Confronting the Bams
Many years ago I was in the company of Hugh Wyper - a leading figure in the TGWU union - and a man who knew a thing or two about dealing with unruly hecklers.
A contemporary of Michael McGahey - the Scottish miners' leader and fellow member of the Communist Party - Hugh was a leading exponent of 'confronting the bams'.
But only if he was treated rudely or with a lack of respect.
A policy now officially endorsed by Gary Tank Commander - for the Scottish election campaign - see post dated 25 April 2011: 'Confront the Bams'.
Anyway I was in Hugh Wyper's company at some trade union march and demonstration in Edinburgh.
At the end of which he was approached - in a less than friendly fashion, as I recall - by a group of people from the Socialist Workers Party - some of whom claimed to be members of the TGWU.
Apparently they were on strike - a much more common occurrence in those days.
But they demanded to know when their leader - one Hugh Wyper - was going to get off his lazy backside and support the said members - because they were paying his 'effing' wages.
Refusing to be intimidated, Hugh enquired politely of the baying mob: "How long have you been on strike, then?"
"Six weeks", they cried in unison.
"Six weeks", answered Hugh incredulously. "Ah've held my 'effing' breath for longer".
And he walked off - leaving the hecklers silent and dumfounded in his wake.
Gary Tank Commander would have been proud.
A contemporary of Michael McGahey - the Scottish miners' leader and fellow member of the Communist Party - Hugh was a leading exponent of 'confronting the bams'.
But only if he was treated rudely or with a lack of respect.
A policy now officially endorsed by Gary Tank Commander - for the Scottish election campaign - see post dated 25 April 2011: 'Confront the Bams'.
Anyway I was in Hugh Wyper's company at some trade union march and demonstration in Edinburgh.
At the end of which he was approached - in a less than friendly fashion, as I recall - by a group of people from the Socialist Workers Party - some of whom claimed to be members of the TGWU.
Apparently they were on strike - a much more common occurrence in those days.
But they demanded to know when their leader - one Hugh Wyper - was going to get off his lazy backside and support the said members - because they were paying his 'effing' wages.
Refusing to be intimidated, Hugh enquired politely of the baying mob: "How long have you been on strike, then?"
"Six weeks", they cried in unison.
"Six weeks", answered Hugh incredulously. "Ah've held my 'effing' breath for longer".
And he walked off - leaving the hecklers silent and dumfounded in his wake.
Gary Tank Commander would have been proud.
