Post Office engineers fight Black Hole' | Socialist Action 1983

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MAINS FREE NIONS LABOUR MPs joined a picket outside the Chilean Embassy last testing at the current wave of repression being meted out to workers by the Pinochet government. Union leaders called off the general strike on Sunday, which had followed most widespread and open opposition to the junta so far.

'Operation WHILE their Tory management in British Telecom are stepping up the pressure on the Two members of the union, the POEU, have been sent home for refusing to connect up the privately owned Mercury system to the state network.

Management have

tried to get round the unions refusal to wire up Mercury by doing the work themselves at night. The POEU has responded by boycotting two buildings where this has been done. About 35,000 lines are atfected.

Management have

drawn up a strategy document called "Operation Black Hole', which aims at drawing the union rapidly into a battle on secondary aspects of the privatisation campaign such as Mercury, while preparing plans for wholesale denationalisation.

Matching The POEU Executive is matching management move for move at present.

The Industrial Action Sub-Committee has co-opted thi leadership from the branches affected by the action, and has begun a campaion to prepare the membership for the major battles ahead.

Members of the Lawson announced that in the autumn social security benefits and pensions wil go up just 3.5 percent.

Since the Tories came to power, the value of social security benefits has gone down by 25 per cent But that is not enough for Thatcher and Lawson.

As the oil revenues run out, the underlying crisis of the British economy coming home to roost. For me ones mere souv one way out — cut living stanCares al round The Tory-CB announcement of 2 per LNCI Branch have been brought in to work with staff of the union journal, to turn this outwards the issues facing the rank and file LNC established branch bulletin which circulates widely in the union.

The new Exec recognises this experience as important in changing ue union journal. A levy of El is members to raise funds for what is undoubtedly going to be a long battle. And there is to be a special conference at the end of August, to prepare for wider action against the Telecoms Bill. MODERN TIMES I suppose the only chance we'll get now to shoot kids is in Northern Ireland...

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Socialist Action 1 July 1983 mobilisation through the