Brian Higgins, a leading activist in the rank and file Building Workers Group is being threatened with a high court in unction from Dominic Hehir, a full time official in his own union, UCATT.
Higgins has a long record of militant activity in the bullding industry. He faced death threats following his activity opposing the Laings lock out at the British Library ten years ago.
vespite being olackusica throughout the industry he Is still secretary of Worthampton branch UCATT and led a succossful campaign in defence of 12 workers at a Milton Keynes site last month.
The threatened Injunction Is concerned with charges he made against Hehir in a pamphlet on rank and file trade unionism published by the Collin Roach Centre and a letter in the Irish As he was standing for rebrocuon to ais tui ume postaon, a letter from Hehlr appeared a recent successful Industrial tribunal. which nehr stated "we made a decision right from the start to defend our man". Higgins se ent in a reply pointing out -that it was not in fact Hehlr but another full time official who was responsible for the IT case he had referred to.
Higgins also contrasted the differi ence between that case and that of John Jones, one of two workers sacked by Southwark Council Direct Labour Organisation for refusing to accept a transfer to a private bullding contractors called Botes.
Jones was sacked alongside a plumber in the EPIU after the council used the TUPE legislasupposedly protects workers refused to honour previous grievance procedures agreed with the union.
No support Hehir took the side of Southwark Council DLO, refused to support the workers and didnt turn up to Jones' IT, forcing him to go to a local law centre for Soon after Miggins' letter appeared in the Irish Post he recelved a letter from a solicitor representing Hehir stating "We are instructed that uniess we recelve from you an unconditional apology and retraction and an offer to pay substantial damages ad legal costs within the next seven days, proceedings will be Issued against you in the Queens Beach division of the High Court This attempt to silence HigHiggins but to trade union democracy Itself. UCATT has have pursued any grievance Ion structures and resources The Tory government has Ion full-timer Is attempting this against members of his port Brian and oppose this attions for speakers should be an Kippins Detence Ca paign, c/o Colin Roach Centre, 56 Clarendon Road, London, E5 8SW, Tel 0181 533 7111 So much for being tough on crime! within the frame-work of allowing the police to pretty much do as they want. Straw has backed a role for surycilance commissioneis, a cadre of 3 or 4 present or former judges appointed by the Prime Minister to pre-scrutinise police requests for bugging.
The loophole that has been picked up by many campaigners is that Straw at the same time aprees that there will be some exceptions -'reasonably practicable' to seck prior approval then this can be waived. Routine 'emergencies' It will surciy not be naro for tae police to present virtually every situation wacre taey argue toal bugging and burglary should take place as an emergency requiring this waiver. In this respect the Liberal amendment was stronger than Labour's, arguing that a judge must handle every case.
Labour intends to introduce further amendments which would allow surveilance of large numbers of people supposedly engaged in ilSince the police themselves will this simply gives them the right to oug omices of traac unions, poutica organisations, campaigns etc as well as the homes of individual activists. Virtually any protest can be seen by the police as criminal activity as bugging of the NUM during
Socialist Curiool BOROMARCH O