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Mercury didn't lose the case because British justice is fair and impartial. They lost because of the strength of the engineers' action the growing for them in the SUDDOrI rest of the labour moveAlready the other unions in the JOSla vices the UCW SCPS, are dicussing support actions, and solidariresolutions from other unions and Labour Party branches are pouring in.
The post office engineers are in the front line of the fight against the government. Thatcher's plans to privatise British Telecom are crucia to their economic projects. Selling BI would yield $4 billion provide bonanza for the Tories' friends in the city. Thus the stakes are very high for But so are the stakes for the labour movement. Since the election the real of the Tories' 'the NHS IS safe with us'pledge has been revealed in brutal plans to cut doctors and nurses' jobs. THE TORIES suffered a rare setback last week, at for boycotting them as part of the anti-privatisation campaign. But they lost, giving a major boost to the fight against privatisation and against all the antiThe post office campaign against spread the idea that privalsalon Ically piratisation of public services. It has successfully fought off Mercury's court action and une warcal of dismissals by management.
Now is the time forthe ment to rally behind the POEU action. The health unions and the post office. engineers should draw up a joint plan of action to ward off the Tories' tacks. The other postal unions should levy their membership and prepare a campaign of solidarity acthe Telecomworkers.
And in every • locality unions Should organise solidarity meetings and collections with the post office engineers. That is the way to escalate the fight into a campaign strike action to bring the Tories to their knees. * See page five for further coverage of the dispute. has BT atWorkers action can cripple Tory plans
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the hands of the post office engineers. Private firm Mercury confidently appealed under Tebbit's anti- union laws for an injunction against the engineers