THE VOTE this week by Sogat 82 on the political levy, by a majority of 3-1, is a clear triumph for the Labour and trade unions. It is also a big blow to the Tories, whose unions to ballot their members on retaining a fund if they have not done so in the past ten years.
for the SDP who seized on the Sogat 82 political fund ballot as an issue with which to beat the unions by calling openly for a vote against it.
This was cynically coupled with its jumping allegations against the TGWU. both these issuer expose the SDP as the antianti-democratic force they really are.
Owen, typically pathetic style, argued that Fleet Street had reached an undercover agreement with its print unions not to write about the sogat ballot! The conspiracy theory is always resort of the failed politiclan. As brenda Deal te Sogat 82 president said, 'It is que cicar Ludl UnO! members resent outside atwith LCHIDES their legitimate right maintain a political fund' Sogat 82's method of organising the ballot was in many respects a model of how to campaign for a 'yes' vote. Instead of press advertisements or thousands of leaflets, Sogat actually took the advice or tae ones and wenl back to its members.
Serous campalen was waged throughout the organised Over 3000 people answered the Newham 7 Defence Campaign's call to assert the right to march and organise against racist attacks one week after violent police disruption of the 27 March demonstration. At the Act 1984 requires Last, but by no means least, it is a slap in the face meetings and well directed information. Most important of all it was topped off with a lay union officer at each workplace to lollow through the campaign.
It wasn't that the campaign, as Brenda Dean said 'was not low key - it was that it was a different sort of key. Branch officers approached Graham Allen, full-time ordinator of the union's campaign in Britain, and ordered material which ‹ney wantee and ten pass ed it on to the membership.
The union is now free, ironically with the blessing of Тогу legislation, to carry on its political activities maintain its with the Labour Party. The whole purpose of the ballots is to break that link, neutralise the ability of unions to be politically effective.
Sogat 82 went first in the ballot because it was hoped to trigger off domino effect: exactly that : was borne out by the and only 25,947 colas pussesser two qualities which will be essential to win this 11gh1 - strength of organisation of UCTICE political awareness.
Clearly in the case of Sogat 82 the ballot has rejuvenated the injeciea a around which campaign. crack орIs Intended Howeyer, had to be organised workplace level, a clear lesson there for other unions in the firing line.
A major weakness of the campaign though that the balloting timetable deliberately misses out the TUC and Labour season Rather than see them as a paign, the sight of the TUC and LP leaderships having an impact on the voting is seen as too much of a problem.
But the campaign is off to a good start. Sogat 82 was seen by some would-be commentators as one of those unions most at risk. The campaign to secure financial should now go on the offensive. In 1964-79 trade affiliation 14 arrests were made. The trial started on 13 May.
trial lasts, at 9.30am Labour increased by 18.3 per cent compared to a increase animatons to tne 1uc. i 1983 only 39 per cent of traue voted The Labour Party has only damaged itself with the leadership's attitude 1o the miners' strike. For the campaign on the political to be successful, must call die! openly on the side of workers in struggle, purpolicies their interests and win the confidence working tọ support it.
and its very own future if it does not do that.
If the link between the and trade unions is broken it will be a massive blow to the entire labour movement. It will be a decisive step in permanently minoritising the Labour Party and preventing any possibility of the lorIalon ol a majority The should build on the words Bill Keys, the president of Sogat 82, who said: "The result is a blow the Conservative Government have tried very hard not only to snackie the trade movement but now want to suence n. ne resul Is d victory for democracy and movement.' end of the march police again attacked the marchers and There will be a picket at the Old Bailey each Monday while the For the union the deal of the century looks less attractive. There will be higher bonuses while the IC W Northampton postal workers on strike