currently being GMWU, TWU and the AUEW dustrial unions in the power industry expected to produce a big majority for action.
Many rank file power workers have felt that they have been a soft touch in negotiations over recent years. They feel that the showdown over pay EETPU PowerDistribution shop steward (personal capacity)
single staff should have been fought two years ago when the miners were on strike victory would have been certain.
The fight for equal holidays and allowances leading single staff status, would destroy the double standards in the industry between manual workers and the management union, the Electrical Power Association (EPA), led by John Lyons.
The combination between the management and the EPA works at the expense industry's manual workers. The struggle between the EETPU and the EPA, who have been political bedpartners in recent years.
increasingly bitter, with the EPA constantly frustrating the demands of the manual WOLKCIS The UK electricity supply industry has been acclaimea as ine cient in the world. This efnclency nas been achieved at the expense of manual workers, who have seen their numbers drop from 142,000 in 1967 to 78,000 POWER AND Electricity Board manual workers balloted by the EETPU, - the four in- over this response to a 5½ per cent offer. The ballot is widely tod Flexibility and increased productivity for manual workers has been seen bi the Tories as a green light to prepare for privalsd Both management LIUL the EPA have cooperated to undermine pay conditions manual workers in the industry.
The difference in conditions and holidays betthe EPA members ana ine manual workers Is constant source of The EPA is not threatened by the use outside contractors. But contractors are creasingly being used in manual areas Will scall regard agreed procedures.
The EETPU is still reeling because of criticism by its own members over its role in Wapping.
The union's leadership is trying to win back the confidence of Power Electricity Board workers who had previously been its base within the union. But amongst the rank and file there is tear of a sellout or a repeat of the ballot a few years ago when a large majority was registered for strike action but which the Chapple leadership called off without reballoting the members, and with barely any improvement in wages and conditions.
Hammond EETPU. executive would dearly love to pursue this course ONCe The rank and file must build up tne pressure to ensure tnal this does not happen.
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year's pay and conditions claim. All four unions are campaigning for a vote for industrial action in