London Labour Briefing no. 101

BRENT IS BURNING

As the deadlines for the implementation of much of Brent Council's £17 million cuts package approach, action has been stepped up in the unions and community.

There will be no respite for the Council Leadership. ‘The General Meeting of the Brent NALGO branch onSeptember 15th was attended by about 250 members who voted overwhelmingly for strike action, and the branch is balloting all its members by September 30th on all-out action against redundancies. ‘Although about 1,500 people have put in for voluntary redundancy, this stil falls short of what the Council is demanding and it will almost certainly attempt to bring in compulsory redundancies to bridge the

gap.

Redundant primary teachers are due to go by October 1st and secondary teachers by October 22nd. Brent NUT has already conducted a ballot on haifday strike action which is to take place on the afternoon of Monday 26th.

The best attended meeting of the Brent Teachers’ ‘Association (NUT branch) for years on Tuesday Sep- ‘tember 20th saw around 300 members overwhelmingly support amendments from the left to sharpen up the vague resolution from the local Executive on the nature of future action.

‘The further ballot on action will now include nocover as well as extended strike action.

‘The day before the general meeting the NUT Left (now organised as the Education Action Committee) called a large and noisy lobby of the Education OF fice which was followed by a lobby of an Education ‘Sub-Committee by students, parents, and teachers.

Despite the fact that the Committee was not discussing cuts, a combination of pressure from anticuts Councillors and heckling from 200-300 protestors caused the meeting first to be adjourned for halt an hour (in the vain hope that protestors would go home) and finally abandoned to another day.

The following day (Weds. 2st) students from two ‘schools walked out and marched on the Town Hall inprotest against education cuts. Although some day nurseries have already been closed with litte protest, ‘one of the respite centres is now in occupation (as ot

LABOUR— TAKE

Picket lines in Bront

Thursday September 22nd) --workers and parents and supporters and children are using it. It could well be a major focus for the struggle in the community to defend services.

By PETE FIRMIN, Brent East CLP

Similarly some tenants’ associations and activists on the Council estates are beginning to organise forwithholding the rentincrease of £7 per week due from November 1st. While it would be better to organise to withhold the whole of the rent, if thousands of tenants across the borough can be mobilised in refusing to pay the increase it will have a big effect ‘on the Councis ability to function.

‘One of the most significant developments of all has been amongst home helps in NUPE. Like every other section of the Council workforce, home helps have received letters asking theem to apply for voluntary redundancy.

NUPE has been the msot cravenunion in supporting the Council leadership, with its Branch Secretary, Kevin Lawton, even going so far as to write to Labour ‘Councillors urging them to “face up to the facts and make unpleasant and undersirable decision in order to maintain a balanced budget’... “To facilitate the unions with a voluntary severance scheme’... and to

ones.

However, Lawton has now come unstuck. With a 20% reducation in home helps, part of the cuts package (120 jobs), he was forced to organise a meeting for the home helps to meet the Council leadership.

200 home helps tured up to the meeting on Wednesday 21st only to be told that although the Leader of the Council and Chair and Vice-Chair of Social ‘Services had been invited to attend, they hadn't ‘tumed up.

‘Labour anti-cuts Councillors Graham Durham and Helga Gladbaum distributed copies of Lawton’s letter to Councillors to the NUPE members (invoking the hatred of the NUPE officers), most of whom hadn't seen it before.

When they asked to address the meeting the chair, together with NUPE Area Officer Mark Irvine, unsuccessfully tried to stop them.

‘However, they inisted on speaking and pointed out the role that NUPE had beeen playing in backing up the Council leadership and argued against the line put forward by Irvine that NUPE should plead for the home help service to be saved by cuts elsewhere and in favour of a common fight by allthe Council unoins against all cuts.

Lawton didn't address his members once but left it to Irvine to put on a “left” face by talking of a further Possible 20% cut in home helps and the need to lobby Social Services Committee against it while glossing over the fact that NUPE had supported all cuts to date.

‘After Graham Durham had addressed the meeting it was discovered that Pam Jordan, Deputy Leader, was in the building and she was eventually “persuaded” by the home helps to speak to the meeting.

In fact she merely added to the insult of other Councillors not tuning up by virtually saying nothing and claiming she couldn'ttell them any facts because she didn't know any!

When a teacher asked why it was that Lawton had briefed her on what to say before she came into the meeting most of the home helps walked out in disgust a the role of their Branch Secretary.

What is needed now is for NUPE members to organise themselves to throw out their leadership and make sure NUPE lines up with other sections fighting the cuts.

Brent Fightback activists were invited by home helps to attend their meeting (much to the annoyance of irvine and Lawton) and Fightback has been co-ordinating and backing up the actions of different sections of the workforce and community

A breakthrough was made when a group of the home helps attended the Fightbackmeeting on September 18th, and Fightback has now decided to go back to meeting weekly on Sunday evenings (7pm) atthe Town Hall.

“Anti cuts Councilor Graham Durham has whip removed See inside, contre pages.

THE POWER!

London Labour Briefing No. 101 September 1¢-Ociober 11th Page 2

Reinstate Graham Durham!

Ameeting of the Labour Group of Brent Council on Sunday September 418th, with Regional Labour Party Officer Terry Ashton in attendance, voted by 20-14 to withdraw the whip from anti-cuts Councillor Graham Durham.

By Pete Brent East CLP

In keeping with a Sunday moat, Durham was asked 0 “ropent™ his emo of consistent |yveting against cus.

Far tom doing 20 he gave @ lodtight delenee of his actions and denounced the Group loadorship for restoring to oF ganisational moasures in tha fico of thepoiticalcicintagration of the Group.

‘Those supporting this witchhunt found dif in justfying their actions, since virtually every member ofthe Group has broken the whip over the last year.

Even onthe scale of Dutham’s “efiences” tis doubtul whothor he has done so more offen than some of the other anti-cuts

Labour Group isin the local ‘abour Parties. The majority of the officers ofthe Local Government Committee voted at Labour Group for the whip to be withdcawn, the fact that the LGC haas yet to discuss the ‘issue, and in the full

that two of the thres CLPs have resolutions down for the next LGC meating

of the whip form Clr. Durham.

COficars of the branch (Crick: lewood) that he represents have already issued 2 statement hs retusal to vota for cute, point. ing out that he has been acing totally in accordanance with the ‘wishes of the branch.

‘Other branches have also called on Labour Councillors ‘who are voting for cuts to resign.

Now is the time to win the LPs and LGC to a polcyot opposition to the cuts and to unite with those trade unionisis and ‘comunity activists taking action against the Council to force both Graham Durham's reinstate- ‘ment and the restoration of the outs.

from all 12 Councilors who are ‘now voting against cuts, since this would mean that the Labour Group is no longer the largest Group on the Council.

They see Durham as the ‘leader‘of the anti-cuts Councllors (and, in their conspiracy theories, as the instigator of every lobby by Council workers and service users protesting against cuts).

By disciplining Durham alone

CAMDEN

“Back to the 19th Century” or

“The Parable of the Philanthropist and the Pot of Gold which Disappeared”

Imagine a bourgeois philanthropist’ whose charitable work istpmnetoralanet

The interest from the legacy is suddenly curtailed and the legacy itself is threatened’. Mortified, the philanthropist goes Into a decline.

The recipients of the charity‘ suggest joining forces with the philanthropist to effect both a defence and 2 cure’; but the philanthropist curses them for daring to suppose there might ‘be common cause.

‘The charitable work is undermined and the legacy rescinded. ‘The philanthropist shoots himself, at least 33 times

Everyone agrees what has happened is a scandal. A ‘workhouse for the undeserving poor s erected in memory ofthe | dead philanthropist. Nell Kinnock’ officiates at the opening ceremony.

1. Camden Council richest Labour Authority inthe land.

2. The rates

3. Ratecapping!

4. Honest working clas folk

‘5. Fight Tory legislation!

6.33 Camden Councillors have consistently voted for racist

policies and cuts in jobs and services.

7. Peer of the Realm.

By Steven Makepeace Taylor

Stop the roads madness!

By MARK SEATON

‘The governments plans to allow major road building through inner London, as envisaged in the East London Road ‘Assesment Study, have ‘met with widespread hostility.

In particular, the idea of transforming the Parkland ‘Walk —running from

Archway to Finsbury Park into a six-lane motorway ‘has sparked fury and

indignation. ‘Speaking to a huge meeting at Hornsey Town Hall on September 14th, MP Jerems Corbsn declared: “London's transport ‘ ‘problems cannot be solved by building more and more roads tomake life alittle easier for the majority of commuters ‘who travel into the centre by “The only solution isto

develop and improve public

STIMIS

transport, pot freight on the railways and to protect our city environment.

“I ind it appalling that anyone could seriously think of destroying an area of open space to build a toll road to allow wealthy communters to travel faster through our communities.

“We have to declare our total opposition to this madness, protect our ‘cavironmeat, and campaign for a transport system that does not subjugate the needs of the majority to the wealth of afew.”

ey

Support needed for Tony Marriott

Urgent action is needed by Briging supporters in Inner Leadon Labour Parties to pat maximum possible pressure ea ILEA members to secare the reinstatement of sacked ILEA NALGO shop steward Tony Marriott, who was based at Stepney Green Careers OMicein Tower HamTels. ‘Deirdre Wood, ILEA member for Greenwich and Staff ‘Sub-Committee Chair, has capitulated in the face of ILEA managers’ threats to resign if Tony is reinstated.

the matter with determination, chasing up ILEA elected members who do not follow

By Christine Fraser

A. good example Is John O'Malley, of Vauxhall, who hhas apparently decided that if Deirdre Wood decides to sack 2 shop steward without prior hearing or subsequent appeal, let alone reference to ACAS ‘guidelines, then that’s good ‘enough for him— and for his

CLP, too, despite his GC instruction to fight for Toay's Feinistatement.

‘Make sure your elected members agree to put it to the ILEA Staff Sob-Committee, or the Labour Group.

NALGO has now agreed 2 ‘ational policy of full support for Tony's rdastatement. But remember, despite the pressure from NALGO branches all over the country, your efforts are essential. Wood, and of course Fletcher, must learn that it is not the role of the Labour Party to attack working people's organisations or thelr representatives.

Council launches vicious

victimisation

Camden Council

Between shopping and going tothe 200, he took hi on slong with other Camden Kids to Toby the Town Hall against in creases in nursery charges and cots in opening hours

‘Alan's victimisation provoked = walk out by his own

By Fred Leplat Somers Town Labour Party

section.

‘Camden Council backed down and reinstated Alan when the NUPE Stewards Committee

Boiler Section by occupying ‘Council offices and called ‘mass meeting to discuss strike action.

‘When Alan was reinstated the’ ‘Council stated that an inquiry would be conducted to see

whether any charges could be brought

‘Alter scraping around for evidence to frame Alan in order to sack him, they are now sumsoning him to x bearing when allegations will be put... that he broke, in the course of his work,

an attempt by the Labour Group to pave the way for the next round of cuts and co-operation with the government.

‘Opposition to this attack has come not just from Council tanions but also from Labour Party wards, protesting at the obvious attempt to sack a militant steward.

In Lambeth the Government is proposing to take two estates — ‘Angell Town and Loughborough — trom Council control and turn them into Housing Action Trusts (HATS)

Dora Boatemah - Chair, Angell Town and Loughborough Estates Joint Action Committee

The Angell Town and Loughborough Estates. Joint Action Committee is against this. that HATS are

undemocratic, that tenants should be allowed to vote ‘on whether the estates

landlord” echeme the tenants are allowed to vote) —s0 far the government has denied us that right.

‘Our estates have the highest ‘unempioymont, the highost ‘umber of single parents and the highest number of what the government cals “problom families"

“The majority of tenants are Back or from ethnic minorties. HATs havo no responsibilty for

housing the homeless and we ‘worry about the effect on the next generation.

“The Government says the HAT will do our flats up, but {who are they going to do tho fats up for? Cortainly not us.

know what Thatcher

‘Angell Town and Lough- [borough are in prime areas, ton minutos from the Cy and near the tube. House prices in Briston are rising by £45 a day. ‘Aone bedroom flat in Brixton ‘can cost anything from £68,000 upwards. They wil do the estate up to yupply the area — they know they can make the money.

‘One reason they chose our estates is bocause of the number of voids and empty properties. They can shunt people from one block to another to empty the blocks

sell thom off at markt

prices,

Under HATS ronts willbe {orced up, tenants willbe orced to pay for repairs and thon they wil have to pay the Poll Tax. Gradually tenants wit be forced out ofthe flats because they cannot aford to ay tho rant

Because Lambeth Counc hhas done such a bad job on maintenance and ropais and morale is low the Government thinks can walk al over us land take our homes away without aight

‘Well, the tenants are fighting ATs. hon Bil Woot, rom

the Goverment, came to ‘Angell Town the tenants made ‘theie views clear.

‘Woot was surprised as he

‘expected the tenants to think

would be better than the Council and that we would accept anything he offered. We Tool we are in a war zone and we wel fight in any way we haveto.

‘The campaign has adopted ‘a policy of non cooperation ‘nationally. We wil not tak to ‘any consultants and we have ‘asked Lambeth Council to inetruct oficers not to give ‘consuitants information.

‘We foo! that Lambeth ‘Counell and the Labour Party should be supporting us and be seen to be supporting Angell ‘Town and Loughborough in their fight against HATS and {fighting a national campaign against the Housing Bil, ‘making tonants aware of tho probloms they will face under

‘We have approached NNALGO and UCATT and they have agrood to instruct their members not to cooperate. In the middle of September the unions addressed a meeting in ‘Angell Town and promised thot fll suppor in terms of rnon-cooperation — they know ‘thoie mombors jobs will be lost under the HAT.

‘We are asking the general publi, whether thoy live in Private or Council rented ‘2ccommodation, to support our

‘campaign againet the HAT — may be us now but who will be

HATS in

London Labour Briefing No. 101 September 14-October 11th Page 3

Lambeth Campaign

backs demo

Lambeth Against the Poll Tax has now been formed after asuccessful conference called by the

Government

Communist Party (CP), and the Socialist Workers Party spent aSunday afternoon discussing the Poll Tax.

Itwasunanimonsly agreed to form a campaign on the broadest possible basis, making no precondition on the various tactics which may be put forward by sections of the campaign, from mass petitioning to mass non-payment, from civic ‘non-cooperation to civil disobedience.

Whilst not making it a precondition of support the Conference did agree a resolution from Norwood CLP which included calls for:

2 campaign of civil disobedience, including the returning of non-completed registration forms;

Preparing for further action

The industrial act taking place at the Maudsley Hospital was last weekend. This Is not a defeat. The nurses decided to go back while morale was high.

By Brian Harrisson Lewisham Labour Briefing

They had not received suff cient support from the national

‘other hospitals as hoped; al- ‘though there were limited stoppages elsewhere

‘The time was not right for nationwide action; so rather than|et the strike peter out it was ‘2 wise move to return to work ‘united and confident and consolidate the lessons learnt.

‘What has been gained? The ‘Campaign has not ended. The Mandsiey strikers wi Ibe going ‘out again; there's a planned mass lobby of the Tory Conference: and links have bea forged with other trade union and labour movement organisations.

‘The strike has proved that mass public support for the bealthworkers is still strong. Most importantly. the 24 hour prychological barrier has been breached. This isthe frst time nurses have been on strike for longer than a week snd been prepared for more.

If the healthworkers are prepared for further action, the Ishour movement must be ready to back them up. To build support scross the labour move- ‘ment resolutions must be passed at trade union and Labour Pasty branches and public meetings ‘with COHSE speakers mast be organised.

'NHS support groups must be formed, where labour move mentr ' odies can unite with health service users and workers to organise practical and politi cal suppor for future industrial action.

For details of campaigning health organisations in. your area, contact London Health Emergency, 335 Grays Inn Road, London WC1, 01-833 3020.

For details ofthe situation at the Maudsley coatact the COHSE steward, Maudsley Hospital, Deamark Hill, Camberwell, Southwark, London ‘SES; or phone O1 703 6333 and ‘ask to bleep the duty COHSE Howard,

support for those unable view that Poll Tax registra- ‘or unwilling to pay the tax; tion was a good thing be-

sLambeth Council to cause it would help draw up refuse to co-operate with the a better electoral register tax, and Council workers to with more Labour voters on refuse to implement it. the list. Unfortunately the

reverse has been the case in By Greg Tucker practice in Scotland. Secretary, {ite sme tine the LOC, Lambeth Local Hage nents Government ing to impede the Poll Tax, ‘Committee except use differen beaded notepaper.

‘We also agreed unani- _The Council has already mously to sponsor and build Started to employ Poll Tax the march called for October _ officers, and there were other 22nd from Brixton to Ken- demands from the floor that ‘ington Park. the Council stop doing the

The united approach is the Tories" diy work, only way we can be success- Whilst being broad based, ful. Nevertheless the cam- it is obvious that the Campaign contains many strands paign will sooner or later ‘of opinion which were have toconfroat the Council, vigourously argued outatthe particularly if it starts to take conference. people to Court for refusing

Most odd was the LCC to register next year,

Benn-Heffer

Challenge in London —

A Strong Left Showing

Early results from London CLPs show good results for Benn and Heffer.

‘Three CLPs which have finished conducting individual membership ballots have backed Tony Benn (Tottenham, Kensington, and Brent East)

Tottenham and Kensington backed Prescott over Hetero Deputy Leader on second ballots and Brent East

Hetfer.

Ealing Southall (of which Kinnock is a member) voted for Benn and Heffer, as have Islington North, Hackney North, Deptford, Hornchurch, Eltham, and Woolwich.

In Hornsey & Wood Green, the final count, which includes postal ballots, is to be made on the eve of Conference. Resuits in branch ballots in this CLP. claimed by the LCC as a stronghold, indicate a victory for Tony ‘Benn anda strong showing by Eric Heffer.

Tony Benn Wins in Tottenham!

A secret ballot of Labour Party members in the Tottenham Constituency has produced a narrow victory for Tony Benn, who beat Neil Kinnock by 105 votes to 101 votes.

In the Deputy Leadership contest, Eric Hefter led on the first ballot with 81 votes to John Prescott’s 79 and Roy Hattersley's 42. Most of Hattersley's votes then translerred 0 Prescott, to give him victory over Hetfer by 103 to 83.

Speaking for the local Benn-Hetfer campaign, Mike Marqusee said, “Some months ago local Labour right-wingers publicly claimed there was litle support for ‘Tony Benn and predicted an easy victory for Kinnock. The ballot result show that they are out of touch with the local membership.”

Islington Backs Benn/Heffer

Islington North CLP has voted overwhelmingly for the Benn-Hetfer ticket using the “OMOV" formul

‘Out of nearly 300 ballots cast, Benn polled 72.5% to Kinnock’s 27.5%. Heffer won backing for Deputy Leader with 63% to Prescott’s 25% and Hattersley's derisory 12%. ‘The CLP also voted 71% to 29% in favour of Gavin Strang for Treasurer.

‘Val Veness, CLP Secretary, commented, “This result ‘shows the lack of confidence our members have in the current leadership. Itwas also a triumph for practical

ary Party

London Labour Brifing No! TO Sepleinber 14-Ociabér 11 Page

Psychiatry on trial

from strength to strenth.

“Its finally becoming safer for people to speak ‘out about the damage done to them after decades of any such criticisms being dismissed as a part of their ‘iiness’.

“We urge socialists to join us in the struggle to allow everyone to think and feel without fear of being labelled, drugged, and electrocuted.”

LAMHA plans to continue its campaign ‘against forced drugging, psychiatric electrocutions and psychiatry’s efforts to extend further their legal powers.

‘statements.

‘The charges levelled at the psychiatrist and drug ‘company rep in the dock ranged from grievous. bodily harm to defamation of character.

‘The audience of around 80, acting as the jury, unanimously found the defendants guilty as

On Saturday, September 17th psychiatry went on public tr

The London Alliance for Mental Health Action (LAMHA), an alliance of ‘more than 20 mental health pressure groups, conducted the trial at Chatts Palace in Hackney.

Seventeen “mental

resented jestimony, and a 32 submitted written witne:

Cable Street Beat ‘The musical arm of Anti-Fascist Action will be holding a gig on October 4t

mn, London to cel ‘with: The Men They Couldn't Hang, Altila the Stockbroker, and other acts.

psychiatry’s abuses of human rights is growing

MARCH and RALLY

POLL TAX

Assembie: 12 noon | Brixton Oval (opposite Lambeth Town Hall) “March to Kennington Park 7) Saturday: 22 OCTOBER

speakers include:

John Fraser MP Stuart Holland MP Jeremy Corbyn MP Clir Joan Twelves

Cllr Linda Bellos sponsored Lambeth Against the Poll Tax London Against the Poll Tax Lambeth Labour Local Goverment Committee ‘Vauxhall Labour Party ‘The Socialist Conference ‘Anti-Poll Tax Campaigns from:

Islington, Greenwich, Lewisham, Newham and Tower Hamlets organised: ‘South London Socialist Conference

Hackney Council smashes occupations

The Libraries are

reclaimed!

At 3am on September workers, Social Services and In22nd, High Court _fematon workers, NUPE mem-

Sheriffs, police,and bet, local residents and ac-

‘scab contractors hired "The seatarers once more by Hackney Council

solidarity. smashed their way into

NALGO'spromisodstrke action, the three occupied however, fated to materialise, libraries.

land its leadership has against bbeen called into question,

NALGO bureaucrats had been overheard claiming twould bbe unreasonable to expect the membership to adhere to a branch policy which was two months oi!

By Jim Thain Hackney North & Stoke Newington CLP

‘A NALGO mole furthor reveals that there aro plans 1o ‘x0 sk more libraries nest year.

‘The Council's behaviour throughout the campaign has reminded many of thet altack on the Stamford Hill squatters (many of whom bocame staunch supporters) earlier this. yor ‘when they resorted to using riot poe.

Asimilar attempton September Sth had been foiled by the sheer number of occupiers mobilised.

This time the Council had organised 2 far stronger force and had managed to keep the evictiondate secret.

‘Occupiers sleeping in the Ibrarine wore summarily evicted ‘and wore unable to retiove all their belongings. The private ‘contractors bogan their six hour task of boarding up the buildings immediately

“Tho parallel betwoon a Counl which refuses to negotiate with of consuit is workors and ‘eekdents and then takes thom to cout and P&O's uso of the ‘courts againet the NUS is alse

from capitalists, who have only their own interest to consider Hackney Counci, on the other hand, has pledged to protect, local working class people from

against squatters were also ‘echoed as Leisure Service Chair Tommy Sheppard and his cohorts. systomatically spread

BRITAIN IN

Time and again, Hackney ‘Council has been exposed as hypocriical, undemocratic, bub lying, and philstin; not an ally in the clase struggle; not follow socialists campaigning to promote acoess to information, culture and leisure facitios; but 22 grim colaborationist enomy ‘determined to rush any working meh

‘We denounce them.

+STOP PRESS. Within hours ‘of Councithired thugs boradinup Goldsmiths Row Library, ‘new occupiers had reclaimed t ‘and wore ready to issue books.

Private contractors had failed 0 spot a simplo way into the bbulding. What took six hours to vvandalicebureaucratically took a mere 45 minutos to restoretothe

people. ‘Summerford Grove Library has also boon IRis vital that the work rotasbe maintained. Phone 729 7242 to ‘arrange a couple of hours of Practical support.

IRELAND

768 — ’88

20

SPEAKERS

MICHAEL FARRELL BERNIE GRANT M.P.

LOCAL SPEAKERS

Music BEYOND THE PALE ‘SHEILAS HAIRY MARYS

‘TKETS: GREEN INK BOOKS 8, ARCHWAY MALL, N19 (Gack of Archway Tube)

YEARS

EES RALLY AND MUSIC

BERNADETTE McALISKEY

ON

RELATIVES OF THE BIRMINGHAM 6 AND GUILDFORD 4