British Trade Unions To Discuss E.E.C.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29907, 22 August 1962, Page 15

British Trade Unions To Discuss E.E.C.

(N.Z .PA .-Reuter— Copyrig ht) LONDON, August 20. Trade union leaders will try to hammer out a united policy on the controversial issue of Britain’s proposed entry into the Common Market during a five-day conference next month.

Motions on the official agenda show 10 powerful unions divided on the British Government's moves to join the E.E.C.

the most discussed items at the conference will be a series of critical motions against the Government’s wages and incomes policy. A few motion.- on foreign affairs issues—such as Berlin, nuclear testing and disarmament —have also been tabled.

Society of Technical Civil Servants (9230), Associated Blacksmiths’ Forge and Smithy Workers' Society (10,350), National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives (69,700), Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association (67,030), and the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers, Confectioners and Allied Workers (26,240).

Their clash of views will be a main talking point of the annual Trades Union Congress being held at Blackpool. Lancashire, from September 3. Delegates from 184 unions with a total membership of more than 8.000,000 will attend.

When the congress discussed the Common Market at its conference last yqar. they set forth agreement in principle with the decision to open negotiations. But they refused to commit themselves until the negotiations disclosed the conditions for British entry.

The biggest union to table a Common Market motion, the 972,000-strong Amalgamated Engineering Union, avoids an unqualified stand either way. The union declared it will not approve British entry until guarantees for British agriculture, the members of the European Free Trade Association and the British Commonwealth are obtained. The National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers (115,700) calls for a General Election before Britain is finally committed to entry.

Outright Support Only one. the 60.000-strong Clerical and Administrative Workers' Union, indicates outright support for British entry. Five other unions, with a total rank and file support of 182,003, oppose British membership. Two unions, with membership totalling more than 1.000.000. express caution and reservations, and another two, representing 23,500 workers, remain uncommitted in principle but seek debate on the industrial effects. The 10 motions show how large the Common Market issue has loomed in the Brit.sh Labour movement. According to the agenda.

"On Suitable Terms’’ Even the motion supporting the British entry, from the Clerical and Administrative Workers’ Union, added the qualification: “On suitable terms.”

British membership, the union said, would strengthen progressive forces in Europe. In Opposition

The five unions in outright opposition express fears of a weakening of ties with the British Commonwealth and the political consequences of joining Europe. The opposing unions and their members are: