the public sector monopolies. effective way to reduce public sector union power is to end this state monopoly or near monopoly in the service they British Telecoms is the biggest and richest prize in this sale of the century. In the process of privatisation the 'service' aspect of the industry will be dropped. Services will be cut in the 'unprofitable' rural areas and investment concentrated in city business areas. sumer will be discriminated against in favour of big business. This is what they mean by making BT more efficient.
thrown on the dole. agreement BT has with the 'conditional'. The condition is that BT is not subject to pressure 'outside its control'. Putting the Board under the control of the shareholders is the sort of 'outside control' they will use to scrap the job slowness in providing new lines, new blamed by the Tories on nationalisation. This is outrageous. All these things stem from the conscious starving of funds to BT and the subjecting of BT to the laws of 'profitability. the last two financial years had to be funded solely out of internal sources as opposed to private industry which can raise money The job security BTs f2bn investment in the stock exJOCK CAMPBELL is the secretary of London City POEU branch. He helped to organise the 35 the campaign against privatisation. Challenge spoke to him about the lessons of the 35 hour week campaign the background to the 35 hour week campaign?
The demand for a campaign around the 35 hour conference Policy for 12 years but the did nothing organise it. Eventually LNCI took industrial action on the issue. London ENCt and in branch supported order to put pressure on the executive lacker Post Office buildings. This action plus the support from other branches forced the NEC to call for national industrial action.
What form did that actior City branch took selective action asainst ine banks did SOUL PBAX's into service in the banks and we completely blacked the stock Socialist change This resulted the Bank of Illinois appearing on television to undermine the union's action.
WIEn tae stoch exchange the banks went to the then Prime Minister James Callaghan.
This coincided with the mass rally in Hyde Pare There Bryan Stanley an nounced to the whole membership that he was committed to fight to the end for the 35 hour week.
The next day he went Callaghan and sold out. The POEU settled for the 374 hour week.
What lessons can we learn from the 35 hour week campaign?
have to change the NEC The present NEC still think we are in the civil service. They are politically yesterday's men.
Wet organise dere ship organise membership in this period. It is campaigns like the one against privatisation that will assist and build the political pressure in the branches for the removal of the present NEC and the election of an NEC prepared to union membership now. Is the demand for the 35 hour week still relevant in the union?
No. Now we must demand the 32 hour 4 day woek This is the way we wil maintain posts.
During the next period there will be pressure for us to sell jobs. As a union not only should we not contribute to a large dole but we should also fight for a better life for our membership.
Ana compete indon campaign London City is calling a special meeting. What do vou see its purpose as?
called special meeting to inform and up our membership SCLE and to put pressure on the This pressure has already resulted in the calling of a one day national strike.
The special meeting will also show the NEC we are serious in our campaign to have a special conference Why do we need a special conference?
If our demands are to be won we need a nationa We know that this struggle is not goine to be won quickly or easily, therefore it must be The one day strike is vital in uniting the membership for the strug.
gle ahead. But following that the first thing that convinces the members that something is going to be done is a national levy.
Because cash is essential te be able to win.
What action do you think the Specia Conference should plan?
The action has to be selective and we ere in an in dustry could paralyse business by selective stoppages.
What is the role of the Broad Left?
Job The point about is that it allows for the introduc TheM POEU officials estimate in the next decade. At tacks like this can only math with o RAKENSE HATO Tebbit law only aids their plans work.
Implementing hours now with plans to BETHEL introduce union policy
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hour week campaign at the base of the union and is now actively involved in preparing for
that Wit lose 50, 000 7 101