Letter

In seeking to imply that we are allowing the Government to ‘spy' on the I.C.1.U. for a fee, you portray the usual ?P.D.

Any interested trade unionist will know that all affiliated organisations and conference delegates receive a copy of the Copies are also deposited with public libraries where they are available for any interested outside party to scrutinize. Though to what wicked use they would put this information only to the Government, the general public - and to trade unionists -for the public finance expended on the trade vnion training and I take it that those members of the ?.D. who are in receipt of Government grants and salaries paid from public funds are | immune from your own warped conclusions, that otherswho accept finance is yours by ‘'right', but trade unionists and others have The absence of any specific example of how and when we acted against the best interest of workers is an indication of your I am sure, quite a few could cite actions taken by the P.D. which were not in the best interests of workers - but no one Craig, who mey have benefited most by some P.)D. activities.

At the same time, I suggest, that such an assertion could be more easily sustained than your childish misrepresentation that the Northern Ireland Committee is not motiveted to seek genuine NORTHERN I.C.T.U.

Government.

advisory service.

public money are tainted.

mo rights in this respect, blatant innuendoes.

problems of the Province. results and benefits for workers.

llth January, 1971.

NB:

in your next issue.

lrish Congress of Trade Unions IRELAND COMMITTEE facility for fantasy as well as misrepresentation.

annual accounts and balance sheet.

the lurid imagination of the 'Free Citizen' can tell.

How we spend trade union finance is no concern of the But we willing accept the obligation, Perhaps you consider such public Your narrow political outlook contributes othing to a meaningful approach to trade unionism or the suggests that you are in the pockets of Ian Paisley Yours faithfully, weal :

/ WIB.

ment and emigration. These to account and William aio are on the N.Ireland Economic Council. I1.C,.T.U. spokesmen are even praising Brian Faulkner.

The reason for the grant is given in the Government's current Economic programme, drawn up by high Tory economist Professor Thomas Wilson. I.C.T.U. fulltime officials are so busy co-opering with the Government that they have been "unable to devote all the time and resources they would doubtless have wished to the task of creating and maintaining good relations....and of identifying and tackling potential industrial trouble before it results in industrial action". What Stormont wants is a group of industrial policemen to watch out for and prevent workers striking, and they're paying the I.C.T.U. to provide them. payroll We believe that employers exploit workers; and capitalist governments support them and use force against the workers whenever they get out of hand. The job of Trade Unions is not to mediate between workers and their exploiters, much less to help to implement the policies of a capitalist government by staffing its own committees. Their job is to fight exploiters and the system that permits them to operate. And that task is particularly urgent in N.Ireland where exploitation is chronic and the workers are divided and suppressed by a particularly vicious, sectarian and reactionary clique of political gangsters. You don't fight a war by joining the enemy's payroll, betrayal Mr. Blease asks for a specific example of the I.C.T.U. acting against the interests of workers. A particularly good one was the television programme when Brendan Harkin, Vice-Chairman | of the Northern Committee, appeared in alliance with the Director of the Engineering Employers' Assoc-