GEOFF Martin is wrong to refer to the CFDU as being in an "exNALGO ghetto". As a former member of NUPE I have been impressed by the mix of CFDU supnoners in tems or tormer namer unions both locally and at national level, in particular at the national conferences so far called by the CFDU.
It is a welcome change for me to be able to link up with so many oiner ats io nia me camnaion for policies in defence of jobs, pay and conditiors, against a national Abour Party! bureaucracy which presided over a union which took no effective action against job losses and pay cuts.
Geoft's comments about the Labour Party also seem quaintly out of date, given that on Merseyside groups have now been standing against Labour candidates for number of years, occasionally winning elections.
Does Geoff expect me, as a local government worker, to vote for Lahour candidates who attack our jobs and conditions when I could critical failing to question Geoff CFDU replies Martin and his rile. After all, SocialList Outlook supportedstandingacanI read the Geoff Martin interview didate in the General Secretary with interest and surprise. election, for which they were accused of being "Militant's poodles" (by His comments on the General Secretarv election are as thev have Geoff Martin in Labour Left Briefalways been, a cover for support- ing). ing the left bureaucracy. Nowhere It is also interesting that no criticism is made of Martin when he has ne alemnedo exolain lee teasons for the vote for the right wing says the CrDU shouldn t nave candidate Peter Hunter, which was supported a candidate who was a due to Bickerstaffe's failure to give member of an organisation who any sort of lead, enabling Hunter to supported standing a candidate try and whip up preiudice. against the Labour Party. A recent Incidentally. Hunter is now be- article in Socialist Outlookon the Scotlieved to be a member of the La- tch socialist alliance conoratiated those involved and the fact that it was CFDU supporters are used to going to stand 25 candidates in the the fact that Geoff Martin doesn't general election. Is Socialist Outlooksupport CFDU policies such as the confused or what? Socialist Outlook welcomes readers' letters. Letters over 300 words will be edited. New website Socialist Outlook is now online at HTTP:\www.gn.apc.org Vabournet|so
Socialist 50p • Issue 103 June 8, 1996
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