Unions talk to GCHQ staff

Whitehall unions are risking the wrath of activists by starting exploratory merger talks with the ostracised staff association at the secretive Government Communications Headquarters, Cheltenham.

The discussions, which were on Friday, could eventually mark the end of a bitter feud between the GCHQ organisation and orthodox unions. They were banned from the listening centre 12 years ago by the government.

The talks are bitterly opposed by those who were dismissed for refusing to abandon their union membership. Some made clear yesterday that they might refuse reinstatement at the centre, which has been promised by an incoming Labour government.

In the sometimes tense meeting in London, representatives of the Council for Civil Service Unions (CCSU) indicated that they would countenance bringing the intelligence staff in from the cold.

This paper revealed last week that a Labour Cabinet would be prepared to recognise the Government Communications Staff Federation (GCSF) with no automatic right of recognition for other unions. It appears that the oft-repeated and conference-pleasing promise by Tony Blair that "full union rights" would be restored was not quite what it seemed.

Both Labour and unions want to keep the talks low key to avoid critical motions at the TUC Congress and the party conference in the autumn. In a letter to the GCHQ association last week David Blunkett, shadow employment and education secretary, said it was difficult to "put anything in writing" or "answer specific questions at this stage".

Brian Moore, chairman of the GCSF, believes it can meet the Labour Party stipulation that it must represent half the staff to gain recognition.

Mr Blunkett has told him that while Labour would restore the right of staff to belong to the union of their choice, there would be no "automatic right" for civil service unions to be recognisedunless they could prove a substantial membership.