[the Whitley Council system was only defeated by…]
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the Whitley Council system was only defeated by 635-339-even after vicious witch-hunting speeches were made against it by full time officials.
Though extreme right winger Kate Losinska was elected President-after Tribune supporter had stood against Communist Party member Peter Coltman, splitting the left vote-last year's rigged right wing majority on the NEC was dramatically overturned with the results producing a 20-6 majority for assorted left wingers.
But the bureaucracy were not completely routed and succeeded in holding back some crucial debates.
While the conference was meeting in Brighton, the new Tory government was already making attacks on civil servants' jobs in the Customs and Excise Department.
it was also clear that Thatcher's plans to denationalise profitable sections of public sector bodies would affect jobs in the Post and Telecommunications and National Giro sections Ken Thomas, under tire, defended the pay settlement, and to delegates who had contrasted its meanness to the huge pay increases given to the army and police, suggested:
"You should join the army and the police if you want the pay that they get"
Attacking the motion proposing to withdraw from Whitleyism, Thomas threatened that:
"If you vote for this motion you are voting for the union to be taken over by self-appointed shop stewards, the SWP and the bloody Communist Party"
Throughout the conference, it became obvious that there was a growing feeling of hostility between the majority of the delegates and the fulltime officers, particularly Ken Thomas, General Secretary and Alistair Graham, Deputy General Secretary who displayed their complete contempt for the membership.
Another battle with the full-timers was over motion which sought to limit the £38.75! That is all we received this week towards our £2,500 Special Fund! On that basis we simply won't make the target by the end of July.
Most of the target has been covered by pledges but these pledges need to be turned into hard cash to the tune of £200 a week if we are to reach our target in time.
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