LABOR IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 19711, 11 November 1927, Page 4

LABOR IN BRITAIN

THE SEAMEN’S UNION

; VIGOROUS REPLY TO T.U.C,

Prerc Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, November 9. The Seamen’s Union delegates unanimously endorsed a reply to the Trades Union Codgress Disputes Committee’s demand that it should disclaim an intention to support the non-political miners within a* fortnight. Tho reply declared that the dispute between tho Miners’ Federation and tho Seamen’s Union was farcical, because tho Trades Union Committee’s hands were already stained, as prominent Trades Union Congress officials had been acting in collusion with the Communists for tho purpose of injuring the Seamen’s Union,'because the latter is unwilling to subscribe to the vaporings of some of the Labor lenders and Trades Union wiki mcn,_ notably Mr A. J. Cook, whose activities the Trades Union Congress has not endeavored to curb, despite repeated attacks on the Seamen’s Union.

The reply further declared that the Miners’ Federation and the Trades Union Congress had acted in a collusive, convincing manner against the union when it financed three rebellious officials of the union to enable them to start a High Court action. ’ Mr Cotter and two others wore anxious to enter Parliament and conferred with tho Miners’ Federation, and later ivi.-i Messrs Citrine, Cook, Smith, and others. During the Edinburgh Conference Messrs Cook and Smith promised £4OO, but Cotter wanted £I,OOO. Smith appealed to the Trades Union Congress Therefore an impartial inquiry was impossible. Tho reply reiterates its refusal to participate "in tho inquiry until the court cases are ended. It points out that the Trades Union Congress -has not explained how assisting to establish a non-political union violates the Trades Union Congress constitution, or why it gave £l,ooo' to insubordinate officials seeking to destroy tho Seamen’s Union. It adds: ‘ ‘Vo are not dismayed by your ultimatum. If you disaffiliate ns wo will endeavor to form a breakaway union of seamen. Your action is gloriously inconsistent, and wo hope to prove our charges in tho law courts. We shall continue our policy until tho moderates arc assured of the Trades Unions’ protection.—A. and N.Z. and ‘Sim’ Cable.