Just under 200 trade union activists from 13 different left formations within the unions met on I February to discuss co-ordinating a fightback against the government and employers offensive, overcoming union leaders intent on sell-outs and compromises, and building amongst rank and file memLarge delegations attended from the NUT, Unison and CPSA in par. ticular. The conference heard reports from the Liverpool dockers. noon workers are rom the lagnet strikers tienne Adam from Tous Ensem ble (the left opposition in the French CDGT union) brought greetings from French lorry drivers, and re. ported on their recent victory.
He explained how reps used mobile phones on the barricades and daily conferences to assist the democratic functioning of the strike. and how they had massive support rom the local community, with un. employed people donating food parcels to the strikers.
Too much!
Indeed the strikers faced the problem of havine too much food for them to cope with and ended up donating food to charity at the end of the strike.
He explained how their fight for a shorter hours and retirement at 55 (many drivers are deemed unemployable after that age) not only broke from the argument of market forces but inspired widespread public support in the proces Tory laws Delegates attended workshops on the anti-union laws, defending the won-soour ink, full empicy ment and the minimum wage. Europe and the employers offensive, building the broad left and trade union democracy.
The lefts involved in the confer. ence come from a number of widely different traditions and formations took place was in itself of great sig. nificance.
The test will come in what action It is possible for the new co ordination to develop - with the question of the minimum wage being posed as a key priority. G M ATU
OFFICI
DISPUT Bitter lessons from long and isolated disputes like the Burnsalls strike must be taken on board G M B DFFICI DISPUT DOWNING ST. 21