THE annual conference of the Post Office Engineering Union, held in Blackpool last week marked a new stage in the confrontation between left and right in the union.
ans was best svmboised the eve conference meetings addressed by ToRY Benn and Healey ite annual Broad Left onlerence say: *I support the Broad Left the POEU, I support policies.
He went on to make a stir•welfare capitalism' and of laucal socialsi change. He received a stanovation almost "Tony Benn tor Deputy badges were Meanwhile, a few hunTHE LEE Jeans occupation is now entering its 2nd week. women from the factory will lead a march for jobs across Scotland, organised by the Scotlish TUC.
This demonstration building much needed abour movement, as the occupation is under hreat.
This week the workers the occupation agreed o ser up a committee to We be boss or stablishing a co-operative an alternative or tic tacloy.
The names of those morosed for the commitenough to raise dred yards away a meeting of supporters Mainstream were addressed barley. Healey and Eric Thei apologising for the Labour alongside virulent denunciaLUIs of the left-wing well COWa well witn their 'moderate' supporters. Frustrate Street had shown Concerne interest the conference. The Daily Mirror and the Daily Express At the end of the month the could be vital in support the sources.
lhe only thing which could force such pany to maintain its operation in Greenock would be the threat that it could lose sales, which amount to 3 per cent of the British jean market. had all launched vicious attacks on POEU Broad Left on scale not seen since the AUEW. wing The Tory Dress Lanc'uve. were clearly ratted at the prospect of the Broad Left, which one NEd 2ing 23 seats on the Click of this onslaught anu une weakKUCCU *leadershir on one NEC took its toll on the conference, but the right-wing frustrated their desperate alicups to unsed some or me broad ce sub. porters. They especially went after Phil Lloyd, a Militant supporter from Swansea. most outspoken and uncompromising left-winger on the While lefts' votes were down slightly, Phil and other vulnerable left-wing NEC licinocs increasca teel support. The end result was the same as last year's 14-9 right-left split conference, general POEU Westminster Bryan Stanley spoke of it being 'the year of the Bill', referAl orles Telecommunications Bill.
which to carve-up the Post Office The POEU's campaign asthetic. The NEC had failed led tandate to use industrial ace conference tion to defeat such attacks on the Post Office. Stanlev ex sexism advertising marked The roads into Lee Jeans sales in Britain would set the ocon the road to Luvaliull success. plained that industrial action would merely have provoke worse attacks and that we had government'.
This cautious 'wait and see' dominated the Acute canc acietale. re ecLec any calls TOT We race. They also voted oaks and varied attacks we face whelmingly to accept a 12 packagic, which shorter week agreement.
the denate n 'trade union unity the NEC federation CPSA (Posts and Telecoms section and ine Societv Post Office Executives By Des Tierney specifically any Will y WIll communication Workers, either across the old Post Office or even with the 35,000 UCW members employed 1 elecons Unity The federal structure pro Culocisone bureaucranc providing for unity at the top and disuni Nevertheles.
delegate 40000 votes to 500 als inest certainly, unity Of fice, but we need a rank and file trade union under the control of our members merger of the POEU , CPSA and UCW also need friends in the Labour Party are committed to defending nationalised unlike Healey and Varley above all, we need to put ou own nousc in oruci anu starl fighting back.
Many awa IrOn conterence feeling a bit let down. Far too had expected 1 easy victory over right-wing tions for the NEC or the fight attacks. It's clear that the rank and file level more than ever before
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