Ballot shock for Cowley right wing

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Behind Kinnock's "unity" bandwagon roll the tumbrils of the witch-hunt refused the accused the right to circulate to members of the GMC who had already received Gregory's accusing document, a written point-by-point reply.

Not just witch-hunters, but tinpot despots, too. Labour Party members should raise a storm of protest against what's going on in Blackburn. THE biennial elections for convenor/branch secretary and branch officers in the BL Cowley Body Plant have produced a remarkable advance for the left, although the right wing cling on to office.

After 50 years of stable right wing leadership, challenger Tony Richardson, a welder on the Rover body build line and a steward for eight years, gained 942 votes in a shop floor ballot for convenor and branch secretary against 1121 votes for the right wing candidate, Woodstock magistrate Alex Morton.

For many years a strong right wing apparatus has presided over a militant membership which showed its mettle in the 1981 strike and has been prepared to do so on many other occasions.

Isolated

The small forces of the left in the plant have been kept isolated'on the stewards' committee by a convenor and branch officers all of whom are magistrates, and one a worker priest; they have exercised strong bureaucratic control.

In this election there was a strong mood for a change sweeping the factory. Traditionally the elections for branch officers, who are also the convenor and deputy convenors of the plant, were elected at branch meeting AGM.

A few days before nominations closed, the right wing panicked and had the method of election changed to a shop floor ballot.

When nominations closed there were two distinct slates of five for the leadership positions.

The problem however was to get a democratic ballot. Thore have been two ballots in the plant (for Regional and National union positions) that have been invalidated for voting irregularities.

The five candidates on the left glate made a number of demands for democratic procedures - that the left slate be after widespread pressure from the shopfloor, one was conceded - the ballot boxes would be held by works security. But these procedures remained very far from satisfactory.

For the main position of convenor/branch secretary in the 60% poll Alex Morton got 1121 and Tony Richardson 942.

For chair, Tony Williamson got 1384 and Howard Lloyd 754. For vice-chair Roy Edney got 1465 and Stan Armstrong 671.

For the two positions as branch auditors, which were also hotly contested, Dave Evans got 1531, Roger Sealy 1378, Dave Thomas 602 and Medlicotte 460.

BI

It was a remarkable result. Tony Richardson is well known as a Trotskyist and a Socialist Organiser supporter in the plant.

Every member of the left slate received a very creditable vote. They were seen in the election and are now established as a clear alternative to the right wing leadership of the plant.

It is a result, however, which left many members dissatisfied. Many militants had been convinced that Tony Richardson was going to win and the refusal of the right wing to concede basic democratic procedures in the voting has led many workers to question the result.

GROUP % OF TARGET REACHED Brent Chelmsford Leeds Southwark/ Sheffield Cardiff Nottingham Harrogate Hull Tower Haml SE London Halifax Islington Coventry Thanks this week to: Nik Barstow EnE.. Chattiala 120; snertiela supporters, proceeds from a party, £13.33; Southwark supporters, £10; Garth Frankland, £7.50, York supporters, £4; Richard Moore, £3.35; Tower Hamlets supporters, £1.03. Total this week: £64.11 Total so far: £470.75 (16%).