THE POST OFFICE engineers won a surprising victory in the courts last week against the private consortium, Mercury. CAROL TURNER of the POEU London West branch considers the strengths and weaknesses of the union's selective action strategy. BRITISH TELECOM is big business. When Thatcher's plans were dubbed 'the sale of the century, this was not Just a cule culp The communications industry is one of Britain's five most profitable secBritish and it's closely linked to the fastest growing industrial sector, eel tronics. If government Is to relain lic support and confidence of the ruling class, there's no backing down on privatising Telecom.
The figures speak for themselves. The Financial Times has estimated that selling fifty one per cent of BT would mean a f300bn a year distribution of profits 1981 SHareholders figures. The actual sale of shares would bring SOnIC where in the region of that's around half of its current public sector borrequirement (the money LOC plans to spend on public services).
Against this background, the DUSI office barked on a campaign of to stop So tar the results have been surprisingly good.
In June the membership. elected left exconvinced that CLEVE. these were the people to see the campaign through. It was clearly a vote of no confidence in the outgoing executive, whose main axis has been a publicity camto persuade the Valen public. and change MPs' minds.
In September delegates to special votea two to one to support the NEC recommendation for selecuive members instructed dollo cross. they worked as instructed ... and chaos reigned!
Engineers sent to London from as far afield as Plymouth have spent considerable amount BT's time money discovering they can't do. the job without local knowledge.
The union strategy control of many members are out. Hence full take home pay is paid members dispute. This strategy simultaneously the current strength future weakness of our dispute.
If the refuses to back down which it must - there is no alternative but accelerate the action. So far, BT has played its ace in a Nineteen of caulivus way. the suspended members under five dav notice of dismissal. At the time of writing, that notice hasn't expired, but the union execulve s contident ther have an adequate response dismissals on small scale. But such small scale dismissals could continue indefinitely.
Inside the union, the discussion is whether selecthink Essentially this is to believe that the targets selected require an expertise to operate which can't be found among outside thus crippling crucial business services will halt privatisation plans This is shortsighted. Somewhere — outside Britain? determined management will find such expertise. ine strategy eif the selective be rendered less and less beat the Tories hope for an effective fightback against govern. ment austerity plans. Here lies potential broadening strengthening the dispute.
To win the battle, the POEU must go all out to build an with other sections of the trade union movement to take on the Tories. This means action on a scale not seen since the miners tackled the Heath government in the early seventies.
Only united action by the whole movement can stop Thatcher's privatisation. This means the POEU membership for national action, and building for such action throughout the trade The Hovelical.
POEU executive • must de. mand that the TUC and fall squarely behind the fight Telecom puonc There is little time to DIcuale this battle Socialist Action readers should start now:
* Get your union branch to pass resolutions of sup. port demand your national union does likewise.
* Take collections for the POEU fighting fund, and propose a levy of your own membership.
* Raise the dispute in your Labour Party and propose the organises public meeting in support of the strikers.
* Organise POEU for your speake.
meeting, contact the branches involved the dispute: London North Centre Internal on 01-353 Westminster 01-633 0080 or London City on 01-236 5159 contact your local POEU the UNTOUCU Party or Trades Council, by phoning POEU HQ on 01-998 2981.
Don't forget to let the POEU know that support for the dispute is gathering momentum, by contacting the executive at Greystoke House, Brunswick Road, London W5 1AW They can also supply you with anti-privatisation leaflets. POEU members demonstrate against piratisation Branches CATES ETERNAL TO Cancer
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