IT was with some surprise I read Jim Cassidy's account of life under Maxwell (March 28). What a pity the dogs at Anderston Quay hadn't barked louder at that time. Harry Templeton, then Sogat Press father of the chapel, did in fact bark loudest of all. Harry was also a trustee of the pension fund and was the first to ''smell a rat''.
Harry was part of the 50% of the union side but he quickly realised he was virtually a lone voice as most of the
others had been bought off with
promotions or perks throughout the Maxwell empire.
Harry's suspicions were brought to the attention of Brenda Dean, then Sogat general secretary. However, there was a strong feeling that the Labour hierarchy did not wish to upset Maxwell. Harry paid the ultimate price for his whistle-blowing by being sacked. Few siren voices were heard then.
Harry later gave evidence to the parliamentary inquiry and Hugh Shaw, then Tory MP for Dover, stated that ''Harry's evidence was the most
germane to come before the inquiry
and he had no doubts as to why Harry was sacked''.
Cassidy also refers to Bob Gillespie [pictured, left, with the victor, Jim Sillars] and the ill-fated Govan by-election in 1988.
For the record, my union colleague Willie Wallace and I worked in this campaign from day one. We later submitted a detailed report to Jimmy Allison, then Labour Party Scottish organiser. This report pointed out a lot of uncomfortable facts for the Labour Party, not least the shambolic organisational abilities of those sent up from London.
The report, while recognising mistakes, did not promote the official ''Blame Gillespie'' line. The truth is that Labour would probably have lost the seat, regardless of the candidate. After all, Govan had been lost to the SNP in the recent past and was later regained by the losing candidate.
The truth was that many senior Labour figures didn't lift a hand to help throughout the campaign and others who did appear actually tried to undermine the candidate. There were simply old scores to be settled as Labour's hierarchy couldn't forget Bob's past membership of the International Socialists.
I am tired of hearing the old chestnut about Bob's ability from people who didn't even know him. Bob was an
excellent union official for Sogat
(later GPMU).
Both at branch and national level he worked especially hard for those on lower grades and to ensure equal
rates for women before this issue was to the forefront.
He was no lawyer and never went to university so he didn't fit the new Labour identikit. Maxwell didn't even know Bob, therefore he must have been advised by senior figures in the Labour Party to ''unleash the hounds''.
However, despite the efforts of Maxwell's hacks and attempts at bribery by the Sun, the muck-raking was in vain. The simple reason was that there was no muck to be found.
I think these matters should be placed on the record before a good man is further maligned.
Jim Friel
(president, GPMU Scotland; former FoC, Daily Record/Sunday Mail),
37 Gordon Avenue,
Baillieston,
Glasgow.
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