London Labour Briefing no. 72

Once again, Inner London teachers themselves in dispute with the ILEA over the issue of the compulsory transfer of teachers.

The dispute is not new but this year’s proposed procedures show real hostility and animosity towards London's teachers.

‘The procedures were heralded with a blaze of teacherbashing in the press. The Standard was particularly vitriolic, suggesting that hundreds of teachers lounge around staffrooms, drinking coffee all day.

ILEA introduced their new procedures _ without negotiations with the Inner London Teachers Association (ILTA). Indeed, ILTA officers had had their creden withdrawn by ILEA during the crucial period of drawing up the procedures. Headteachers have been threatened with

ry action if they refuse to take part in the procedures.

Subject inspectors have been wamed that they cannot

interfere, even if the subject is to disappear from the school curriculum. Individual teachers have been informed that they will be suspended without pay if they refuse to ‘move schools on ILEA’s instructions. {tempting to move more than 1,300 teachers, ILEA to have two objectives: first. to make savings of than £19m as part of the package of cuts for 1986/7; secondly. to distribute teachers more equitably throughout London's schools.

‘Of course, Frances Morrell and her supporters claim that the £19m “‘savings"* are not a budget cut. This claim is hard to swallow in schools which may have to lose more 1n 50% of their teachers and face the prospect of larger classes, fewer subjects on the curriculum and reduced

of teachers. ILEA have up to 500 vacancies in secondary ‘schools: in order to fill these, they consider it necessary to inform 1,300 teachers that they are compelled to move schools.

But it’s not as simple as the sums — or the Standard — suggest.

‘Secondary teachers are trained to teach a narrow range of subjects: and there is such a mismatch between the skills required to fill vacancies and those offered by the ‘teachers that ILEA wishes to move, that there is little Prospect of filling vacancies through these procedures.

By PAUL FOLEY Islington NUT & Hackney South CLP

Hackney and Tower Hamlets are often cited as areas of acute teacher shortage. Indeed, in one Tower Hamlets school, there are § unfilled vacancies — but ILEA has informed 5 teachers in the same school that they may be compelled to move.

‘There are several unfilled vacancies in primary schools, Particularly in Hackney, but these cannot be filled by secondary teachers who have neither the training nor ‘experience to teach in primary schools.

Unless those responsible are particularly stupid, ILEA must realise that its movement procedures will not solve the teacher shortage and will lead to a reduction in educational opportunity for the majority of London's secondary school students.

Behind the renewed turn to compulsory redeployment lurks a sinister intent. In the week before setting the budget leading members of ILEA met Kenneth Baker ‘There is little doubt that they hoped their firm procedures for moving teachers would convince him towards @ more lenient view of the rest of the budget

PHOTO: Mercury Group

Presumably. that is why Frances Morrell told ILEA workers that the budget would be all right did as they were told

lobby of teachers

Proposed introduction of fines for teachers who refuse to for absent colleagues: the willingness to introduce

Baker's draconian wor

ILEA’s determination to attack the working conditions of

its teachers and defeat its major obstacle — the Inner

London Teachers’ Association,

“ system may well lead to the possibility of compulsory redun:

ichers are asking themselves if teachers movement today wil not in fact receive redundancy

security. conditions of service and educational provision must be defended against ILEA attacks.

It is particularly important that Labour Party school governors actively support teachers and express. their ‘Opposition to compulsory transfer. Labour Party ward: GCs must mandate ILEA members actively to cam against compulsory transfer; and use Greater London Labour Party structures to insist that ILEA members carry ‘out GLLP policy of opposition to compulsory transfer. These procedures are an insult to teachers, students and their parents. They are real cuts in London's education provision and should be opposed by all who wish to defend the quality of London's education ser

London Labour Briefing No. 72 Mar 2th-Apr 7th 1987 page 2

‘The so-called hard left Lambeth Labour Group voted for cuts to balance its budget at its meeting ‘on March 16th.

£1.8m (on top of other “ssavings") will be cut from the housing repairs budget and recruitment willbe dragged to save £6.1m.

Clir_ Bellos went even further than the director of Finance who wanted to save £4.4m from unfilled posts.

“Ten councillors opposed. the cuts, bot 28 — including Linda Bellos — supported them: this after the Norwood CLP and the LGC. had” rejected the LCeadership's cuts proposals.

‘The cuts in the building DLO are made in the hope that an independent inquiry into

‘management procedures" will save fam this year.

Lambeth budget

Labour makes cuts!

‘That inquiry, originally woo trade. union support, om the basis that all savings would be spent on creating DLO jobs 10 clear the £7m backlog of 27,000 repairs.

‘The inquiry hasn't. even started yet and any savings i finds will not come on tap until the very end of the financial year. So a DLO that faces shut- ‘down from the DoE has to turn itself round to make a profit ‘with a cuts budget

‘The Labour Group has completely turned its ack ons repairs service” and the promise not to make cuts

Surcharged councillors and ‘Council trade unionists (present

as speaking observers) forcefully Tejected the proposals. Former Fevolutionary Councillor

Dunipace stated that we should

make cuts because if Labour councillors did not we would be Sisqualified and the imposed Tory administration would, ‘One GLC councilor stated that to reiastate the cuts would

lead 10 privatisation! -Another said that we should proudly tell, the community that the cuts Dudger was defending their

By Cllr Steve French Lambeth

tne 10 oppositionists must

demand that the Labour Group 0 their duty and fight the

Hackney Police Committee

Hackney people reject consultation sham

Protestors from the Trevor Monervlle campaign during the meetine

An attempt by the police to set up a consultative committee in Hackney went badly wrong on March 11th.

Two thirds of the local people who tured up objected to the police trying to. set up a committee by themselves = without involving the Borough council or the main ‘community organisations

‘The police alone had decided who to invite to the meeting. The police alone decided who they would give @ voting card to, The police alone decided who they appointed as chair of the meeting,

By any stretch of the imagination it was hardly an exercise in public consultation,

That the meeting eventually had to be abandoned was entirely predictable. Almost everyone inthe Borough including beth local MPs, the Council, LEA members” and the CRE — had called on the police net to ge ahead with the meeting, which had been set Up Behind the. backs of the flected council ata ime when ‘councilors were In discussion with Scotland Yard on 3

possible joint approach 10 fprove"poice-commusity

Already the les and distorions af what _ really happened on March 11th 21 being spread by the police and Sections of the nationel media

District Assistant ‘Commissionar Wyn Jones, who called the meeting. has

Bocused councillors and ‘others of orgenising disruption.

By Tommy Shepherd Chair, Hackney Police

‘Committee

This is an entirely husicrous proposition. Why" would Snyone in their right mind try {fo disrupt a. meeting at witch two thirds of the people present agreed with them? The truth is that the. police appointed chair of the meeting fefused t recognise the one Vote that was taken at the mesting

‘Now the police will have to assess whether to continue with their go-t-alone ‘Spproach, oF to sit down and {alk with those whe have been Glected to speak for thew Hackney council refuse to speak to th

‘g0ing on about consultative Srrangements since January 985.

The council hes been determined that any ‘consultation must give local people 3 real say over policing

Inthe borough ~ and that any committees must be representative and

‘democratic. This is why the ‘Councit has insisted that there ‘must bes link betwoen the Consultative arrangements ‘and the electoral process.

For over a year the police nave rejected’ the council's proposals on consultation Ssying that they did not Second with the law. In fa the counci has obtained 3 laga! opinion on its proposals from 2 leading QC saving that not only are they lawful, but thet they are within the spict of the guidance issued by the Home Office on the matter

Perhaps the police move to t up thelr own consultative Committee was an attempt tO {et round the discussions with

egies people ackaey

Ma

‘government, not them; ‘@ Lambetl trade unions, who ‘must take action to ensure that these cuts are not implemented 50 that their jobs are secured.

‘This is areal kick in the teeth for the Lambeth *'31" and the ‘community who supported their ‘Geht and returned an increased Labour major

"The 28 will have a hard task defending their actions 10 the trade unions and the community. They must learn that the working class will not Support a labour “movement ‘which is not prepared to fight

Postscript “Already the campaign to reinstate the ‘cuts has bourne

fruit ‘At the Councils Policy & Resources Committee on March 19th, an alternative | was presented by the leader Linda £350,000

Beos, that _ only ‘should be out from the housing

Fepairs budget” and an ‘amendment from the left was fccepted that the measures in ‘he budget were unpalatable and that other means must be found by the Rate-making meeting on March 27th to bridge the gap.

“You don't mean that Tower Hamlets Liberals are going to cancel the Greater London Labour Party Conterence!”” gasped a _ tight-lipped ashen-faced Terry Ashton when I gave him the news lover the phone. “They [can't do that!’

Well, they can, and they have. And we all have 2 lesson to learn from their determination to carry out their policy — even if that policy is political scoresetting, petty spite, and daylight robbery.

Since May, it has gradually

‘and fulminated against rent land tates rises, now Focus has. more or less vanished form the [Goormets and. the Liberals have decided that when [you're in power you just have fo cut services and put the

nts and rates Up.

Understandably, the voters are rather cross about this Con-trick, and there has been a Storm of protest.

But do the Liberals mind

No surrender no apologies!

about the letters to. the local Paper, the petitions, the Seputations, the lobbies? Not @. bit of “it. The Liberal leadership, seem to feel that the more hatred they attract, the "more it proves thelr political vitity, is this: why are we so easity put on the defensive, when Sur opponents — whatever shade of Tory — will ignore al protest, and. car 2 ‘what they want, no matter Row outrageous?

Can't -Kinnock see that, ‘when opposing the Iron Lady, famous for sticking to het

By Christine Shaweroft Leader, Tower Hamlets Labour Group

guns (far from the truth though that may be) he has nothing to gain trom fudging, shifting his ground, apologising and generally trying to keep politics out of

‘Our opponents, __both ‘Thatcher ‘nationally and the Liberals in Tower Hamlets, having duped the voters and grabbed power, rent afraid fo use It. They go all out for what they want, with no apologising. So should we.

GLLP: we want our conference!

‘As Briefing goes to press. itis unclear when — if at all — the Regional Party Conference ‘will be held. The most likely date at the moment is April 25/6th. Deadline for Conference ‘greetings ads is now extended to April 14th

In the wake of Patricia Hewitt’s diatribe against the London Labour Party, our Conference on April 11th and 12th would have attracted far more media attention than it has in the past.

Last year, the NEC didn’t send a representative to the London Annual Meeting, although it was invited to do so and does 10 every other regional confernece.

This year, according to press reports, we were {0 be honoured by the presence of Roy Hattersley.

The conference would have ‘been a major event, at which the London Labour Party could have launched a fightback ‘against the Party's, a8 Well as the media's, distortions of its polices

‘One fact we particularly need to spell out over and over ain: the London Labour Party bad ‘no say over the campaign or the polices put forward. in the Greenwich by-election. In contrast, i did have control ‘ver last year's May elections — ‘and won magnificent victories, ‘specially in those areas, such a Cambeth, where a fighting Staten had been pursued.

“The major debates atthe conference, especialy those on the discussion document from the Executive Committee on "A Council for Greater London” fea, local authorities, on the Sccountability of the ILEA, on Snemployment ousing, health, and police make cleat that the London Party has positive and popstar polices, fn which it wifl be fighting the general election and. which it

ight to get imple TLabour roverament

The Regional executive will

have an important role

in leading London's ection campaign, Over the year, whilst the left has had minal majority and chairs

By Joan Twelves

Vauxhall CLP

Paricular the trade union Fepresentatives| — and the officers of the region

{accountable 10 the NEC, not the Regional EC) have worked together {0 tie the hands of the REC and its committees.

‘One change was due this year, which would have made it Fighly likely that the left would lose its majority on the REC — fot because of a change in the politics of the London CLPs, Dut because of a change in the system.

Instead of the old system whereby cach quarter (quartile) of London "elected four fepresentatives, boroughs have been twinned to elect one representative per (0 boroughs.

"The change was opposed by the “Regional Executive Committee at last year’s

ference because, while it was fereed that the quavtile method had problems in respect of accountability, it was felt that the new system would be no betters aod would lead to new problems," Against the Fecommendation of the REC, the rule change was passed by the conference mainly op. che block votes of the trade unions

‘who are unaffected by the change.

‘The problems anticipated by the REC have materialised, not ieast in confusion In. some borough groups, every CLP has hominated someone. In others there is just one tiomination. A

cond round of voting on the Sunday morning of the conference is. being proposed for those areas where there ist majority from the first round, Infact. in_some areas, where ach borough has an equality of votes, there could f permanent te

Perhaps the most anomalous thing about the new system is

the unevenness of i Differences in constituency size (and therefore voting strength)

were balanced out under a fystem when about 20 constituencies were put together into a quartile

But with the new system, the person elecied by Kensington & Chelsea and the Ciies of London & | Westminster boroughs will need no. more than 3 votes (the equivalent of 1.001" members as voting 1 on the basis of 1 vote per 500 members or part thereof, and there's only 4 CLPs involved) 10 0 onto the Regional Executive, Whereas 10 be clested by, for example, Lambeth and Southvash where there's more and larger CLPs involved, you feed to win af least 8 votes (the fquivalent of 3,501 members).

‘Only CLPs in the boroughs concerned can vote to elect thelt Borough group's representative In some groups, there 1s ony thers, Briefing is unable to give Positive support to any of the nominees. Briefing does however recommend. support for the following (borough roup in brackets) Martin Hughes, Enfield N. (Barnet & Enfield) Sohn Hillier, (Bromley & Besley) Jeremy Corbyn, Islington North (Camden & Islington) Madhav Patil, Ealing Southall (Ealing & Bren) Chris Rogers, Hayes & Harlington (Hillingdon & Harrow) Kingsley Abrams, Wimbledon (Kingston & Merton) Beth Wagstaff, Deptford (Lewisham & Greenwich)

Twelves,. Vauxhall

(Southwark & Lambeth) Peter Spalding, Croydon Central (Sutton & Crovdon) Diana Minns, Hornsey & Wood

Beckenham

Green (Waltham Forest & Haringey) Danny. Harris, Hammersmith (Wandsworth & Hammersmith) In the trade union section, Briefing can ely ive positive Support to two of the comrades Standing — Bernard Laker

ASTMS) and Paul Moore

London Labour Briefing No. 72 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page 3

Time for Labour Parties

"Who could guess from listening to Neil Kinnock or from most Labour Party publicity material that the State of the bealth service is + one of the issues that most ‘concerns voters — especially in London and the South East?

Opposition to NHS cuts, and firm pledges to spend more to improve services and cut the waiting lists,

could be Labour vote winners in many a marginal ward in this key region of

the country. But when did

Kinnock last have anything

— of substance to say about health?

‘Anyone can score points

against the Tories" latest rise in

our movement Sti cea

talk vaguciy about "NHS

oi preions few toc

Labour Harte make ute ofthe

Sua fact of London's NHS

BS efetammer the Toy recordand

Sin popular suppor A. few

far Tact of the beds, wards

threat in your own consituency

Sty amount of" waffie about

This he pote! terory

where Labour ou fer! mos

ised by the Barty naionall fn by loal CLP

E MOne “ecent example

tour Parts responded t0

: Bul (wo out of every three F London health authorities got | nothing from Fowler's extra

25m; many of those that did

‘Send details of events in London to Labour Briefing, 26 Crofton Road, London SE5, or phone

include access

THU MAR 26 Islington Labour Briefing. Meeting for all readers/supporters to discuss General Election campaign. Red Rose Club, 129 Seven Sisters Ra,

FRI MAR 27 + Briefing Editorial Board, ‘for notifying articles for issue no. 73 | Conference on criminal justice. Islington Town Hall, 9.30-5.30, organised by Labour Campaign for

waged, £2 unwaged fincludes info pack and coffee). Further details:

LCC, 12 Cromwell Road,

Alperton, Middlesex, HAG

1s.

SAT MAR 21

‘Deptford Labour Party

Social. Disco, food,

Political pub quiz. Labour

Club, Limes Grove,

Lewisham SE13.

‘4 Booksale, Briefing on Pale at secondhand Ebooksale, 12-3, Labour EClub, Limes Grove,

Lewisham SE13.

Hsat/sun mar 28/29 * Labour Briefing Eonterence at Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton. See Building Briefing page.

to fight for NHS

got tiny amounts far short of the sums that have been cut from their spending up to now.

London as a whole faces a 22m cut in real terms in its cash limits for next year, while many districts are sil Tinalising ‘new, ‘damaging packages of cuts.

‘Only £2.1m of the total waiting list money has gone to London, shared between ten health districts — although at the last count London waiting lists had risen 78% in six monthe to. total of 126,000,

No help

‘Twenty London health ‘authorities, including some facing the steepest increases in wailing. lists and the heaviest Spending cuts, received no extra Help at al.

It was like stealing wallets from 30 people and then giving ten of them back a fiver. Tory policies “created these huge Queues for treatment: now Fowler is claiming credit in lection year for a cosmetic attempt 10 whittle them down slightly

“The best advice to London

bes £86,000 afters 20% exp is wrth the natio’s longest waiting Tat op 1aaes i it months to 14,000 and some of the biggest wart, st atvce 19 London judge cuts inthe county ges Told thee brent expecing her $200,000 | for 170 joint Sdmson for most Londoners bandon discs, “including ‘health services will just continue Mists up 31.6%), eae series wi jo ‘Tomer Hamlets (op'7.6%) and ca Haringey (up 16%) as well as GbstsappedMackaey "(Cm Sverpent) and Hampstead bet sone fein" South-East Thames only Greenwich (ists up 35) snd Lewisham/N. Southwark {ip 156) get extra cash, wile SSperae Besley. beating Bromicy and cashed West Lambeth (iss up 17%, th Sing over ear get nothing Ext cath for Sowth West Thames ‘a. Tocused on two its already falling. Merion

Labour response

But where did Labour Parties contact their local press with» Quick, informed response to debunk this election gimmick?

The London schemes approved by Norman Fowler Seek to take 8,500 off the capital's health queue: almost ‘exactly the number by which i had increased in the six months Drior to the Tatest waiting’ fist Figures. At the last count, over 12,500" patients were awaiting

TUE Mar 31 ‘Benefit for Wheelers Strikers, Peckham. Detail 379 5098.

WED APR 1 % Deadline for articles, issue no, 73. This is not 2 jokel

Dear Briefing.

T was stagacred to read in the London Labour Briefing February 2Sth- March 10th 3 short article by Felicity Harvest concerning the boxing ban in Hackney

THU APR 2 This ban and Ms Harvest's % Briefing Editorial Board HE defence of it demonstrates all Se that is wrong ia the thinking of

many’ Labour Party ‘members about sport Harvest argues that the is necessary to prevent

London Health Emergency AGM. 1-4pm, Camden Town Hall, Judd St. Details 833 3020.” |f ponitine f'trate, dames SAT APR 4ISUN APR § fF Sewing to boxers in Hackney Labour Committee on Ef apparently 10 bear baiting and Ireland AGM. You have to ff publi fogs

{go t0 Manchester Town T would ike to point out 10

‘entered into voluntarily by

MON APR 6 those who take part in. it

‘Maternity Emergency, _## Obviously boxing carrie risk —

National Rally, Central nobody who is sensible would

Hall, Westminster sh 1 geny this ~ but so are

Campaign against cuts in ay other aspects of life.

Feber ‘Does Ms Harvest want fo ban

enerne because peo isk of being rundown? Doss Ms

Hammersmith & Futham 2 Hers want 10 ban peop)

Labour Briefing. Public eng is age core

Speakers: Hilda Keane, certainly hope not

President Westminster ‘Most boxer

GLLP delegate to ILEA n the only way out oF the li

Labour Group. ‘and unemployment

Room 5, 7.30pm. ie

SAT APR 11 B ab

Hamlets Women’s 8

Council, GLEP

lunchtime. Mildred

Gordon, Paula Uddin, TH

Andrea Campbell, DHA,

Uhat_ anything

<rossing the roads in Hackney TUE APR 7

Harvest want to ban people meeting: ILEA budget. being assaulted or mugged? NUT; Keith Lichman, men and often Hammersmith Town Hall Women’s Health. Tower #1 opp fringelpublic meeting, Health Campaign, Chair

Well, Mr Thompson , you can either die, or have private treatment

‘Sutton, where numbers waiting rocketed 19% in six months to ‘098 atthe last count, gets not

a penny.

‘By John Lister London Health ‘Emergency

(personal capacity)

Simply following through on this one story should have given ‘ost Labout Parties in London fan angle to expose the Tory Tecords and Comumitment to the NHS: there ae erally ‘donne of ther opportunities to builds By combating NHS cuts across the the capital ~ opportunities that Almost always go begging due to CLP apathy or ignorance ‘Among the ‘more obvious

‘@ Major cuts and cash crises are hitting most of London's 30 Ihealth districts: the features of

‘but each

each are offers

spell

litferent,

2 platform

‘campaigning.

‘@ Nursing begining to hit services “in many districts — Paddington, Riverside,

Hampstead, West ‘Wandsworth and elsewhere: this ties in with the fight against low

pay.

What eying

exploited

that

that

Footbal

possibilities of people breaking cricket

thei

Its about time that socialists

inside the Labour Party started & sport plays a very

pert in, working class

Teas,

because of the pos

being hit by the ball V'repeat all aspects of

life have risk and sport often

very risky but it is enjoyed by of working

Bloomsbury, ambeth,

shortages

detailed reports, and has become a central source of upto-date information for the ‘media on. health services in London and. elsewhere. Why your organisation,

@ Thousands of low paid ancillary jobs have been axed by competitive tendering ia the NHS,” hitting black women workers hardest of al “at

hitting standards of patient mol et ae a srtiated..

"The LHE Annual General Meeting on April th will offer delegates and observers n hance to" cach up on developments in London's NHS and local campaigns. Any CLP, vard, community organisation ‘or trade union branch is ented to affiiate to LIVE (£15 basic, £25 if over $00 members) and send a delegation to the AGM, ‘which willbe from 1pm to 4.36 31 Camden Town hall (Judd St, WCT, nearest tube King's Cros).

"Why let Fowler set the health agenda? Fight back with the facts from LET

Further, details from LHE,

Despite Labour's general apathy, where health campaigns hhave been built — such as the lively campaign against the closure of West. London Hospital, Backed by local health lunions, community groups and Tunded by Hammersmith and Fulham Council — it has been possible to hold back cuts and "2 Glosures and to build genuine local support. This could be done much more widely There ig still time to remedy labour movement's weakness on health issues, and make the NHS a major pole of Sttraction for working class

ned ene Meena ema ae eoclreg Se ay iedon Hea timer. Eerie pig

for base of over 150 affiliations LHE AGM

ao omnes April 4th Se umber Camden Town Hall Ee pence oon 1-4.30pm

tabloid newspaper ire Ring 833 3020 branches and local campaigners, as swell as more

London letters

socialists should be to dois 10. prevent explotation. Often boxers like many other sports persons are by promoters, managers and by the media. We (Ould be arguing for legislation anybody king part in a boxing fight gets c best medical treatment and sts the rewards in terms of pay they deserve. We should hhot be arguing thar we should the the next thing that we 8 10 sex from middle ‘lass socialists in London? Are we going 10 have bans “on the people in the townships with the

that

ans on

ty He

Dear Editor ‘Charlie van Gelderen (letter, LB No. 71) accused my article

(ZB, no. 70) of contusion. Confuses my call to points. Labour Party members to look "First, the issue of race: | 0 the AM for guidance on have argued. previously. in South African issues with a briefing that ‘sport is. an emand (othich exiss only in his important mesns. by which ‘own head) for slavish obedience members "of the black 10 the leadership of the AAM: community can more easily

he affects to find a mystery in reallee thetr potential

Simple statement that" Thie is because they are not sbour Party Black Sections hindered to the same extent ge a right to an independent by. the inatitutional racism view ‘ona black issue; he — which holds back black people attempts to equate the theatre in other walks of if. Boxing is Greated by the South African Such a sport and. tis Unfortunate that Hackney's

Dear Briefing

Writing in support of Linda Clarke's article in Briefing no. 71 | would like to add two

American capitalist’ music ban came shortly after two industry anda commerical black Londoners. had. won theatre” production company world titles,

based in the apartheid state

Further, he confuses the The second point is the

sonstractve criticism of policies which, ashe implies, any movement must_weleome,with an opportunist. attack “on an Getion (and. with smear and personal abuse). Hammersmith Fulham Anti-Apartheid undertook its picket of the Lysic Theatre & MIR production

morality of boxing. Boxing is the only sport in which the main aim of the participants is to damage each other. This is the Key to any argument against boxing, but ane which those supporting the ban have hot put forward. | personally think this argument is not

Capetowa afer celel Song eneuh vert he for their adhe right to public solidarity Canvers that people risk from conades That sllariy din some atc, by c icanchisve = athough this Mscinercinch & Fulham :

should be doing

Abti-Apartheid that figorous

Hammersmith Futham Borough Briefing group Is torally united and Briefing

‘Alan Lenton, Brie Noor

Tan Harrison

ernnun Laur wR AU. 14 IMU SIMA HN 9) DORE 4

Why are these | councils attackin our unions?

ta Islington, 28 housing advisory workers have been locked out for working to rule; in Ealing the NALGO branch has voted for strike action over a claim for Inner London Weighting; and in Camden the Labour Group has _ narrowly avoided isciplining NALGO representatives for organising a picket (and building department officers are threatened with suspension).

‘So what's going on in London’ Labour authori ie oe coincidence or design? Certainly the disputes are unrelated and are not part

‘any union campaign: workers

(Publ Eve)

Ealing’s cost of living puts it in the tnner London Weighting band; and Camden's: the right of trade ‘sto organise in ‘opposition to the Council's policy on policing. What these events do seem to have in common is

And here we are and management and Chief everyone's. falling over Officers come into their own. that each has been created themselves ‘10 bolance the yf Labour Councis are 10 that cach ae eee” creates books by sling not the make "cuts they have. {0 growing mood among ‘amily slver stleest the family undermine the unions and stainless steel siteady one can feel the desite During the recent sttacks on uanasn we worktores is trade union nights launched at passivity. “ot any ven Epporunity ‘So far these impulses have been thwarted, but they do Undermine the confidence of

Uabour Councillors that the time has come to take on their local unions, two Executive Committee

particularly NALGO.

Thore ste_a number of factors. contributing "to. this mood: some Councilors fee! ane seers atest they can refute the charges of they feel voinersble to cuts “loony left" by attacking the Useful inks were made The. danger is that Labour workers: others are pleving between the unions, Bleck Councilors. will destroy personal politics and jockeying. Workers, Group, the local existing. union "organisations for position in internal Labour Parties and the many Only to find there 12 no one to elections: some hate NALGO — bigck and. women's Gefend. them or work. with Because it ian’ affliated 10 organisations who had joined them when they want alles

the Labour Party: others hate nv compeigning against. the "in te lebour Movement. my NALGO because they hate al Police Consultative Group. On sense is that our best defence Unions and. particularly one the other side were Labour ies in the loose coalitions and ‘which ‘inchidespolticaly Gouncilors, the Chielliances, lke. those. rade. In Gware officers who may argue Executive “and. the Counci Camden: those unions. which against the woolly Rall-boked —Gisipinary machinery. fave made space for ‘seltPolicies of the Councl The fact that it took several organised groups of black Others sre embarrassed weeks to dissuade the Counc workers, women, lesbians and because we remember some fiom pursuing. the action gay, snd. members. with Of the things they said in ther against. individuals for ieabilties "may find fight. against. ratecapping supporting "their union's themeslves moving in new Sout not cutting jobs of potties ond the closeness of directions politically, but will Senices to cover for the the vote (21 to. 17) at Labour also. find’ ther" defences government's attacks and Group ere significant omens strengthened. The same Row the real damage would be for the coming months se the annst De said of current nears Send 4 of the Rates financial cnsis bites into local Labour Groups on the above ‘Act's operation authority spending end senior evidence.

Islington NALG

NALGO strike continues

‘As from Monday March “work normally” or they

members of Camden NALGO,

By Jo Fawkes Camden NALGO

rally on the Town Hall stops ‘was addressed by Ealing

Sth NALGO. Housing would be suspended without ivi Se irkers and striking London fe brainer stag PKs tney had been working teachers.

Islington ‘have been suspended without pay by the Council

For several months the Housing Advisory Officers had been working to rule in support of a regrading claim which would have brought their pay into line with that offered by all

This is just the latest in a series of events folowing the Counci's. failure to. fight Fatecapping which make the “igington Cares"” logo look like a sick joke. We have to job description, having recently. witnessed the Ceased to-carry out only those spectacle of __Isington jobs previously done ona Councilor Chris Adamson, 3 “goodwill” basis, they replied NALGO member, crossing that in their view they were NALGO. picket lines in the other inner London working normally and were Lewisham safety screen Boroughs {including Tory duly suspended. stike. A manifesto Westminster) ‘On. Friday March 13th commitment to reduce Social ‘On. March Sth-6th the NALGO members in all the Services day end residential officers wore called to see decentralised Neighbourhood workers hours to 37 per week their managers {who support Offices. and Housing has been withdrawn, their caiml and told thet the Deparment cemeouton gone _To.capit al they follow their Should ‘give on undertaking day strike in support of the act of suspending a racist on iBrtish “Telecom style) to victimised workers. A mess full pay for 18 months end

By Doug Thorpe Islington NALGO and Islington South CLP

“GLC-in-exile’”’ workers in exile!

Workers at the London Stratcgic Policy Committee,

v accused of seeking to breach witnessed over the last 12 strike action in defence of qual opportunities practices. months, that we judge the a fellow worker. We have felt that management Management” and members"

She had been used by a ave been using tis dispute 10 position in relation “to. this

< try and assert their managerial dispute — 35 a8 Surboriy ove the units ‘Wotkers are asking the LSPU. “internal temping agency”,

a Members of the LSP management and LSPC which allowed low grade committer have hidden behind _ members to consider the needs Staff to be moved around the qual opportunities procedures, of the individual in relation 10, : ‘at falsely ascerting that the union the needs of the organisation,

We "believe that both the

individual's needs and those of the organisation can be quite adequately met without breaching any equal

accumulated experiences of inequality, discrimination and

This system isatlast being By Phil Walker abolished, After It months NALGO Convenor, working in Personnel the SPU Union insisted that this copeceniy woes aa individual be allowed, Hike ve repeaicaly put forvard the this temping system, 10 88 fac would show curly that “TCS he managenint it in Personne cece ores labouring under the false bei Secret’ Nosld fenigi GAL preset tat ocioe op) gee cee a peek Soaps eee) tessa ope expewer ats Loge ae ees hers moneshe would haye reaches of cal opportunites Spastation to grind i halt re Sepucation tat i had mg’ tecmmaegenent Wo preset to (2utnetltea ta, Saeeiae Soe eras we tee ss Dae ne mee aay ee Silderticnes atid oat forgoaes tat nce Seeder) Sieh eee smetanarrerin Scat eat alee | eee ee

Teaser See te coe | ctammraieay wee Caen ee wna t's dopue” about Supeon “of” oe vant 2UShinad "aca worker although ‘setlemeat of change their minds two-weeks goamet wotketa n eee oon cate We) ine meee cacesinn n Newabeened a So eee, el Oe ee ae

Council locks out housing workers

The dispute between deed ai well as word. Rather homelessness and many’ other NALGO and Ealing Council than mount a vigorous issues are now reacting in an ver London weighting has campaign agsinst raccapping authoritarian’ manner 10 the Seen Sot tnersting: and nn legilimate demands. of thelr beset By an Faling NALGO stat

Ealing’s radical programme is

member A “loony left" authority, bviowsly” one thal socialists

lampooned in the pages of together with the unions, the Support, but it does pol have

MON of the tabloids and leadership fo the Councll has tnt? eeury onncction ih

even The Guardian for its turned and attacked thei own the organised labour moventent

Sutragcous policy, has been workforce, ‘using the Tory

eee eon tieand a szument of limited resources.

Strike which has disrupted

every service in the Borough

for several weeks.

More than 2,500 NALGO members have been on strike in Support of about 30 stat? who were locked out for. taking limited industrial action in support of the claim for inner London weighting

Victorian liberals could often bye remarkably charitable (0 the They are attacking their deserving poor and oppressed natural alles in any campaign inoriies, proved esiaat ratecapping next year, appropriale gratitude | was SEitthespestc ol prvatisanion expressed and due deference Ske Wontng on ake Horizon, shows, at ihe same time as Has the Labour Group decided viciously atacking any sigh of {say wian the lmts set by slC-organisation by the workers the Tory government and wait in ther own enterprises passively for the election of a Pabour eoversment?

There is certainly a lack of trade union kaosledge and experience inthe Labout Group. Leading councillors ‘who. pay much more attention to the manual than the white= collar unions appear unaware of the sexism. inherent in their attitudes. Many of the: manual workers are. highly-paid craft

The case for inner London Not one ofthe “left” weighting is 2 good one. councillors, including _ some Teachers in Ealing already gei Briefing supporters, has felt inner London weighting, and able to support” NALGO the manual workers’ weighting publicly, although a great deal Zives them about £300 a year Of sympathy has been expressed more than staff workers. in the safety of privacy

Neighbouring Brent Council The Labour Group's workers, while _many of the have already “recognised the commitment to tow pay seems a white-collar workers are low: anormal and now pay salt the le sninoere:" nace May, paid women inner London rate: Hilingdon expansion has been primarily council, "even further from the principal officer grades One of the most heartening Geniral’ London than Ealing, father” than directed. towards aspects of the dispute has been

Fave agreed to increase the relieving the pressure on the the campaign waged by srcishting paid to ther stalT 10 lower paid stalf. No wonder NALGO members in the local the mandal level tmany of the existing staff feel party, Although support, for 7 KARO navy no mca been the iam, as indeed i the sfc to recoil the red sahalions in avout of revious Tory adminstration, glean of the Council last May NALGO and. this has the Labour Group say they Gn''a thoroughly progressive undoubtedly increased the cannot afford 10 P2%. Manifesto Gronically produced pressure on the Councillors 0 Particularly with the prospect of igh a substantial input from Feach a setlement Fatecapping next year. Payeieot many local NALGO members} of inner Tondon weighting 12 wih their subsequent Debaviour {heir staff has nox been one of Dyer the London Weighting their priorities, although they Qh Say they are concerned about the problem of low pay

While conceding the justice of

Unusually these. days it_has| not been @ defensive. dispute, ‘After eight years of Tory rule, ‘council workers felt enttied to. Better deal under “a Labour administration. They have had a rude awakening, and perhaps, alo, 2 foretaste of things 10 come under Kinnock.

Councilors. who have been implementing = wide-ranging This approach shows an and radical programme of equal tanwillingness to grasp the nettle opportunities, women, policing, of opposition tovratecapping in lesbian and gay” rights,

Housing Advisory workers! Get speakers to your union and Labour Party’ Branches. Messeges of support and

offering her a big pay off 10 What price a commitment to Keep. her mouth shut by fighting” racism and sending home without pay homelessness? Presumably ‘workers struggiing to provide we can expect. fulure Service to the homeless with manifestoes to be printed on collections re urgently. Inadequate resources and loo rolls to facilitate disposal needed,

facing an increasing level of after the election. Ring 101) 354 7470 for| violem attack! Support the locked out speakers, etc