Cowley victory
Socialist Press1980 1980-02-06Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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The election for deputy convenors in the BL Cowley Assembly Plant have resulted in a further important victory for the left.
The left candidates all improved their positions and the right wing all. lost votes compared to the previous ballot.
The most striking result was the vote for Alan Thornett. He came third out of the list of 25 candidates competing for the seven available positions.
The right wing main contender, Jim Barson, who was beaten recently by Bob Fryer for the convenor position, was reduced to fifth place.
The ballot was held under typically sharp condtions.
The Oxford Mail on the previous • evening reminded workers that in voting for Alan Thorett they were voting for a confirmed: Trotskyist and a member of the Workers Socialist League-a revelation which them, since it has been said at could hardly have surprised every election for the past 14 years.
The right wing branch, the TGWU 5/837 circulated a leaflet pointing to the strikes led by Alan Thornett in the past and predicting conflict in the future if he was elected.
The attacks were of no consequence. BL workers are not looking for weak leadership. They are militant and looking for strong leaders who will confront the employers and who have policies on which they can fight and win.
*Following the election BL have refusad to recognise Alan Thomett, saying that they have not changed their position since he was victimised in 1974.
They have, however, asked for more time to consider their position 'and will be giving a final reply next weak. enting the sacked worker called