Jimmy's fast exit

Submitted by Janine on 19 September, 1991 - 1:56

The TUC was very boring indeed. It must have been because the press were interested in Jimmy Airlie.

Jimmy is an AEU executive member from Scotland. He drew the attention of journalists from the quality papers with his good old-fashioned fiery conference rhetoric: "One of the few present day trade union leaders with any experience of talking to mass meetings of workers", was the way Jimmy was described.

But while Jimmy was keen to perform for the cameras, the hacks and the assembled delegates, he wasn't quite so keen to see some of his own manual worker members.

Every time one of the Solidarnosc-style T-shirts worn by members and supporters of the rank and file offshore workers group, OILC, came into view, Jimmy made himself scarce.

You see Jimmy was having some difficulty in explaining the deal he signed the previous week with the oil companies to his own members, most of whom had put their livelihoods on the line for the union.

The "hard man" from the Gorbals wasn't tough enough to explain his actions to his own members. In fact, the windbag preferred to leave by the side door.

=====

It wasn't just Airlie who wasn't keen to see the OILC. On the eve of the conference the committee received a letter from Congress House telling them that their information and fundraising stall had been cancelled.

At "the request of two affiliates" (surely not the AEU and GMB?!), the OILC was to be barred from the conference centre. Naturally they protested.

So, in the spirit of modern trade unionism, Congress House came up with a compromise. The offshore workers could have a stall under a different name - the Offshore Information Service - and minus controversial material. The only thing that the victimised, blacklisted and jobless activists had to do was pay the TUC £1,000 for the privilege.

A far cry from last year's standing ovation for the OILC.

=====

Unperturbed, the OILC activists turned up at conference with their stall and set up outside.

Then an attempt was made to "infiltrate" the exhibition hall. But this was repelled by the superior numbers of TUC stewards who ripped up and destroyed any OILC material they could get their hands on.

Meanwhile, the TUC let in such committed upholders of health and safety standards and workers' rights as British Nuclear Fuels, Eurotunnel, and NIREX.

An occasion for some fiery conference rhetoric about "labour lieutenants of capital". What do you say Jimmy?

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.