AUEW Postal Ballots Aid Right Wing
Socialist Press1976 1976-05-05Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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in the recent results of several ballot elections in the AUEW there have been varied results.
In some areas the "Broad Left" candidates have made gains. In N. Ireland for instance, in the elections for Divisional Organiser they unseated a right-winger.
Other "Broad Left" victories were in the Regional Officers elections in Scotland and in the North West where they topped the ballot in areas previously held by right-wingers.
But in most elections rightwingers held their positions: in the ballot for the Assistant General Secretaryship, extreme right-winger John Weakly leads Bob Wright by 82,097 to 63,723 in the first round with 110,000 votes to be redistributed.
And in the midlands, the rightwing made gains where they unseated two "Broad Left" supporters from the Birmingham West Dsitrict Secretaryship and Divisional Organiser.
From these election results it is clear that the postal balloting system - with the capitalist press again in the localities carrying lists Over 5,000 London trades unionists four members of DC voted in favour of such action. The DC has decided to support the lobby of Parliament.
The march stal log from Parliament will be Tower of the "moderate" (right-wing) candidates and witch-hunting the opposition - is a major weapon of the right-wing.
With their policy of refusing to organise resistance to state control wages and the advocacy of "worker Participation" by leadin supporters of the "Broad Left" like But We of the Capitalst press wichout in any way posing an altern ative policy which militants could fight to win votes for.
While of course we urge our own members and readers to vote for the "Broad Left"" candidates in the next round of elections, the neces sity for an alternative to both "Broad Left" and right-wing can didates becomes clearer.
The only candidate wno stood against the • "Broad Left" perspectives was a WRP member in the elections for Divisional Organ iser in Coventry where right-winger Jim Griffin was elected to replace another right-winger.
Griffin received 10,383 vote: while the WRP member, Alan Wilkins came second with 1,578 votes, ahead of four other candidates; a clear indication that within the union workers are looking for an alternative.
SIRONCE marched on May Day. All out May 26th Hill assembling at 1pm and moving off at 2pm. All WSL members and supporters should get strike action where possible and should support the local demonstrations or the national lobby and march.