was the report from the Telecom union Westminster Broad Left on the eve of the reconvened annual POEU conference.
to one for a campaign of selective action against privatisation of British Telecom.
increase this majority.
But a debate is opening up in the Broad Left about whether selective action 1s enough to defeat privatisation and resist the connection of the private firm Mercury into the public network.
The Westminste branch has been in the forefront of the action and Colin Talbot argued his case for selective action to the Broad Left meeting.
Every tactic so far adopted by smash the action has failed he said. They had tried to suspend members wiro LIte work of those withdrawn the union in selective action around key locations. the Telecom Tower.
BT aimed to suspend between eight nine thousand members in the at the changes were locked out.
concentrating boycott action and picketing around selected targets, fewer members were suspended said Talbot: 'We are in control, not the management.
"I honestly believe we branch secretary, Colin Talbot to a meeting of the The September special conference voted by two The signs are that the reconvened conference will are winning' he said. 'MerCourt Slows that they have lost one million difficulty recruiting Custolis.
He reported that the press were saying that the government would delay share sales until 1985. This is a definite sign of retreat. As the months tick by, vestors will be deterred by GLADONT government pledged to renationalise the industry.
Four There are four motions before conference calling for all out national strike action. Colin said that such action would hurt the ordinary telephone subscriber and would not help bring pressure to bear on a coverici Olly listens to big business.
He explained that all out industrial action involved problems common service industries, such as the health service, wiere me no economic clout.
'We stick to selective action and use members withdrawn or suspended'.
On the other hand, he explained, a national lock BT real VUL possibility for which the membership should be prepared.
The government mas throw everytning al Us, In cluding the Royal Signal Corps. mass sackings and picket arrests. We haven't seen anything yet' 1 ne call lor all out national action does show a welcome change in mood ne concedee. Token page would be needed if dIC speakers at the Broad Left meeting questioned if this selective action approach could lead management are quickly learning how to work on cachallsc cursicil believe that such an important struggle can be national executive member agreed and called for the John Golding, WITCH the POEU sponsored MP got a rebuff Colin Talbot from union delegates.
A resolution condemning witch hunts, and calling for unity against the Tories passed by 74,515 votes to 58,410 The resolution read:
'It is a matter of record that Conference believes the government is in the best and most tundamental in. terests of POEU members.
"Conterence theretore calls on members of the parlamentar conduct themselves such a manner as to bring about the maximum Labour Party unity, by refraining from calls for the expulsion of socialists, wich ov aves me tones and their media ammunition to play policy divisions portray the party as bein involved in civil war and incapable of government.
believes all our energies should be devoted to unity, working together against the common • enemy, the government. the