London Labour Briefing no. 75

Wandsworth: the facts behind

the “showcase”:

STOP THIS

TORY MENACE!

The nightmare of yet another Tory general election victory hangs over us all

If the Tories win, privatisation will run rampant — and what has happened to the London Borough of

Wandsworth will be used as a model to inflict on the country as a whole. ‘The Tories are fond of boasting of their achievements in

Wandsworth. Yet their propaganda offensive can easily be punctured by socialists willing to learn the facts.

‘The importance of the Wandsworth experience lies here: if we can expose their showcase achievement. a useful service will have been performed on behalf of all those determined not simply to sit back and let the Tories win.

The Tories’ contribution to employment

Thirteen different services in Wandsworth have been privatised since 1981. From tree-pruners to toilet atter dants, mechanics to sweepers, caretakers to caterers. — 1,300 workers have lost their jobs to the privatisation jug gemaut, And over twice this many — 3.000 Counci ‘employees at least — have been slung out of the Council of over 7,000 for one reason or another since came to power here in 1978.

‘As if to add insult to injury, Christopher Chope (Council leader until 1983) chose to describe his actions as doing the workers @ favour, asking if they really wanted to be stuck in menial jobs for the rest of their working lives? He pretended to ignore the fact that the lack of jobs (16,000 ‘are out of work in the Borough) would condemn 2,000 e: Council employees to remain on the dole to this day (in many cases five years after being sacked). Many of the: victims would cheerfully break Chope's kneecaps in return favour’” he has done them as well as for his crass

Privatisation — the facts

‘The Tories have never gone into an election with privatisa-

easy to see why. All the conculty: and some of the more dramatic failures are worth noting.

Remember Pritchards? Once a symbol of the

yew broom"” Pritchards have now

— ———

BD

Wandsworth: no jobs on offer, as services go downhill

been swept out of the Borough.

‘According to the Council's own default system, Pritchard’s road-sweeping contract should have been torn up 6 months after it started in 1982. But Wandsworth continued to look like a tip for 5 years until the contract ran out — because of the high political stakes involved.

‘But not even this could save Pritchard's gardening con- ‘tract, fully revealing the hypocrisy of Tory dogma which claims “‘laisse-faire”” yet verges on corruption.

‘The Council's own bid for this work was undercut only by two “silly bids” from firms which had never done ‘gardening before. One was Pritchards.

‘So desperate were Chope and his side-kick Richard Hickmet to score another private victory before becoming MPs, that they trod all over reason, deputation and the advice of the Director. and gave the work to Pritchards at 2 paltry saving of £30,000 (in @ contract costing half 2 million @ year!?.

‘When the Council was forced to tear up Pritchard's con: tract 8 months later (they had defaulted not once or twice but 130 times!) they not only refused to reinstate direct labour, but refused to let the Department even submit 2

—___By Dave Benlow

tender in the rearranged “auction”. And the firm that subsequently got the work, Tyler's, lowered their bid by ‘over £100,000 p.a. in order to get

Ever since this debacle, those Council officers willing to mark up penalty points have found their work increasingly blocked by higher management — a testimony to the organisational “fixing” which accompanies

In 5 years, Pritchards never gave their sw: rise. Yet they were quite happy to take the inflationproofed increases the Council gave them each year.

But this is just one firm. Nine in all have picked at the fat carcass of Council services.

Grand Met left Paladin bins on Council estates unemptied for 9 to 13 weeks, and have constantly missed them since. They also sent workers out in dustcarts condemned by Public Health Officers as death-traps.

In 1985, after some embarassing moments in the ‘Chamber, the Council decided to award the Old People’s Homes catering contract to ARA Services, a firm which community groups in the United States have accused of

being linked with the underworld,

The Tories’ contribution to solving the housing problem Initial Cleaning Services ing — they “clean” Housing Estates after the resident caretakers.

Initial were first warned ten months after taking over the contract. Small wonder. To undercut the Department's bid, Initial paid workers a wretched £2 an hour and increased workloads by up to 500%.

Tenants’ Associations petitioned the Council in horror about the slippery paths and _—_rubbish-strewn passageways, but got no change. Perhaps they didn’t expect to — they had lobbied together almost as one to opose the abandonment of the resident caretaking system, but it had fallen on deaf ears.

But then the tenants’ lobby has little effect in Wandsworth these day:

‘The Tories have built no Council Houses since 1978. ‘© They've increased rents by nearly 300%.

‘© They've flogged off several thousand Council homes (1,000 directly to people who live outside the Borough) and these are now being gobbled up as prime sites by the fat building conglomerates.

‘The Housing Revenue spending has been cut by 76% in 7 years!

‘There are plenty more beans to spill about Wandsworth. Unhappily. the Labour Group — believing the issue to be a vote-loser, have been woefully weak on the issue of local privatisation.

And just for having the guts to publish the kind of material Labour should have been circulating before last year's Council Election, the Joint Shop Stewards Committee and the Trades Council now face prosecution under Tory election laws.

Privatisation is a Tory vote-"’winner’” we can turn on its head. It’s a pity Neil Kinnock doesn’t find out more about it — he could use the facts to help win the coming election instead of losing it as he seems intent on doing at present.

Don’t sit back and let the Tories boast about their “showpiece” council. Find out the facts about Wandsworth, and arm Neil Kinnock, your local Labour councillors, ‘your election agent and everyone else with the facts about Wandsworth... paradise for the multinationals.

icking of

LABOUR— TAKE THE POWER!

London Labout Briefing No. 75 May 6th-19th 1987 page 2

Education News

Exposing Baker’s scare stories

reactionary behaviour recently

The education service in = Brent asee again eame BY Colin Adams over tie McGoldrick issue

Brent NUT Panorama, et under’ national scrutiny : inl dot ‘on April 24th with the (Personal capacity) ‘What should the Council do

publication of a hastily- . Es ting the report as a constructive Majesty’s Inspectorate gender are supported locally barrassed at being used by spiel se eek ce sce apes ‘not harming Baker in oe om = ical Hg vs found in the ‘South of the support the Borough's policies Baker announced that he far enough. It was inthe North elements. the Council and its evil eee does a Blame in Brent, the report isnot the borough have been saying the — many of the faults clear cut indictment Baker same ‘Tong time. should be laid at their door

nthe

press was that Brent Council (ably fow standard of work forthcoming General Election. had an obsession 0 force its antiracitt and antrsexist Morale

‘gains the next onslaughe. Th

policies (in particular the Former) on teachers, parents, The report did point to low need to be rallied nw and students to the detriment of teacher morale as oae cause — _ @ Postscript Follow “basic” education —the "three this is generally the Situation lengthy discussion, Brent LG RS" throughout Britain at present, om April 30th decided This issue has also been but in Brent the relationship proper hustings again adopied ty some headteachers between Council and local NUP and Vice Chair of Education, and. local” Union. leaders, as leaders is particularly trained ‘Sitnessed in the Panorama pro Many teachers lay the blame framme last month for this at the door of those Burthe report is clear — in Union leaders through their quo prevails

TO ALL LESBIANS AND GAY MEN LIVING AND WORKING IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

Lewisham Council wants to help end discrimination against Lesbians & Gay Men who live or work in the Borough.

What are the most important issues? _-How should it be tackling

Make sure your views are known — Come to our series of

CONSULTATION MEETINGS on TUESDAY MAY 12th TUESDAY JUNE 9th TUESDAY JULY 14th at ‘THE ALBANY CENTRE DOUGLAS WAY, SE8 starting at 7.30pm

‘Creche & Carers allowances available Wheelchair access & Signer ‘Women’s bus leaves The Albany at 1opm & 10.30pm Refreshments ‘There are separate and independent Lesbian. onl and Gay Men only

A final Conference to prioritise issues and examine how they can best be worked on is being organised for Saturday, September 12th, 1lam-4pm, Civic Suite, Catford Rd, SE6 Further information from Sarah, Outreach Team — 690 6368

Long, hot summer ahead

This is the time of the contract? All the signs are of the local education year, just after Easter, that they will. This will un- authorities and their electhen ihe London left in doubted lead 10 confron- tors. A nationally imposed

: curriculum would be one

Ft ae nn iii _tation with teachers OT reves | ———————— step in this direction gains (and losses Craton BY Mike Loosely ‘Apart from all this the ; ILTA General Secretary other main isue facing Lon bey guile = don teachers this coming

A number of key issu: term is the compulsory few years ago. defeated narrowly. It is in- individual designation and

ghts by his government." The ILA already bas plans Sat gts Nox suramer in Means by which it could to deduct pay for not cover- the [LEA

be fought showed amide ing-Itshoped that they can ‘"S Guianed a High Court

approach is that implicily advocated by Baker. There ygiont would be welcome

the ILEA. will be fights but also wants to take Roms London SEt4, tcl 01

Haringey: set the pace!

Haringey currently tunities policies, and because receive monthly employs a lerge number Nev" ist received Support payment b Ory ine lecturers in POM a number ot councilors full ime Tpare-tim

‘even the Chait now have ta wait up to three Further and = Adult —cgucation Commi months to receve thelt pav'

Education, who are at mitted that the A, "eto eradicate the practice of present denied Bee” 2 neglgent aystemaie overtime By ful inimum employment have asked Haringey 10 give part-timers access:

rights and safeguards. “eto offer fractional ppoint- to inservice tring. on the

Receiving short-term ments, which must Include same basis as fulltimers contante of no more than such benefits as sick pay, hol @to. give part-timers. 1 Sete a time, part, d2¥ pay. maternity gay, ac. right to full participation in the

2 term at ame io ook cox8 10 pensions, etc..f0 all democratic procedures of thei

fornew work each yearor. on aw ther main source'of ingeivtons, in some cases. each term. income: os "For further information, con. Because of their status, “immediately to reform the tact. Woody Haut. 01 372 part-time lecturers are pay system sa hat part ters 6094,

London letter

basic employment rights. Not only do they have con: stantly to. worry about their future employment. but they, have to compete with their colleagues for the few hours that are available.

To alleviate this, the part tumers campaign has attemp: fed. to inform part tumers of

Forward with next year.

: ‘Come on Ariefing, as well as what left? blaming Kamikaze kinnock for Dear London Briefing,

sabotaging Labour chances, don’t ignore Tir the lasts Gils who are asking the working

their rights and encourage | Makanji urges us (0 campaign class to vote for a Party which them to join NATFHE. Addi | for a Labour victory by pro- has just reduced the vale of tionally, many full timers, in | claiming our record on equality" theit pay packets

Spite of the union ban, con- | and democracy. Vine. Shue to teach overtime, and | "Bur be misses oul one point. 628o rate se is sufficient ko stir thus deny parctimers of any | Why should we not also go to up such a backlash, what could ‘aditional work the polls on Labour councils overnment expect

Women constitute over | fine record of not making cuts, adically 10 60% of the part-time teaching | not attacking working class I ‘esonomic power on aff, whereas they comprise | ing standards? assive sce?

Tncidentally, John asks if a

iy, 40% of the fulltime |. Well, John Weay gies the Hopefully, John, a Labour BH “Choosing sarttime | answercon the same page. Right. government will be pressurised ork for vanous reasons, | ly exposing those behind ihe 10 redistribute economic pawer many women depend on the | “Friends of Waltham Forest", from the weal, the ruling money they receive fram such | and condemning aitacks of class, to the working cass. Its wom os ther onmary source | Council leader Neit Garrard, be the Tories that hase been

sto all intent and redistributing wealth By inf pour is a | purposes — those who marched fing dispropartionately greater

tne oniy Authority wre pare. | the Labour Party im W: Foret example. Z

Jeni Fisher Tower Hamlets

justices Because we're aware | people 10 defend the Labour Of this bor igh’'s Equal Oppor- | Council agains! the government

Fascists reorganise in Brent & Harrow

STOP THIS THREAT!

questionable By Alf Filer ‘The NF may be semall and ap-

Parties turned wp. and the confon drawn from this as that people felt the NF was not a serious threat. Twas pointed out that certain, key Nazs were believed to be moving into. the Kilburn area

Following a secret meeting of a pathetic 31 people, a new branch of the NF has recently been northern part of the Borough formed in the Harrow Weshould not waittoreact ro bot the istucs they raise need 10 area, the NF presence” but organise be. challenged by Socialists na While the meeting tet 7O%, 2 eres of publ ame Ansar See min ‘be the. cccpation of eTown was kept private, the fact hich can build the support to reminded that when comes to Hall against che Traveling that the Nazis feel confident Gevelop a mass movement fe- racism, the Allance have shows people enough (0 attempt to quired to stop the growth of lite concern forthe issue ‘Although the Tories were feorganise and plan publie focal {ascst groupe and so make Class collaboration with the largely responsible for mobili Teatettiag activites: ithe iimpossibie for'them to build Liberals and SDP means atack- ing the lumpen racists, ‘the oe are creer ing the rights of Traveling Peo- Liberals did hile to distance Kenton area shows the need t,/Grent this means that the pe, supporting the racist nature themselves from them. The for all anti-racist organisa- bogr Group must use the Of our education system, and Labour Group's atrocious tions to come together ia. ide support for their ani voting forcuts which wil hitthe handling of the. issue only tnited” front ready {0 facit/antracsist policies "to ving standards of 2 played into the hands of racists ‘mobilise against them. build such campaign as the predominantly Black popula. No doubt, there wil be those ‘A few Years ago, members most effecive way of counter- fon through wocsening of focal in the Party who will bring out of the Tecal Labour Party ine the press and Tory smears. services, the old arguments Of "leave itt0 Snd SWE were arrested by The lficalty inthis is that" Thelocal Labour Paris need the police, you cat break. the Te ner aera Pe certain local trade union leaders to ensure that central to any law, and anyway they should be the police for holding stalls {the NUT have effectively campaign must be fotal opposi-_ignored.”* Jn Kingsbury and actively fien'campaigning to undermine tion to immigration laws, the Obsious those comrades sill campaigning to get the Front OSr'anu-racst policies, and the right to Black self-organistion haven't learned any lessons off the streets QSbour Group have made very and self-delence, and no plat- from the’30s and "70s and never ‘No doubt, with theslecion as timed efforts, to. campaign form for faci or racists. In will, However, in Brent with ts anexcise, Wewillsecthe NF a= publicly, ‘The ‘Trades Counell the past. Brent Labour Councils large Black, Jewish, Asian, Ish tempting to” demand theie Pontes 10 g0 imo further haverrefused to ice out hallsto and travelling populations, the “democratic” rights". Once decline with the contraction of fascists and this remains part of issue of racism and fascism can again the let and local Black cal Industry. As for the SWP, Our manifesto ever be somenienly ignored and. women’s organisations {he present’ postion on "When an attempt was made and. we have to be forever {ust prepare to deny them any MGoltrick andthe Black last year to set up an Amt prepared to challenge racism, Platform at all, in spite of any Section las

Teachers Group makes their Fascist Actioa group, only 6 no matter from which quarter it policies rather members from Brent Labour — may come,

Biggest reshuffle i in history!

imber of key

Hillingdon Labour lected (0 a

Group has emerged from

Annual General Meeting with its first ever left of centre leadership.

The old guard right wing Jost substantial ground, and by the end of the evening were devastated by the result.

The victory itself was more important given the timidation and unfourted allegations and attacks made upon local Labour activists including a numer of key Go gc Mr ye Srendard in remo: councillors, act of defiance’ feted the Finan

The attacks were waged by anne y 2808, 5, Micha! Walker exLabour councilor who lef! The left also made other im: . ia the Party in disgust at Labour's portant gains in the leadership, pea {eoueceee i policy on lesbian and gay righis, ‘Rotably Mark Gage as Genera Bnd Reg Taylor, the ex-Trades Secretary, who beat off a Planning, Council Secretary, who has not wing challenge by Cllr Har Works, Phil Kordun

Left forum makes gains

By Dan Carter of

By a Briefing correspondent

ite doubt the result lections will result in

attended a ward of GC mee The two have teamed up with a friend ef Brian Nicholson — Journalis. Richard Litiejoh self proclaimed "Trot bus he Standard — to try 10 sar tumbet of activists

Fagan Brian Hudso

lof those earmarked by Littlejohn “for expulsion was Chis Rogers. wh

ng. fon Davy

Gage

ex come up in thr te one thing the voting did show ig when the Leit coun

outwards 10. the y can be successful We must pow end our obses sion with the work of the Cour. it and concentrate on the wider

raking place oat Lewisham —and

ie Leh cans Jor ie cna ck lost their recent elections. Sd well-fough campaign, wilh aus cn Scconetabily of Covernment Committee snd in

shes in the Boroogh Council should be run. = It put up a clear, cam

fillors are spp

London Labour Briefing No. 75 May 6th-19th 1987 page 3

LN

PHOTO: John Chapman

ringey Council

Crossroads

recent meeting. Haringey Labour Group refused to adopt any clear strategy for dealing with its growing financial crisis.

Briefing supporters. pro:

most By Craig Brewin

Haringey Coun

effort to fill all vacant meeting, they agreed to refer posts, aminimum wage for the question to the Party and numerous campaigning 8° position and. therefore the tivities designed to forge — matter should be referred to it links with the workforce once again. In the meantime,

Ail this makes the Council's Our only response to threats programme on consulting with made in’ 3. recent District

the community and with counZuditor’s letter is to call @ oll tenants @ charade. The real

Policy and Resources meeting division has at last surfaced on and seek legal advice. Hanngey Labour Group — bet "This te not an adequate ween those dovoted to 3 response fora socialist council “legal” budget at any price, to's crisis which we have all and those prepared to make 3 anticipated for some time. political stand in defence of Briefing supporters have our manifesto and our commit argued all along thet a legal ment to. working people in Challenge and a confit with Haringey the government was both in- Unfortunately, the Council evitable and necessary. Now leadership has - played 3 the crunch time is here we — negative role in this debate ‘seem to be doing all we canta They. failed to support the appease the District Auditor. Bnefing resolution and leader ’A 6% council fent ro isn Bernie. Grant_made a long

cn |New women on

Regional

that a majority of branches Fear cight women By Nadine Finch ere edsy which mandated their _| have recently been elected 1 1p Executive for wider policies, supdelegates to the election | the London: Labour ‘ Labour women but meeting voted for the Lett |Party Executive to direct- (Personal capacity) Sargieg ss slate ly represent Regional [cy by-election

the Tact th the present leader, [would be lected by ballot at Ceoference on July 11-12th at he Lon ship insted ir had noslate the the Regional Women's Con |, Comparing 3 amor

tical for every post contested at thorough wide level, bar that of Secretary, The left candidate fo Secretary, Jon Lansman, was ihe one success of the evening,

regretfully to be a postal ballot due to the delay to ‘ regional conferences in Lon- Regional Women's Co don caused by the Green- on the Regional Ex

needs of lesbian

Exec

attacked the positions adopted by. Liverpool and Usmbeth gurcharged coun

ther day conference on the

Ministry for Women are

planned

concerns affecting Labour | Stiategy and the LCC position itiatves can be planned. Briefing supporters on the

cline Abbot, Linda | Councit and in the local Party Ballos, Nadine | Finch, Pat | Will continue to urge the Group Walworth Road, London SEI7] & od ee

campaigning steategy: to. win the coming battle,

London Labour Briefing No. 75 May 6th-19th 1987 page +

Police back up Tower Hamlets Liberals

Homeless families campaigners undeterred!

I’m not sure when I Iast attended a police-free Council meeting.

F think there was one in March, before the budget, which" had nothing pa ticularly controversial on the agenda and passed off without incident.

Usually, members of the public who dare to heckle Liberal councillors are drag ‘ged out by the police, who are getting progressively more violent, as the Party they're protecting get_progressively more: vicious in their attacks on the working class in Tower Hamlets.

‘Anger and frustration is building up fast, and there was a large lobby on Monday April

21h, organised by the Homeless Familles Campaign, a nonParty political community eroup,

‘There are many Bangladeshi SSDP members active in the cam paaign, and. a deputation 10 Council was allowed. by the Chair which consisted of one Labour Party member and one SDP-er. After. hearing the deputation, the Chair then refused to allow a debate on the Fecent evictions! ‘This is standard Liberal practice and has

By Christine Shaweroft Leader, Tower Hamlets Labour Group

Families mecting downstairs, they fook @ vole to occupy the Couneit Chamber

Initially, the Chair showed great commonsense. The police (Gro seem to be on permanent Slandby outside Betinal Green Town Hall) got into the Chamber, and the Chair asked them te leave, for which he was, applauded

But he then adjourned the ‘meeting. and left the Chamber himself. Hurriedly

There were calls to continue the mecting and have a debate, and Jan Alam, the deputy Leader of Labour Group, as asked by demonstrators to take the Chair and ask the only Black Liberal, Cllr Appiah, to speak.

He did, but was s0 totally un sympathetic to the plight of the ‘cected families, he was shouted Gown, After conferring with demonstrators, Jan agreed to ask a Chair from the communi ty to take over the meeting

The ‘Chiet Executive asked seryone 10 leave the Chamber, but only the Liberals did so. Jan was just asking for nominations Tor a Chair when the boys in blue burst into the Chamber and

nto Bethnal

Green nick. Paddy was rlea afte revealed him

‘a chat in the police jo be thew

A. demorsication s outside the nick, and ov trere let out. With the tact and Sensitviey for which they are well known, the police let out the white mea first, and the Bangladeshis las.

Following the police invasion, three men are to be charged with ‘assaulting the police, which sto be expected in Thatcher's Britain — where if you're thrown Sone” for’ obsiructing the highway

Labour

councillors are -t0

protest to the police about theic Srer-reaction toa peaceful Semonstraton. In hele’ zeal 10

get hold of one councillor, a Fighly dangerous pacifist in his late sites, police ipped up fur niture which was fixed 10 the Floor. ‘We are also protesting t0 the Chief Executive about the which went oo hhad_happened, uli,

Councit meeting, as i noth

‘Meanwhile the fight for the

happened many times before. started attacking the homeless through the Courts, The Labour councillors mov- Bangladeshi people and Parliament, the Council

ed suspension of Standing “target” councillors “such as Chamber, on the doorsteps and

Orders, and lost, When this was Paddy Little and Philip on the stfeess, goes on. To the Protestors against evictions of Bengali homeless families picket Bethnal Green Town Hall, Apel 70h ‘communicated to" homeless Maxwell bitte end * i“ vt

Trevor Islington HAC

Monerville

Open letter to Margaret Hodge,

Leader of Islington Council,

‘Trevor Monerville, a black youth aged 19, disappeared on New Year's morning at_about 1.30am after spending the evening with relatives.

His father made enquiries at Stoke Newington Police Station that afternoon and was told to return the next day to make an official report

He was told there was no news of his son, and though throughout" the next two days the family continued to make enquiries it was not until Sunday January 4th they learned that Trevor was at Brixton Prison.

Police state that Trevor ‘Monetville was arrested on the morning of January 1st, when he was found asleep in 3 car He was detained at Stoke "Newington Police Station for 3 days and charged with Criminal damage. He was seen

[Send details of events in London to Labour Briefing. 26 Crofton Road, London SES, or phone them in on 733 7016.

MON MAY 11 ‘# Lambeth Labour Briefing How do we fight the cuts? IMecting to discuss Lambeth budget: ILEA elections: building 2 local Briefing

Jgroup. 7pm. Lambeth Town Pal.

*Pockham CND, with Harriet Harman MP, at SCVS, above

‘at Highbury Magistrates Cour ut was t00 il to oppear in ‘open court and was from there feterred to the hospital wing of Brixton Prison.

Trevor Monerville was referred from Brixton Prison 10 ing’s College Hospital. On frrival he was found to have the following injuries: bruises ‘round the left eye: clotted blood in the nose: bruises to the left elblow; grazes and bruising to both knees and shins: some bruising to both shoulders.

‘Trevor needed major surgery to remove a blood clot fon the brain. He is now Fecovering and _ completaly paralysed on one side. Prior 10

his detention in police custody, Trevor Monervile was. @ healthy, able-bodied

Young man. His family have fmounted. 2 campaign tO discover how he obtained his,

se which led 10 his

tn present condition

‘The Trevor” Monerville ‘campaign ate asking the

Labour Party to support the following demands

Please include access details.

‘See Building Briefing (National page 10) for details of further events.

Times Furnishings, 135 Rye Lane.

Trevor Monerville

‘ethat_ the Parliamentary Labour Party tables @ motion for 2 public enquiry or that Hackney Council support and

finance’ and. independent ‘ethat the Labour Party request that the. General

Medical Council carries out an inquiry as. to their doctors’ conduct in relation to Trevor's medical treatment at Stoke Newington Police Station:

‘financial support that will

enable the campaign to achieve their objective justice

THU MAY 28. sIslington Labour Briefing meeting, Red Rose Club, 128 Seven Sisters Road, London Na. Spm

SAT MAY 30

‘Travellers Rights. Labour Campaign for Travellers Fights General Meeting Details: Martin Hudson, 0992 39377

WED JUN 3.

from locked out Housing Advisers

We condemn your tactics

Dear Margaret Hodge,

A recent article in City Limits notes “‘a growing power struggle between the unions and Labourcontrolled authorities in London.”

‘As Housing Advisers who have been suspended without pay for four weeks by Islington Council, we find ourselves at the sharp end of such a struggle and the use of adopted Tory tactics by a Labour con: trolled council

tt seems your Council is seeking @ confrontation with trade unionists in is! ington as you are also refusing to negotiate on two other disputes.

Your tactics appear to be somewhat naieve and short sighted. In the short term your factics are aimed at the

wide and rule” of trade unionists which may lessen four opposition to enforced Cuts in the next few years. in addition, a protracted strike ‘may ceriainly cut the council's Budget deticn, hence the con. frontational tactics

But in the long run, any united efforts by Labour con: trolled councils and the trade unions to fight what seems an nevitable Conservative government will be utterly Gestroyed by such tactics

‘The Conservative attemot to smash the power of inner London ‘Labour boroughs will only be fought by a concerted Sod united effort, from the Unions and the employers

We deplore your Counci’s

action in suspending us ‘without recourse to recognis ed staff code procedures.

‘As if this were net enough the Labour Group of the Coun: cil have fallen to the level of Obscene comments and threats of violence to Housing, Advisers" addressing the Group's mesting on Monday April 6th. Indeed, a member af the public had to restrain @ Labour councillor fram pun. ching @ Housing Adviser in the face after she had attempted to.addrese the meeting

‘We condemn this abuse as the lowest and most deplorable tactic” to date

‘We demand an uncondi tional apology.

Cut the Tory tactics in i! ington, reinstete the Housing Advisers and allow your ‘workers thelr rights as Trade Unionists.

Called by:

"88/89!

government crisis

Saturday 27th June 1-5pm Camden Town Hall No Cuts in Jobs & Services in

Recall Briefing meeting on local

‘+ London Childcare Network Childcare & you, with Harriet Harman MP.'7 30pm, Conference Hall, St Matthew's Meeting Place, Brixton Hil. Come slong and say what sort of childcare

SAT MAY 16 ‘*Booksale. 12:3, Labour Giub, Limes Grove, Lewisham. Buy yout Briefing here. Deptford & Lewisham

Uabour Parties you want

Greg Tucker, Rache! Webb, Steve French, Lesley Hammond, Jonathon Oppenheimer, John Harrison, George Huish, Bill Houghting {Lambeth councilors) Hilda Kean, Ken Jones (ILTA, STAI

Jo Fawkes (Camden NALGO}

Joan Twelves {London Region EC)

ign Harrison (Hammersmith & Fulham councilor)