both informative and H, PALA
37 from October 26 for five weeks history of the British working with every pomt it makes or IMPERIAL WORKERS starting point for discussion The People's Flag, Channel making an effort to sec and cracks. Whether you agree Four, Mondays. 11.00pm coul well be utilised as a not, it is certainly worth and education about the Workers at Imperial Typewriters demonstrote DEMAN class Tipp about changing capiralism, not Thatcher's second term. country?) and the clashes that The programnes stress thar fourth episode (who runs the capitalist hoom Finally, we unemployment, the miners accompanied the end of the efficiently or cover over the arrive in the present: mass attemptung to run it more socialist politics should he strike. ban DAILY WORKER breathing space that led to the the strictures regarding illegal wise cough to have ignored borrow them from someone politics of consensus during cstahlishment of the welfare included in the series to copies of rhe video tapes or Top: women munitions contact Channel Fri for state, Icading us into the workers - sufficient give real depth to its To come we have the by Wiliam Rust 2e the post-war boom, the archive material is perspectives Lift ON THE copying SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 4 Noveinlier/December 1987 policies ul the labour and trade with the great betrayal of 1914 the