BL ballot- scandal
Socialist Press1979 1979-10-31Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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AS WE go to press the BL ballot on the acceptance or rejection of 25,000 redundancies and the closure of 13 plants is near completion. Within 24 hours the result will be known.
The management-organised ballot lives as a scandal in the trade union movement. 165,000 workers are being urged to vote 25,000 out of their jobs and the leadership of the Confederation are strongly urging a yes vote.
In one recent interview Edwardes also warned about the consequences of occupation of the threatened plants.
But to their discredit no-one in those plants has mentioned So why then does Edwardes mention it? Because it is the only policy which can seriously affect his plan.
He fears occupations and he sees a yes vote in the ballot as a way of ensuring there will be no such action.
But a 'yes' vote cannot be any way binding on workers the plants to be closed.
Only they can take a decision on whether or not to fight.
It is essential that the struggle to defend the 25,000 jobs goes ahead whatever the outcome of the ballot.
The TGWU, whose Executive have said that they will support any group of members who opposes the Edwardes plan, must be pressed to stick to that decision and make it clear that the result of the ballot will have no bearing on their policy as a union.