Mr. Byrne's new-style

| HE latest moves being made by the right-wing Executive Committee of the Electrical Trades Union to strengthen its position expose the hypocrisy of its claim that it intends to democratize the union.

The ballot papers now circulating to members to vote on the proposal put forward by the EC that an amendment be made to the rules giving the EC the powers to call a special delegate conference of one representative per branch, are prefaced with a statement by Byrne, the general secretary installed by the High Court.

In the preface, Byrne urges members to vote FOR the proposal.

Byrne claims that a conference of one delegate per branch, totalling 700 delegates, is more democratic than a conference of 50 delegates based on proportional representation.

This is misleading and false. Many London branches of the ETU, angered by this manipulation of the ballot forms, are including circulars of their own urging members to vote AGAINST the proposals.

They point out that such a conference would give delegates of small branches the ability to control delegates from larger industrial branches.

The right wing could confidently expect this to work in their favour. A comparison of branch membership shows this quite clearly.

COMPARISON

In area no. 42, Wetherly branch with 19 members would have the same vote as Leeds Central with 1,360.

Middlesbrough Technical & Supervisory with 26 members would have one vote; Middlesbrough Central with 1,380 members, one vote.

London Electrical No. 2 with 1,355 members is confronted by Maidenhead from the same area with 39 members.

In area 27, Central Liverpool 1,789; supervisors branch 27 members. In Blackpool, 1,320 members in the central branch would have no more say than 16 members of the Radio & Telecommunications branch.

While 19 delegates from Liverpool area would represent 12,286 members, 17 delegates from Devon would only represent 2,700.

Such activities as this 'demoatic ballot should convince more Newsletter pamphlet PLAN TO BEAT THE TORIES Secretar ry of the Labour League) and more electrical trades union members of the real aims of Byrne, Cannon and Chapple.

It is significant that while Byrne can devote his third editorial in 'The Electron' to another attack against the left wing of the union and complain about being called a 'right winger', not one mention is made about the fight against the pay pause, the one-day strike of the Confederation or about the retreat of the TUC in joining the National Economic Development Council.

MR. GUNTER DISCIPLINE Speaking to the Lancashire and Cheshire Regional Council of the Labour Party on February 17, Mr. Ray Gunter, one of the railway union leaders responsible for the acceptance of the 3 per cent increase following a conducted tour of Admiralty House, said that unless the British people quickly appreciate that there is still virtue and necessity in work and thrift 'we' are going to be in real trouble.

He said that the real problem was how to restore discipline.

UNION LEADERS FRANCO'S SPAIN Three senior members of the AEU, with the backing of their executive, will shortly visit Spain to explore the possibilities of closer relations between the Spanish and British trades union movements.

The party will comprise two Labour MPs, Cyril Bence and William Small and John Boyd, a member of the AEU executive and the Labour Party NEC.

They will leave for Barcelona on Sunday and spend a week visiting factories and trade union offices as the guests of the government.

The important article which appeared in last week's Newsletter is now available as a pamphlet.

It is invaluable reading for all trade unionists.

3d. per copy (plus from The Newslet 186A Clapham Hi London, S.W.4. ballot stage). (pam] Street SCC "TISH CI