ACTION set up the rival Mercury business-only network have run into trouble. selective strike action against the Telecommunications Bill and has instructed its members not to connect Mercury to the BT network.
The action is taking place asains thestminsterr Westminster areds agallst goverlnien targets.
Members of the London North Central Internal branch are expecting to be sent home by management for refusing to make the first Mercury connection, believed to be imminent.
BT chairperson Sir George Jefferson has not denied that 100,000 of BT's 245,000 jobs will go under BT management's current plans. Already BT union branches are being a Cel willl Hallascilcill calls for redundancies.
Rental Telephone rental and local call charges for orsubscribers will dramatically increase cross subsidisation is ended under the privatisation plans.
Unprofitable rural services will be , especially hard hit, I he NEC's welcome decision to call for action has followed a consistent campaign by «noi s Broad Left for industrial action lo Alll lc Dill, aus for the implementation of union policy to black Mercury.
Howls of outrage will come from Tory ministers and their bootlickers in the press. We will be accused taking 'extra-parlia'mentary' action. So we are.
But privatisation of BT was not mentioned in the 1979 Tory manifesto. Furthermore one of the Bill's clauses could have the efall ino uawill? dustrial action in BT, according to lawyers The defence of a public service, of our jobs, and of our ability to defend them The Post Office Engineering Union is organising demand that we take effective action now to stop the 1ory privalcels.
A representative unofficial meeting of POEU branches last week agreed the following statement.
'The undersigned warmly welcome the decision of the NEC to start a campaign of selective dustrial action against the Telecoms Bill refuse the connection of Mercury to the BT network.
'We also welcome the plan to institute a national levy to sustain the action.
'However, we feel that it must be made clear to the membership this not merely a protest action but a fight to defend our jobs defeat the Bill. we reer inal u would be especially useful to:
• call token local actions to support the nationataction e.g. branch meetings in work time • support the branches taking action with deROTSUCESS or mass pickets.
the Party and TUC at all levels for maximum support.
Financiers 'We also feel that it is important that the industrial action is aimed at both the government and the speculators and finan. ciers who stand to profit from the sale of BT.
'We support the decision of the NEC to limit action so as not to hit ordinary subscribers who we need to win to our side.
'It is becoming increasingly clear that BT management are already tearing up our existing industrid relations preparing the way for wholesale assault on our 'The time for action is now with us. We believe if united determined win.' • Messages of support to: BOEU, Cresi cen Use. Stanley.
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