ON 31 May the National Communications Union opens its annual conference in Blackpool. It is the union's first stock since its three week national all-out strike earlier this year. NCU member IAN GRANT reports.
The strike, which defeated BT's plans to smash the union decisively, failed to win the rank and file's demand for 'No Strings' pay claim. In a deal which tied the worktorce to a two year pay selle ment, NCU. leaders also signed a far reaching 'return to This package adopted overwhelmingly in ballots at mass meetings, orderly end to the dispute, but opened the door to sweeping changes in job demarcation and grading agreements.
Agreement by local branches of the amon to baese new working practices Is a condition of an 0.8 per cent pay increment payable from the end of this month. The effect of these attacks on working practices will accelerate job loss, and pave the way for massive redundancy.
In line with engineering BT is also pressing ahead with the introduction of short term contracts under an agreement signed by the union's executive prior to the strike. meeting during the strike.
TWO MEMBERS of the London City branch of the have been sacked.
Their sackings are a direct resull BI'S orensive against the in the wake of the strike Manage ment have used sophisticated tactics in an attempt to divide union members and weaken the branch that covers the strategic financial district in London national response is vital to defend what is the largest economically, the strongest engineering branch unfollowing the return to WOTK management disciplined members in the Citv branch itselt. moving them off their jobs, giving them a record'. , etc; other members in the City area were suspended. This was part of a wider campaign of victimisations and attacks on conditions nationally.
The ex-City branch secretary, and former leader of the union's broad left, Jock Campbell, now member of management, Intervenea into ine branch's affairs by fingering and witch-hunting al tivists in an attempt to effect the outcome of the branch AGM. A letter written by him was quoted extensively London paper, Evening Standard, adding to the witch-hunt opportunity to take of union branches.
facing NCU response to since work agreement'.
brought an outset of the strike;
tionally employers union members.
Building a John Deason, victimised NCU member, addresses a mass atmosphere At stake in the AGM was what aramide to take to BT's Officers Cabael. opposed to mounting strike action in the event of sackings won the majority of positions. Nevertheless, the Hila olll the Danci committee endorsed a prousal wo lolze a callpale! in the union and throughout the labour movement in defence of victimised members. Such a campaign would have been a useful springboard to strike action un une event or av re sackings, but it never reall got off the grounc And when BT sacked John Treadaway for alleged verna against strike-breaker's wife, seven tions rather than mount a fightback. Management seized their and sacked another branch activist, John Deason, and transferred a branch leader, Fred Clarke, out of the district.
The officers refused requests to rescind their. resignations: nor were ther Taking advantage of witn branch, BT has now refused to allow new branch chair, Fred Clarke, to enter the office, alone negotiate on behalf of the branch.
Branch activist, Anne John Golding, general secretary of the NCU faces fierce criticism at this year's conference both for the terms of the return to work, and for his conduc during the dispute. No less than 12 mo tions of censure and calls for his resigna tion have been tabled by a cross section However the most important issue conterence will be BT's campaign of harassment and intimidation of union activists end the Reprimands carrying the threat of dismissal if a further 'offence' is found proved; management refusal to reopen certain union offices they closed at the union negotiators refused time off to carry out their duties: these are just some of the attacks.
Despite a 'no victimisation' clause in the return to work agreement, individual union members have found themselves arbitrarily removed from their normal duties and workplaces and subjected to determined management harassment. in the key City of London branch, a tradimilitant section of the union, this has culminated in the sacking of two campaign In derence o these victimised workers must be a priori. ty for the NCU conference.
Fiander, herself disciplined for. her part in the strike sala Inal untea action ll defence of the sacked and victimised members is key to rebuild the branch 'A branch incapable of defending its members cannot be ettective any question. Our task is to create the conditions for mounting strike action to win reinstatement This means building broad the movement 'We have to learn the lessons or ine miners strike Arthur Scargill has said tha through industrial actior can the victimised miners win reinstatement. To create the conditions where such they've built the Justice for Mineworkers Campaign 'Drawing up a similar NCU campaign for reinstatement of victimised telecom engineers - which can win the united support of all leaders of the branch — Is ine hrst step, and will ning the ex-branch officers rescind their divisive resignation publicly back the united campaign will be vital t forging a new unity within the branch 'The union conference will be an opportunity win national backing for such a campaign, vital to its success.