Democratic diddles | IMGpapers 1980

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IT IS rather unfortunate to say the least that the article by Geoff Bell on the TGWU vote (SC 24 September) should have certain factual errors.

In his desire to support the Benn campaign Geoff makes certain errors. Scottish, London and North regions of the TGWU contain 835,000 members, whereas the total membership of the union is 1,831,000 (figures from the May census) — hardly a majority!

Within this, certain features should be pointed out. In London, the biggest region of the TGWU, 53 branches voted for Benn and 42 for Healey overwhelming support for Benn. this on a 10 per cent poll.

Whereas in the North and Wales on a 50 per cent poll of the branches the vote was for Healey. In my own area, Yorkshire, the vote was 5 to 1 for Healey. Geoff's claim in the last paragraph 'that balance favour Benn'is simply rubbish.

What happened is the executive of the union ensured a stitch-up for Benn. Now it is true that the GMWU and AUEW did not even consult their members before the executives voted for Healey.

But this sort of practice in the TGWU (also in the construction union UCATT, where the executive alone took a decision for Benn) makes a mockery of the Left's claim for more democracy in the unions.

To win our position we must ensure full democratic rights for all members paying the political levy in voting for the leadership of the Labour ballot of the members carried out by the NUM is a model of how the democratic process should work.

The Benn campaign should not need fraudulent voles and should not cover up for them (as leading Bennites such as Michael Meacher MP seems to be doing). We should aim for complete union democracy.

Steve Vokes, TGWU 9/14 Huddersfield What do you think about union democracy? Socialist Challenge invites contributions on this vital question.

The West - hardly And consultation did Party. The

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material in union journals.

One of those picked up and released on bail was Kornel Morawiecki, delegate to the Solidarity congress from . Wroclaw and an editor of a regional Solidarity news bulletin in workers in a Russian auto