RON TODD'S VICTORY in the general secretary of the Workers' Union is a serious blow to the new realists' hopes of extending their hold on the TUC. Had victo Todd's main The was не e oe co ! the unions today.
Todd's 40,000 Hla uril. was, in TGWU terms, wafer thin. It was the most closely fought campaign since Bevin established the elections for Transport and General opponent, George present structure in 1921.
In 1956, bbe Sone0 oo By 503,000 to 80,000: in 334,800 to 28,000 and in '77 Evans WOI by 350,000 119,000.
The, result shows the recovery of the right in the since its defeat in ine carly DUs Jones Evans had their base in the trade groups and the shop Stewarur OralIsaL0 s. Unemployment and the attacks on the stewards particularly the car industry, has weakened this base.
The union's membershin has talen trom 2.25 million in '79 to about 1.5 па c d dga broportion of this decline has veer i manuracturu! Todd will be question for whether he can stop the advance of the right in the This wii De cosev meeo mae policies the TGWU follows in the LUC and the Labour Party.
Wright stood curet on a platform • carefully hedged ot support for incomes policy and watering down of unilateralism. He was opposed to Tony Benn, and would not have supported the NGA. His defeat is welcome.
However the close result Bright's state. ment ual Ine gloves are off with the hard left snows thal the battle in the TGWU is not over.
The task for Todd now will be to throw his weight left the the Labour Party and CND.
In beulenwer the TUC conference will have the opportunity to call the general council to account for its sell-out of the NGA, and its failure to support miners. realist' course can musu pe reversed the Labour Party the tight around will continue, the TGWU VUtt will be crucial.
In CND the right will continue efforts atECI Todd's record on this issue the TGWU's influence has not been placed clearly behind the left in CND.
Under Moss Evans the union has frequently tried to straddle the left and the right. A much firmer left course is needed if the advance of the right is to be halted. This applies also inside the union. Decline The decane in the stewards has the shop bewares small measure due : to the union's failure to give full support members when they have gone into struggle. This has eroded confidence and reinforced Tine O TITT the right. Todd's own record on tese issue is much les harkers would be ihe First than perfect Ford to point out. As the largest union ce the country : influence of the TGWU be lecisive in the comino bat les. The left in the TGWI must ensure that the opportunity is not wasted. their way.
Ksis massacre of ihe workshops being by a policy non-cooperalor with management and a refusal SAY NO TO SERPELL
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Wright, the balance on the TUC would have gone decisively in favour of the right.