sion of the Broad Left majority NEC to comply with the high court injunction to connect Mercury and to call off the industrial action resisted in the branches. secretary of London reasons for the betrayal and the way forward for the POEU membership.
What was the state of the industrial action up to the November reconvened industrial action Vur going well up November. We had built up a feeling in the national membership that was Ce emmae• win. We have the capacity to win under this Torv zoveelbut means no ICLICaL.
What started the retreat?
The injunction on November instructed the uni oproeit the black ing Project Mercury private Te omanic tions firm). members reject the injunction. later that night the NEC with the IarCOR. Haunled conference decisions decided to connect Merhas been strongly JOCK CAMPBELL City branch explains the cury to BT lines.
Certain NEC members were content TOr the membership to put their oos on mne mie our me were not prepared to make the sallic ConiLuCu themselves buckled under.
TeNl l of the defection of the four SO-called NEC members, the right wing gained control and we now see a change of direction with the emphasis being on parliamentary representation and leafleting.
In London City, llauakc cul have said that they have introduced computerisation LIlLO Broken Warf House, where were suike WIll result in redeployment of .30 LICHOCIS All strikers will be shown a letter which will tell them if they will be sacked immediately. This is not ceptable to London City branch. It is now a matter for the mass membership to become involved in this struggle as they did in the 35 hour week.
What should the NEC have done?
The Broad Left majority on the NEC should have voted to defy the Mercury injunction lead the POEU into struggle. They should have been prepared to defend members lobs even it this meant complete withdrawal of all members and a shut down of the communication system ir can the leadership issue be resolved?
The left must regroup TOUI members who sold us out must be removed from the Broad Left slate. POEU Broad Left must have complete теappraisal of whom they support for the NEC and1 hope that out of this will come a more disciplined politically aware leadership.
Why did the Broad Left NEC fail?
Because certain people ciples that had to be carried out when the NEC got to power. The Broad Lett, POEU members discuss action at its inaugural meeting, supported all the highest losers that joined them. That has proved to be classic mistake We lost our purposes for geting DOWe l in the fight to get the NEC elected so when the Broad Left NEC WaN elected it could do nothing with the power but give it back to There were those of us that knew we would have pitfalls and that we would have to re group but the trouble was, mne pillal lulal Happenca was so important that it War usaslc. LIC members of the union. What can militants do now?
In City we still arguing for national strike action and occupations of buildings defeat We have also put out a national de mand for the resignation of the POEU officers and the NEC. In this union the n -umme oncer control the une have to st go put union into the members' hands and elect and NEC that has the policies and commitment to represent the interests the membership and lead the membership into the fight ahead The union must have a specia to decide our Dul ale now on. The fight for action to beat privatisation has now to come from the membership The left nonl. should lead this fightback the executive by bringing out minorit reports and attending the national branch leadership meetings.
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