SPECIAL BRANCH THREAT ASSESSMENT

News International Print Dispute
Overview Wednesday 21st May 1986

l. Picketing continued throughout Tuesday 20th May 1986 at the 
three locations involved in the ongoing dispute between News International
and the print unions. No incidents were reported and there were
no arrests at any of the three locations.

2. The most significant event of the week in respect of the
dispute took place on Monday 19th May when between 2,000 and 3,000
members of SOGAT '82 met behind closed doors at Central Hall, Westminster.
The interpretation of the proceedings was universally reported by
both left and right wing press and television and radio. The general
consensus was that XXXX
was given a rough ride at the meeting which followed a decision
by the SOGAT executive to purge the union's High Court contempt
in a case arising out of the dispute. Militant members regard this
as a retreat by the union. During the meeting XXX was jeered and 
some members reportedly claimed that they could no longer place 
trust in XXX to put the union's case in the dispute. After XXX
left the meeting, a motion calling for the dispute to be intensified
was endorsed though an amendment seeking the establishment of a 
strike committee was defeated.

3. News International were reported after the meeting to be
fearful that the level of personal violence will increase following
what it sees as a clear victory for SOGAT militants at Monday's
meeting. The verbal agression displayed at the meeting may directly
affect the policing of the picket lines, especially at Wapping,
in that in the past the majority of print workers involved with the 
dispute have, in the main, followed the executive's guidelines on 
picketing and demonstration practices. The emergence of a substantial 
group of militant print workers may now mean that there will be 
two chains of command at the Wapping site with the more reasonably 
minded printers continuing to follow the DEAN approach to the dispute 
and the militants devising their own methods of protest and perhaps 
joining forces with the now established extremist elements.

4. A further indication of the increasing militancy of a large 
number of print workers directly involved in the current dispute
was encapsulated in the words of XXXXXX and reported in the Morning Star. He was,
according to XXX a 'Star' reporter, loudly applauded
when he moved the 'continue to fight' programme. If this meant
facing the wrath of the courts and sequestration of the London Branch
funds, then so be it, he said. The reasons for fighting were as
good now as on day one of the dispute months ago. The vote was
unanimous to "escalate the dispute", in the words of the resolution
and, "to continue the national picketing operation throughout the
UK, to continue the boycott campaign", and to "step up demonstrations
at Wapping, Bouverie Street and Grays Inn Road".

5. There is currently no intelligence, despite the increased
militancy displayed at Monday's Central Hall meeting, to suggest
that tonights 'major' demonstration at Wapping will attract any
larger number than seen on previous Wednesdays and it is anticipated
that no more than 500 will take part.

COSB

21.5.86 


CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT