Film and TV Technician (1957)

October 1957 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN 133 A LTHOUGH this year's T.U.C. -^was in the main quiet and non-controversial, many policy resolutions of great importance to the Trade Union Movement were agreed and the fact that most of them were passed unanimously or with large majorities, and without the necessity of a single card vote, enhances their importance. Both the resolutions submitted by A.C.T.T. were well received and carried unanimously. Ralph Bond moved our resolution on the H-Bomb and as five other trade unions had submitted similar resolutions we all got together and agreed to a composite. The main point of the resolution was to demand that H.M. Government propose to the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union an immediate and unconditional suspension of all nuclear tests as a first step towards the banning of these weapons. Public Demonstration Urged In concluding his speech Ralph Bond suggested that the General Council of Congress should present the resolution to the Prime Minister, backed up by an officially called public demonstration in which the members of every affiliated Trade Union would be called upon to participate. This suggestion was greatly applauded and our own General Council might consider following it up with a letter to the Secretary of the T.U.C. George Elvin moved our second resolution on restrictions and monopoly of the Press, which instructed the General Council of Congress to take all appropriate action to halt all monopolistic tendencies in the field of publication and reiterated the necessity of the Trade Union and Labour movement retaining policy control over its own daily newspaper. Another resolution of a similar character had been withdrawn so we had a clear field on this issue. It is impossible to mention all the resolutions considered by Congress, but we give below a summary of the more important decisions. On wages and economic policy a composite resolution moved by the Transport and General Workers' Union and supported by six other unions was unanimously carried. It denounced the Tory Government's refusal to direct the country's economic and social policies, rejected wage restriction in any form and reaffirmed determination, while prices and profits The General Secretary and Ralph Bond report on the BLACKPOOL T.U.C. remain uncontrolled, to take such steps industrially to ensure that wages keep pace with rising costs. It also called on all trade unionists to work for the early return of a Labour Government. Congress wholeheartedly denounced the new Rents Act and called upon the next Labour Government to repeal it. It carried with enthusiasm a resolution demanding an immediate and substantial increase in Old Age Pensions, reaffirming its belief that all workers are entitled on retirement to a minimum pension sufficient at least to provide the necessities of life and ensure a reasonable measure of comfort. On the Health Service it demanded an end to all charges on prescriptions and the removal of restrictions on spending in hospitals. On the question of public ownership a resolution was carried instructing the General Council to work out a policy for social ownership and to consult with the Labour Party. A resolution calling for public ownership of the Machine Tool industry was carried. European Common Market Although there was no resolution dealing with the proposed European Common Market the General Council made it clear that in its opinion this country would fare worse if it kept outside the free trade area than if it went in. At the same time the General Council would require firm assurances from the Government concerning the maintenance of full employment, etc., although some speakers pointed out that such assurances even if given were no sure guarantee. Congress was obviously divided on this question and no vote was taken. A special report on the position of the " Daily Herald " was given in private session and members will now be aware of the new arrangement that has been made whereby the " Daily Herald " has greater freedom of action although undertaking to continue to support the general policy of the Trade Union and the Labour movement. Coming back again to international affairs, two other resolutions in addition to our own were carried. The first demanded that China should be admitted to the United Nations, and the second called for the establishment of a United Germany to be achieved by the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Europe and the establishment of a system of collective security involving all European countries and including the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. International Solidarity Fund A special report was also given on the proposal of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions to create an international solidarity fund and the General Council of the T.U.C. has set as its target the raising of £500,000 during the next three years. It proposes to raise this not by asking for donations from the central funds of the affiliated Trade Unions, but by each Trade Union urging its members to contribute individually 6d. a year over the next three years. It is not a statutory levy but Congress obviously felt that such a fund should be raised, although one or two delegates were a little dubious of some of the purposes for which it is to be used. Our own General Council is required to consider this matter. In the elections for the new General Council, George Elvin received 1,229,000 votes, but Tom O'Brien was again elected for our Section. Your delegates were also able to perform useful service for A.C.T.T. outside the Congress as, for example, in getting the immediate support of N.A.T.K.E. and the E.T.U. for a telegram of protest to the National Federation of Professional Workers who we understand were sympathetically considering the admission of the Association of Broadcasting Staffs. We made it clear that if the A.B.S. was accepted for the affiliation, N.A.T.K.E. and ourselves would withdraw.