The People's Convention January 1941

The Peoples Convention
Sunday 12th January 1941
London
2,300 delegates

Delegates tell of their struggle

Daily Worker 14th January 1941

CONTINUING the discussion on the political resolution in the after noon session of the People's Convention, Councillor Craig Walker, of Yorkshire, spoke of the great movement which had been begun by workers of all kinds—textiles, clothing, miners, engineers, civil servants and administrative workers—in the West Riding. This movement spread far outside the shores of this country;

It was going to revolutionise politics. Mr. Steve Lawther, of Tyneside, said that in this war, as in the last, we were promised a brave, new world.

Depression and derelict industries were Tyneside's share in the new world.

Recently the president of the Dur ham Miners' Association had said that in their struggle the miners and the owners were on one side and Hitler on the other. The biggest coal owner in the north. Lord Londonderry, had been a friend of Hitler. The coal owners' organ had written that there was. something to be said for Nazi methods. These people were not on the same side as the miners.

Mr. Lawther emphasised Point Four of the Convention's purposes, for emergency powers to take over banks, land and industry and organise production in the interests of the people as of vital Importance.

Bomb Proof Shelters

Mr. Warman, of Coventry, spoke of the air bombardment of that city in relation to the Convention. Under the raids, the whole of the social amenities of the town had broken down. Among the people, many had been brought, through the failure to provide adequate bomb-proof shelter, to realise that the policy of the Government was not in the Interests of the people but of the wealthy, and to support demand Number Two, for adequate ARP.

Mr, Scanlon, of Manchester, described how workers in factories and works there had collected large sums to send delegates to the Convention. They welcomed the Convention's economic programme, realising that only the people themselves could solve their problems. The meetings at which these delegates would reported back to the workers who had s them would be most important. The Rev. Bryn Thomas, of Swindon, said the old economic system had failed us. "Ledger wealth" would have to go, "real wealth" would take its place. Mr. Morrison had said the Convention was a Communist plot to entrap the people.

Mr. Thomas said he had made thorough study of the policy of the Communist Party, and he was con-vinced that unless we secured a People's Government and made an ally of the Soviet Union we should be relegated to the limbo of the past.

Land Workers
Mrs. Allison McLeod, of Somerset, declared that the land workers were coming in on the side of the factory workers. No industry was so inefficiently run as agriculture : it needed to be run by the people—collectivised and socialised.

Referring to the bad housing conditions of land workers and the problem of evacuation, Mrs. McLeod said there were many great houses round Bath and Bristol, all standing empty. They should be taken over.

Mr. Parry, speaking for London Tube Shelter Committees, said that when the " blitz " began, the whole Metropolitan population was totally unprovided with deep shelters or adequate protection. He sketched the movement for organising shelter in the tubes, the struggles which they had to secure and maintain rights, the efforts which were still being made to drive them out of such shelters and concluded with a message of support from the Shelter Committees for the aims of the Convention.

During the afternoon session, Mr. W. J. R. Squance introduced the resolution on the organisation and campaign of the Convention, In a speech which was reported In the DAILY WORKER yesterday.

He was followed by Mr, F. Anderson. a worker In. Parkhead Forge, Glasgow who described the intense conviction with which workers in that plant and throughout Clydesidee supported the Convention and were prepared to do anything that was necessary to win a People's Government.

A speaker from the Engineering and Allied Trades Shop Stewards' Council said he believed that the hot reception given to Bevin at Glasgow was a sign that the workers were prepared to do something.

The shop stewards were the key to real leadership in the workshops. The speaker urged that workers in factories should elect shop stewards, get together with workers in other factories and aet up a local shop stewards' movement, join the national organisation, build up their own Press, and particularly the DAILY WORKER. (Applause.)

Councillor Frank Davies, of Ammanford, said he spoke mainly on behalf of unemployed miners, of whom there were thousands in the Amman Valley. Yet when he came to London he was told of high prices charged for coal.

Soldier Speaker

Those thousands of unemployed miners were ready and anxious to give the people coal, but they must have a People's Government to make that possible.

The next speaker was a soldier, and as he mounted the rostrum in uniform he was greeted with tumultuous cheering.

Thanking the Convention for the opportunity to speak on behalf of "civilians in uniform," he gave a vivid and rapid review of conditions of Army life which had made him and other soldiers come to support the People's Convention.

Food—a dominating consideration to a soldier—came, first. He described how good material was spoiled by bad management and unskilled cooks, yet men who commented on it in plain soldier's language were given punishment.

Barrack-room discipline—the Imposition of absurd regulations by officers of public school tradition; promotion given because of family or class relationships; leave given as a privilege when it should be organised as a right—these were matters which had led him and his comrades to think of a People's Government as the way to win the soldier a square deal.

Harry Pollitt, who followed, also received an ovation. He recalled how in 1911 Tom Mann had set afoot a great movement among the people of this country, and showed how the present People's Convention ' movement was in the tradition of the great struggle for democracy Its policy programme was no paper development. This Convention would be followed by such a campaign of reporting to the people as this country had never seen before.

The essence of the Convention was not only the talk for which they had come together, but the bringing of the masses into action by every conceivable means.

It was a race against time. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, hand-picked trade union functionaries would meet to formulate a policy the essence of which was industrial conscription That challenge could only be met in that way, " and you," said Pollitt, " know what that is."

Let them feel that they were the real custodians of the liberties of the people. The soldiers, as the previous speaker had shown, were with them; by uniting and using their forces they had the power to realise the People's Government.

Convention Elects Leaders for New Battles

By FRANK PITCAIRN

AS its National Committee to carry forward the people's fight in these next crucial weeks and months, the People's Convention has elected already 26 men and women whom the people can rely on for fighting spirit, for understanding, for the force that gets things done.

Here they are—and I would like the capitalist Press to give an exhibition of just how it is going to " laugh this off," considering that this National Committee very obviously consists of the leading figures of the militant trades union movement, of the Labour movement, of the scientific world, and of all those who are fighting for a better life for the people.

Harry Adams is known to all. Harry Adams is District Organiser of the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers. Harry Adams knows more about the working conditions in the biggest city of Britain than Bevin and Morrison will ever learn.

There is W. J. R. Squance—needs no introduction, as a former member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress.

There is D. N. Pritt, K.C., M.P.,— expelled from the Labour Party because, in his own phrase "the leaders wouldn't even follow."

Next we have Lieutenant-Commander Edgar Young, whose work to try to save Czechoslovakia from the machinations of our ruling class at the moment when our ruling class was busy handing it and its great arms factories over to Hitler is well known.

J. B. S. Haldane, the man who—if the callous Government had listened to the finest scientific advice In the country could have saved the lives of thousands, is a loudly applauded member of the National Committee.

As Mr. Pritt said recently: " Just ask yourself whether you would rather have in charge of A.R.P. a great and expert scientist, who himself has been in the front line in the last war and in Spain—or Ellen Wilkinson?"

Arthur Horner, President of the South Wales Miners' Federation Is on the Committee.

So is Krishna Menon, of the Indian National Congress.

And along' with these sit:

The Dean of Canterbury,

W. Zak, ot the Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association,

R. P. Dutt, of the Communist Party,

William Gallacher, Communist M.P.,

George Dutch, of the London Co-op Society Management Committee,

William Pearson, President of the Lanarkshire Miners' Union,

Jack Owen, famous figure of the Amalgamated Engineering Union in Manchester,

Dr. Barton, of London,

Michael Best London Tenants' leader

Councillor Skilbeck of Hammersmith,

Councillor Craig Walker, of Leeds,

Reverend Stanley Evans, East London clergyman,

Councillor Mrs. Mabel Lewis, of South Wales, famous in ARP work,

Jack Sussman, representing the youth,

W. Swanson, aircraft shop steward,

George Crane, another prominent shop steward.

Miss Beatrix Lehmann, the most famous of West End actresses,

Ben Frankel, internationally known musician,

Miss Mary Baxter, of Scotland.

WHO WERE THERE

You were there at the People's Convention. You had your spokes man there.

The figures prove it. You, man or woman in one or other of the big air craft factories : you, man or woman in the great war industries of the entire country.

So here are the preliminary figures to date: —

Trades Union organisations elected 531 out of the total of more than 2,000 delegates. Through these were represented three Executive Committees, 14 District Councils, and nearly 400 Branches. No less than 20 Trades Councils were directly represented.

From 220 of the biggest factory Jobs in the country—including the whole core of the armament business— came 433 delegates. The Co-operatives—73 organisations- sent 81 delegates—thus much frightening not only 'the Daily Express which has so often attacked the Co-ops, but also the Co-op, leaders who have lined up with the Big Combine men in the Government. Fourteen women's organisations were represented, 57 youth organisations —and remember that from these youth organisations thousands of young men and women have already been called into uniform.

These figures are still Incomplete. The estimate given here, magnificent as it is, certainly falls very far below the real total of, representation.


What They said

THE People's Convention as it really was—not as they had tried to tell the world it was going to be—hit the capitalist Press like a depth charge.

They had tried to smother it with silence. They had tried to get it "suppressed." They had lied and they had sneered. They had said it was a " Communist manoeuvre."

Then this mighty concourse of the men and women, really gathered—and the mixture of astonishment, concern, and general embarrassment in the capitalist Press was pitiable to see.

TIME'S SILENCE BROKEN

Even The Times was compelled by the importance of the event itself to devote a third of a column to a flat little report of a small part of the proceedings—omitting any mention of the speeches from the factory delegates, the Army delegates, the miners' delegates and the youth.

The Daily Mirror Political Correspondent nervously declared that:—

“ It the Government knows lie job it will make a careful study of the ' People's Convention ' held in London. "More than 2,000 delegates drawn from factories, coalfields, railway yards and offices all over Britain attended." Then, after a bit of the customary red-herringism about the Communist Party, he kindly remarks that " 90 per cent. of these men and women, brought from every part of Britain were honest-to-God British citizens."

And he proceeded with the admission that—

" they have too many grievances the Government leaves unanswered. They expected the Labour Ministers in the Government to be their champions. They are disappointed in them.

Labour Ministers behave like pale imitations of Tory Ministers.

" So the people (eel themselves leaderless. They are beginning to turn to the Communist Party."

He concluded with a pathetic appeal to the Government itself to carry out a large part of the Convention demands—just as though the Government had not been furiously rejecting these demands all along and threatening those who raise them.

HERALD IS SCARED

The Dally Herald report was long, bitter, scared, embarrassed, and reeked of red herrings. Apparently suffering a twinge of conscience, Mr.' Maurice Webb, Herald Political Correspondent,

admitted he expected to be denounced tor " Yellow journalism."

Even he had to admit the tremendous success of the Convention and declared in a comical whine that " the Communists " had " exploited a situation which puts even the Labour Party at a disadvantage."

He concluded with a threat "as to what will happen if "they attempt to carry out the decision to start to capture the workshops, factories and armed forces for their policy."

The News-Chronicle sent their gossip writer who found the Convention "typical of an English crowd," and In the course, of a longish story admitted he had found It "difficult to discover"
the new policy the Convention stands for—a dimcutly not experienced by the delegates.

EXPRESS VERSION

The Daily Express sent Its Mr. William Barkley to do his best with a bagful of old jeers and denunciations. He got so excited he nearly doubled the number of delegates actually present—giving an estimate of 4,000. Suddenly dropping the story that the Communists had organised, the Convention, he started a new version—- the Communists, said he, " have muscled in."

Nevertheless he gave, In the course of a violent attack on Mr. Pritt, a number of useful quotations from Mr. Pritt's speech, and lamely declared that the whole thing is due to the political truce—which has prevented people " airing their views."

Red Rose Week 1993

RED ROSE WEEK 1993

Labour's first Red Rose Week starts on Saturday, June 5 1993. The Week marks the first concentrated effort, involving all members in all local Parties throughout the country, geared to the regeneration of the Party.

The task of building a Party with a strong membership and funding base is absolutely essential - indeed, it is the precondition for winning the next election. There is independent evidence that Labour did best in those seats which we targeted for victory; and that a strong membership base helps to secure the support needed for electoral success.

Taken together, this evidence underlines the significance of the Party's organisational achievements in whittling down the Tory majority in Parliament.

Like you, I share the enormous disappointment that we did not win in 1992. Like you, I am angry when I see the Tories breaking their election promises. Their narrow majority has created a Conservative Party which survives on shabby deals - a government lurching from day to day, living on borrowed time.

And like so many of you with -whom I have spoken since the election, I am determined that we bring Labour to power and elect-John Smith as Prime Minister.

Red Rose Week gives you the chance to help bring this about.

What Will YOU do for Red Rose Week

• Will you encourage. someone to join - per-haps a friend or colleague, who has always been meaning to become a member, but has never got round to it?

• Will you perhaps approach someone who used to be a member, but who has now lapsed? We've been contacting some lapsed members over the phone and the great majority say that the reason they are no longer members is simply that they haven't got round to it.

• Will you give money to the Party by standing order, supporting our new fundraising initiative Sponsorship 2000 – and thereby become one of the 35,000 members and supporters who contribute over £2 million a year to the Party. Builder a strong Party will result from the individual contribution of thousands 6F members and supporters. We can only succeed by the Party - at all levels working together.

Nationally we will provide you with the resources you need to get the job done. The campaign theme of the week will be concentrating on Labour's jobs and industry campaigns. There will be a special full colour leaflet for Red Rose Week (3,000,000 reasons to support Labour), available to local Parties at the special rate of only £7.50 per thousand.

Regionally^ we will be organising a number of events to which members and sponsors will beinvited, to meet with John Smith and myself, and members of the front-bench and the NEC. The first event will be held in Brighton on June 4. For further details, contact Tony Beirne XXXX or George Catchpole XXXX.

Locally, we are asking you to focus on one or two projects in your area. There are plenty of ideas in the new look Branch Bulletin, which has just been sent out to all Party branches. For example

• Organise a campaign aimed at getting in touch with everybody who used to be a member, but isn't anymore

• Organise a street stall or publicity event to get attention for Red Rose Week in your area

Red Rose Week 1993 is the ideal time to get involved and help build the Party - even if you've never been active before. If you're not sure who to contact, look at the list of helpful phone numbers on page two of this issue of Labour Party News.

Everyone's contribution is valuable so let's build up the Labour Party for the next election -together

SIX WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Recruit a friend

Take part in a membership drive

Re-join a lapsed member

Become a sponsor and support Sponsorship 2000

Hold a discussion group on the economy

Organise local campaign activity – street stall or photo opportunity

Margaret Beckett MP Deputy Leader

Bert Edwards - Fiery Fighter

Bert Edwards

Fiery Fighter

Daily Worker 11th March 1961

The other evening a vigorous little man walked out of a trade union office in London's Tottenham Court Road and made for the Tube.

Most nights for a number of years he had taken the same road with a jaunty air and lively step, but on this occasion he was sad and his movements were heavy. His services as fulltime officer of his union had just ended.

Any worker finishing over 40 years activity in the Labour movement could expect to look forward to a rest.

But not Bert Edwards, Though 65 and just retired from the position as London organiser of the National Union of Vehicle Builders, he says : " I am carrying on in the movement." Delegate to the union's area and national conferences, a member of its Parliamentary panel and of the London Labour Party's standing orders committee, are a few jobs he has on hand.

Bert'sadult life has been dedicated to his union and to Socialism, adversity strengthening his resolve and study of working-class literature increasing his capacity to spread understanding of the struggle necessary to change society.

Blessed with physical fitness, he can tackle the toughest jobs. In the Army he held Western Command's feather weight and lightweight boxing titles simultaneously.

Sporting prowess must be in the Edwards blood as two sons are now First Division Speed-way riders.

A proud boast of Bert is that, nearly half a century ago, he supported the activities of a great Englishman, Tom Mann, and an equally great Irishman, Jim Larkin, two prominent working - class leaders and Socialists of their day.

He is proud, too, of his father's influence on him. He was president of the Liverpool branch of the Boilermakers' Society way back in 1900. Over the stove in the Edwardses' kitchen was this motto:

" A union man you cannot be, no matter how you try.
Unless you think in terms of WE and not in terms of I"

Shop steward, union executive officer, branch president and secretary, Bert showed later that he had grasped the meaning of that simple slogan.

Always a keen politician, this fiery democrat was once a Harrow councillor and a Middlesex county councillor.

He left local politics when elected to the union's district committee.

Encouragement and assistance was never wanting from his wife, Fiona, youngest daughter of Jim Connolly, the great Irish Socialist fighter.

Possessing so handsome a background of honest struggle for the Labour movement, it is natural to find Bert Edwards, who seconded the resolution at last year's T.U.C. opposing nuclear rearmament of Western Germany, resisting Right Wing sabotage of the Scarborough Labour Party conference decisions on defence and nuclear weapons.

Two vital principles, he says, are involved: nuclear weapons can never make Britain safe, and decisions democratically reached at conference should be as binding on Gaitskell and his pals as on any member of the party.

From the day in 1911 when he was beaten up during a transport workers' demonstration in Liverpool (so vicious were the police that the day became known as Bloody Sunday), Bert has never been a palace politician or a drawing-room trade unionist.

He knows the road to Socialism lies not in pretty words and slick promises but in strength forged by the firmest unity of all sections of the working people.

Edith How-Martyn - Suffagette and Middlesex County Councillor

Edith How-Martyn (1875-1954) was educated at the North London Collegiate School and University College, Aberystwyth.

She gave up her lectureship in mathematics at Westfield College, London to commit herself to the suffragette movement.

In 1906 she became one of the first Women's Social and Political Union members to serve time in Holloway Gaol; after being arrested outside the House of Commons in October 1906 she was charged with obstruction and sentenced to two months in prison. How-Martyn was released after a month on a King's Pardon.

How-Martyn was joint Honorary Secretary of the WSPU, and when the Women's Freedom League split from the increasingly autocratic WSPU in 1907 she was co-founder and Honorary Secretary of the Women's Freedom League (WFL) until January 1911.

She stood as an independent progressive candidate in Hendon, Middlesex at the 1918 general election, securing 2,067 votes representing 10% of the poll. Labours Frank Bailey securing 16% of the poll.


In 1919 Edith How-Martyn stood for a seat on Middlesex County Council and was elected as the first women councillor on that body.

Three colours of the Women's Freedom League - Green, White and Gold

Hayes and Southall had a branch of the Women's Freedom League with Marion Cunningham as Secretary.

Below is a house in Hayes with a sign which reads "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny - Votes For Women" . States by Adam & Eve Public House but Marion Cunningham lived at Hayes End.

International Brigade National Memorial Meeting 1939

International Brigarde National Memorial
Sunday 8th January 1939
Empress Hall - Earls Court
Paul Robeson

"It was the splendid campaigning of our paper, and the graphic stories of that ace reporter Frank Pitcairn, that inspired hundreds of British workers to volunteer for the defence of democracy in Spain. to the Daily Worker is due the main credit for the formation of the British Battalion"

Bob Cooney Commissar in the British Battalion of the International Brigade
Daily Worker 31st December 1939


Frank Pitcairn was infact Francis Claud Cockburn (pronounced Coe-burn or ) (1904–1981) was a renowned radical British journalist, started work for the Daily worker in 1936. He was the cousin of novelist Evelyn Waugh

Brentford & Chiswick Victory 1942

Reginal Silverthorne - Brentford and Chiswick Communist Party 1942




A socialist tradesman in Brentford who refused to display union jack flags in his windows during the Royal Jubilee of 1935 arranged instead to take 100 children to the pictures on Saturday Morning "to celebrate Labour Sunday"

Maud Brown - National Unemployed Workers Movement

Maud Brown


Maud Brown was the women's organiser of the National Unemployed Workers Movement (NUWM) and in that capacity helped lead the great hunger marches of the nineteen thirties.

In 1929 a Women's section of the NUWM was established on the initiative of a Mrs Youle of Sheffield Women's Section of the NUWM.

Maud Brown became the head of the new department, according to Richard Croucher who wrote a comprehensive history of the NUWM "her appointment marked the beginning of a rapid and qualitive improvement in the movements work among women".

Maud Brown, was unlike many other leaders of the NUWM not a member of the Communist Party

With the failure of the Government to abolish the "not genuinely seeking work" clause or address other unemployed grievances It was decided that the "hunger march" of march 1930 consisted of some 1,100 men included twelve contingents coming chiefly from Scotland, Durham, Northumberland, Plymouth, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, derby, south wales, Staffordshire, Midlands and Kent would include

It was also agreed that for the first time a women's contingent . This contingent from the derelict textile areas comprised of eight women from Barnsley and fourteen from Bradford. This decision may partly be explained by the appointment of Margaret Bondfield as Minister of Labour.


They set off from Leeds with Maud Brown at the head of the Women's contingent and arrived in London on may day to be greeted by 50,000 supporters May Day. However, the women's contingent marched separately according to Margaret McCarthy Secretary of Burnley NUWM "to avoid scandalous gossip".

The women's contingent was met in London by the London Committee of Action set up to support the Hunger March. This committee presented with a red scarf

After the rally in Hyde Park many of the marchers sought accommodation In Fulham Workhouse, after a major stand off with the marchers and the huge crowd who supported them, they were allowed inside, almost immediately a huge red flag was hoisted, despite the protestations of the workhouse master.

In 1935 the NUWM published "stop this starvation of mother and child", Maud Browns booklet presented a wealth of medical evidence to show the close relationship between poverty and mother and child morbidity.

At her eightieth birthday in August 1968 Maud Brown spoke of her role in the unemployment movement and her part in Aberdeen, when tenants hauled rats from homes at councillors. Her special job was to throw the only live one.

Nan Macmillan stated of her role in the hunger marches that she organised them with "courage and fearlessness".

Hilda Vernon speaking at Brown's eightieth birthday she did so "With a stern sense of duty, a kind heart and a sense of humour".

Michael Walker



29th June 1975
died aged 86


Maud Brown (below)

Lyons - Corn-merge Veridique et Social - Co-operative

Attention has recently been called to the distinctive positionheld by the city of Lyons in the annals of co-operation in France. It was out of strikes and bloodshed that the first co-operative society of Lyons emerged, largely through the efforts of two earnest souls : Michel Demon and Joseph L. Reynier.

Michael Demon (born in 1803) owned a small silk factory, and his sympathies would naturally be with the employer. But brought in early manhood into touch with the socialist teaching of St. Simon and Fourier, he became one of the school whose object was " the association of workers of thought and of the workshop, and the establishment of a society of producers." In a book published in 1834, Demon declared that the remedy for the unrest of the people was " the peaceful organisation of industry and commerce." Joseph Reynier was a manager under Demon. Born in 1811, the only boy in a family of seven—all silk weavers—he early became a strong champion of the workers.

Unlike the 28 of Rochdale his ability brought him into some prominence in various spheres in Lyons. He died at the great age of 86, and in his will he wrote the touching lesson for his children and his colleagues : Aimez vous les uns les autres. In 1835 Demon and Reynier—par nobile fratrum—started the " Corn-merge Veridique et Social," in plain English, a co-operative society. It lived three years, and was then killed through bitter local influences. Like the phoenix, a new society," L'Avenir Regional," rose from the ashes which flourishes to-day.

Not so isolated, one may note, but that July 7th was celebrated in fitting fashion as the first Co-operators' Day. The names of Demon and Reynier are dear to the weavers of Lyons. At the unveiling of a monument to the memory of Reynier in 1920, M. Gaumont (a prominent co-operator) pronounced a glowing eulogium upon these brother pioneers.

The oration begins : " The tomb before which we here reunite for a solemn and grateful homage, is not that of a lord of the earth, of a hero in politics or war.

This modest monument is worthy of the modest man, a son of the people, who rests under this slab of stone." Further on we read :— "Let us piously consider the name of Michel Derrion, henceforth sacred to men of goodwill who, by millions, are grouped now in co-operation, with the same ideals.

By the side of him we will place the name of Joseph Reynier, associated with him during 10 years of misfortunes and difficulties, and which should shine in the same peaceful glory for co-operators of the entire world as those of Charles Howarth, James Smithies, and William Cooper, founders of the Rochdale Society."

Co-operative Wholesale Society CWS Year Book 1924

British Light Steel Pressings (BLSP) Acton Strike 1961

British Light Steel Pressings (Rootes Group) at Warple Road, Acton strike entered it's 12th strike against redundancies and work sharing at Acton (West London) factory, according to the Daily Worker 18th November 1961

600 men and women union members meet at Ealing Town Hall on the 17th November 1961 and agreed almost unanimously (1 vote against 3 abstained) to continue until the workers received a "fair and Honorable settlement".

At the conclusion of the meeting the audience broke into a rendition of "Solidarity Forever" song, which had become a tradition during the strike. The union members while solid had meet with indifference from right winger Engineering Union (AEU) President William Carron. The Acton factory was during the strike only producing 200 sets rather usual 3,000 sets - BLSP produced car body shells for cars such as the Hillman

Reg Hooper was the Joint Union Dispute Chairman at British Light Steel Pressings Acton

A spate of 82 mainly unofficial strikes in 1961 caused the loss of over 27,000 man hours at the BLSP plants.

BLSP formed in 1930.

The Workers Olympics

The International Workers’ Federation
For Physical Education and Sport
Clarion
Co-operative Wholesale Society CWS People’s Year Book 1924

By TOM GROOM, International Secretary.

THE International Workers' Federation for Physical Education and Sport, has for its chief object the substitution of the spirit of sport for the spirit of militarism. In place of deadly strife on the battle field, it seeks to promote a healthy rivalry on the fields of sport. For cannon balls, it would substitute footballs ; for trench warfare, tennis tournaments; for submarine fighting, swimming galas ; and that when the workers of the world shall confront each other in mass formation it shall be as friendly competitors in massed physical-drill displays, rather than as foes seeking to kill and to maim.

What is this but a modernised version of the old dream of beating swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning-hooks ? And lest the modern dream should seem too fantastical for serious consideration, let us quote from an article by Sir lan Malcolm, K.C.B., dealing with the growth of athletic and sporting clubs in France :— And, apart from the executants, sport has taken a real hold upon the French public, who flock in their thousands to every first-class " fixture," and follow the match with all the enthusiasm of an English crowd. Here we move into an atmosphere of international comity ; speaking and thinking in a kind of Esperanto, the sportsman's lingua franca, which obviates misunderstandings and is comprehended of all nations as easily as the humour of Charlie Chaplin.

Can it be that in the future an international federation of athletic clubs will play a striking part in the pacification of the world ? If so, the League of Nations should be up and doing, and should initiate a " Sports Department" on the banks of the Lake of Geneva ! Here, in the jargon of the day, is " an avenue of peace that might well be explored."

It is precisely in this spirit of seeking to " play a striking part in the pacification of the world " that the International Workers' Federation is moving. Whatever motive it may be that brings the peoples of the world into friendly rivalry it will, by just that much, help to break down old enmities and to remove the prejudices that arise from ignorance. And the true sporting spirit makes, perhaps, a more widely popular appeal to-day than any other single motive.

It was in 1913, and at Ghent, Belgium, that the preliminary conference for the purpose of forming an International Workers' Federation for Physical Education and Sport was held. At that conference were represented Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and England. The discussion was voluble and discursive, but the underlying motive of all the speeches was the desire to oust the spirit of militarism and in its place to substitute the spirit of fraternal sport. A tentative constitution and many pious resolutions were considered.

* The address of the International Secretary is 44 Worship Street, London, E.C.2.


All were referred back to the constituent bodies for further consideration and for definite adoption at a second conference to be held the following year, at Frankfort-on-Main.

Such international gatherings as were held in 1914 were anything but fraternal in character, and the International Federation looked like being still-born. But the Armistice of 1918 had hardly been signed when the International Bureau sent out invitations to all for a renewal of friendly relations. The meeting was held in Seraing, near Liege, in 1919 ; but owing to the great expense of travelling in that year, and to the difficulties of obtaining passports, Belgium, France, and England alone were able to be represented. Definite action was postponed until 1920, when, at Lucerne, France, Belgium, England, Germany, Austria, Czeoho-Slovakia, Finland, and Switzerland sent representatives and the constitution was agreed to.

GROWTH OF THE FEDERATION.
In the meantime, the Federation had been expanding. At Ghent, in 1913, there were but five nations at the inaugural meeting. At Lucerne there were eight nations, representing a total of 770,000 members (as against 242,000 in 1919) ; whilst to-day there are seventeen nations, with a total affiliation of over a million and a half.

The following list, recently supplied by the International Bureau, gives the names of the adherent countries and numbers of affiliated members for each :—

Germany.... ............ 1,295,739
Italy .................. 1070
England ................ 2,220
Lithuania .............. 900
Austria ................ 25,000
Poland ................. 6,000
Belgium ................ 20,000
Portugal ................ 6,000
Esthonia................ 100
Switzerland ............ 16166
Finland ................ 27,000
Czecho-Slovakia (Prague).. 97,000
Czecho-Slovakia (Provinces) . . 48 300
Alsace-Lorraine .......... 12,000 „
France.................. 3,000
Yugo-Slavia ............ 135
Luxembourg ............500
Hungary................ 5,000

TOTAL 1,565,130

Without actually being the lowest in the list, in point of numbers, England, -with its importance in the comity of nations, and with its sporting traditions, is far too low. If through international sport there is any hope of reducing the chances of future wars being waged, then it is our duty to give such support to this new movement towards peace as is possible. The comparatively rapid growth of the Federation under surely the most adverse circumstances, would suggest that it has the hall-marks of success. And the work it has already accomplished lends encouragement.

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIADS.

Since its formation numerous international sports and athletic gatherings—as between individual nations—have been held, and three international Olympiads have been authorised by the International Bureau. Of these latter the most important was the one held in Prague, in June, 1921. Its importance lay in the fact that it was held so soon after the war, and that the invitations, sent out by the Gymnast Association of Czecho-Slovakia, were so warmly responded to. Upwards of 72,000 athletes gathered together in the great stadium, specially erected for the purpose, and of these at least 12,000 were from foreign countries. In the perfect cordiality with which the Czecho-Slovakians welcomed their guests, and in the warm fraternal spirit with which the various representatives from the different nations co mingled—nations that had but recently been flying at each others throats—lay the great significance of that 1921 Olympiad.

Last year, in Leipzig, the German Workers' Gymnast Clubs entertained 3,000 worker athletes from other countries, and upwards of' 16,000 athletes took part in the great march past.

During the present year (1923) international sports meetings in Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, Czecho-Slovakia, and Lithuania have been sanctioned by the International Federation. To each and to all of these gatherings some representatives of the various nations affiliated, with the exception of England, have been sent, for the purpose of demonstrating their belief in this new endeavour towards international fraternity.

But England has not been entirely lacking in its support to the new movement. When, in 1912, the first tentative invitations to help in the formation of the Federation were sent out, the only working-class athletic society in this country with any pretence to a national organisation was the Clarion Cycling Club.

That club accepted the invitation and, so far as its poor means allow, has endeavoured, both nationally and internationally, to strengthen the cause for which the International Workers' Federation was formed. By the sending of football teams, cyclists, swimmers, and runners to France and to Belgium, and by entertaining, in this country, football teams from France, it has done what it can to forward the objects of the Federation. But it is too weak, both in membership and in finances, to keep in step with the rapid advance made by the Federation on the continent.

And in no case can it ever claim to be truly representative of the working-class movements in Great Britain. At most it can but hope to hold the position until the general Labour and Co-operative movements of this country recognise the value of this endeavour towards peace by substituting the spirit of sport for the spirit of militarism.

The co-operative movement is essentially a peace-loving movement. The common aim of co-operators the whole world over makes for fraternity of interests. On the continent the co-operators have interested themselves whole-heartedly in the work of the International Federation. They recognise that the future of co-operation, and the welfare of the workers generally, depends upon securing the interests of the young. Youth demands the healthy recreation that sports and athletics give. The continental co-operators cater for that demand, and, by affiliation to the International Federation, are helping to bring the youth of the various nations together in friendly sportive rivalry, and by so doing will help to clear the way of those international prejudices and misunderstandings that make wars possible.

With the exception of a few isolated sports clubs and tennis clubs —and these for the most part formed by employees—the British co-operative movement has done nothing at all in the way of physical education for its younger members. Most certainly there is nothing in this country to equal, or even to approach, the magnificent gymnast organisations for which the movement on the continent is responsible. Yet here, surely, is an opportunity which should be exploited.


FORTHCOMTNG EVENTS.

In September, 1924, at Ghent, is to be held an International Co- operative Exhibition. An invitation to take over an English team of footballers, to play in a series of international matches, to be held during the Exhibition festival, has already been sent by the Executive Committee of the International Workers' Federation for Sport. The acceptance of that invitation will depend on funds being available. -But the purpose of that visit would be immeasurably strengthened if the national organisation of this country could be made to include representatives of the British co-operative movement.

In August 1925 at Frankfort-on-Main, is to be held a great Workers Olympiad. It is quite safe to say at least 20 nations will be represented at that Olympiad. Whether England, the birthplace of co-operation, of trades unionism, and the home of sport will have its representatives there will depend on whether the co-operative and Labour movements of this country are prepared to take their part in the endeavour to substitute sport for war.

Were these gatherings merely sports gatherings they might be treated with comparative indifference. It is because of the purpose behind them that they gain importance. It is because of the conscious and avowed endeavour to combat militarism with the healthy friendly rivalry of sport that the International Workers' Federation for Physical Education and Sport demands your help.

For the present the National Clarion Cycling Club is the officially recognised affiliated body in this country to the International Federation. A Scottish federation and a London group has been formed. So soon as the interest in the movement warrants, a British Workers' federation for Sport will be formed and affiliated to the International Federation.

The Federation was formed in 1913. For five years its work was interrupted, yet to-day it is receiving an ever-widening and an ever-increasing support. This is a call to co-operators to help forward a movement that cannot fail to have a beneficial effect in bringing about greater friendliness among the peoples of the world, and because of that to postpone, if not to abolish altogether, the possibilities of war.

Tom Groom
The International Workers’ Federation For Physical Education and Sport Report
CWS Handbook 1924