functions to the leaders and his shadow cabinet.
The TGWU national executive committee decided OMOv on the casting vote of the char ale me meeme nad tied 18:18 on the issue General secretary Ron Todd has already publicly given his personal backing to the so-called widening of the franchise.
When it comes to their own conference, the TGWU executive is leaving nothing escuuve is icavilig Holling to chance. Delegates arriving at Scarborough labl weekend were issued with free copies of News on Sunday with a special wrap. round supplement on the Labour leader Neil Kinnock's appeal "to in. crease the participation of the rank and file figured Kinnock will also address the BDC on Wednesday, the day before conference votes on OMOV. His sweetner for introducing OMOV is an electora college system which will give the appearance of retaining the same level of trade union influence in the selection process as afaffiliates to local parties currently enjoy.
recaroes any 'guarantee' of maintaining constituency parties in the short-term OMOV in fact prepares the way for reducing and eventually eliminating local parties input into policy-making. Kinnock and the rest of the Labour leadership are rabidly pur suing OMOV precise! because they beliere the must be in a position to in troduce further policy retreas 4 Lata E inte = rain, strategy is io carmy on the THE TRANSPORT and General Workers Union biennial delegate conference (BDC) looks set to accept proposals for a one member one vote system of selecting Labour candidates when it debates this issue on Thursday. If TGWU delegates support OMOV the union's 1.25 million block vote at Labour Party conference will virtually guarantee to swing the balance behind Kinnock in October. Introducing OMOV is fundamental to the Labour leadership's plans for "'sanitising' the party in time for the next general election. OMOV will ensure that even the minimal level of control that constituency parties currently exercise over their MPs is wrested from their hands and placed firmly in the grip of the parliamentary leadership. This is the first crucial stage in transferring policy-making best imitation of a continental social democratic parthe influence the "The influence trade unions must be fur ther diminished. The Loncoenus De nomeareo The final vestiges of nationalisation would best be jettisoned. The majority of the party must openly endorse the concept of ploiting the market as force Ior generaling wealln that can then be directed towards the obiects of Mr Coleassion.
Todd said back well walk sea.' OMOV cond running, executive, OMOV, Railwaymen be KCLICIC Jimmy conferen 1986. the TGWU conference, he nas come forwara with pro posals for an electoral col lege to maintain the voting strength of trade unions at selecuon mecungs Not one single NUR branch however had submitted resolution reopen the selection debate at the union's 1987 conference The railworkers union has now replied to the Labour NEC consultation of constituencies and affiliates by supporting op tion 10 in the document circulated, which maintains the status quo.
But the recent General Municipal Boller makers (GMB) conference other way Delegates considered two resolutions. Thev relecter supporting the presen system of automati reselection and opted for a general resolution in favour of widening the franchise The successful resolution leaves general secretary John Edmonds with a free nana to interpret wach op tion the union's block vote will Labour conference in the ILCIVICWN with Edmonds however already suggest that he wittavom an electoral college to ensure some trade union mou into the selection process is maintained National Com munications will when it meets this Thurs day. tough battle is expected But while the 'soft left' union leaderships are icon. fining themselves to sup porting Kinnock's Puro. șocialist' strategy for reviv ing Labour's electoral forthe new realist hard LULC right show no qualms about going all the way.
Trade unions should accept the general election results and work as best we can' with the Tory govern ment, demanded AEL general secretary Gavin Laird in his presidential ad dress to the Confederatios Shipbuilding meeting on Tuesday June Laird argued tea unions had contrited i Labour's defea:. SERTT DE ent of trade =ems TOME