London Labour Briefing no. 84

King’s Cross should mark the beginning of the end of a crude and vicious era on London Transport.

The massive fire, in which 30 people were killed, vastly overshadows the devastation at Oxford Circus station in 1984.

‘The London Regional Transport Board in its 55 Broadway bunker has been sent reeling by this verdict on its pursuit of government policy at any price.

The fire has burst the bubble of LRT’s slick Towards Tomorrow's Underground PR campaign, and revealed an outdated and shoddy safety system; a system governed by a Rulebook that is used more to discipline workers and stifle protest than to ensure the safe working of the Underground.

By Dave Welsh Former London Transport Guard

No crystal ball was needed to predict that a major tube disaster was in the making. It happened at King’s Cross, but many stations are potential fire traps.

‘@King’s Cross was the seventeenth serious fire since 1980 — the most recent happening under an escalator at Bank Station in July.

‘e There are about 50 to 75 fires recorded every year on the Underground.

In 1985, a report remarked that “‘the London Underground system has fallen far below the safety standards elsewhere.”

‘The report's main recommendations were rejected by LRT: “We have-always been one of the safest underground systems around. We are not complacent about it

Today, over 3 years after the setting up of LRT, the whole bus and tube system is more and more divided along lines dictated at Whitehall. LRT's strategy has been to divide the workforce up into separate businesses — London Buses Ltd, Bus Engineering Ltd, and London Underground Ltd. 190 different activities on the Underground have been singled out for competitive tendering — including station cleaning, and lift and escalator maintenance.

Over 400 jobs on stations and nearly 1,000 guards ‘jobs have heen slashed since 1984. Another 1,500 will go with the Underground Ticketing System.

Four lines have lost their guards, with London Underground introducing a scandalously flawed ‘emergency procedure called “‘Leapfrogging” on the Piccadilly line.

‘The NUR has pointed out that “management are helLbent on achieving the total elimination of the guards... and are prepared to bring OPO onto lines that are neither built.nor modified to take account of the risks involved in having only one member of staff ‘on each train.

Cleaning staff levels have been reduced with private cleaning firms like Pritchards winning a foothold in station cleaning. High staffing levels have always made up for low levels of safety — with the loss of staff and the increasing use of contractors, safety levels have plummeted.

Continued on back page

PHOTO: LFB Media Resource Group

Devastation atter the Oxfcrd Circus fire: the lessons were ignored

BLOOD ON THATCHER'S

London Labour Briefing No. 84 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 2

Looking at Brent

They said it would never happen!

Brent's Fightback cam- Leader's office in anger. homes: by increasing school crowd of over 150, people paign as received a They returned to lobby a meals charges and Counc came, to. protest. Secunty massive boost of energy Social Services Urgency Sub- house rents; by cutting guards barred entry to the aleathesiesm followigg committe, along withocal teaching costs and discee. Couneil chamber and. the the successful dlsraplon works. sod chgminden, onary” locaton grat: public ellty was led to part ofacrowd of over 103. and by freezing all vacances veriowing.

of the Council mesting on Tho ‘were lrtured by the indepartments which deliver Some protestors, furious

ae - Chair and the Director on services directly to the at being kept out of the

At the end of @ day’s the virtue of self-reliance community. meeting, burst through the : sarike ‘by 3,000 NALGO and tightening the bet. = security guards, and Coun- 3 members, the Council “"Nyany of the largely black, cillors t00 seared to voice & chamber was occupied by 2 etcie audience bad never Consumers ang Sag a 5 crowd of 600 “anti-cuts been to a Council meeting proved cuts without 3 protestors. before and came away hor The consumers of these discussion. cs 8

os : tified by what they termed services, along with NALGO- protestors. then ocBy Christine Clavering — {ho'sprvat fascists iembers and Labour Party cupied the Council chamber 3 Chair, Brent Fightback “The anger and outrage in- activists, again organised and formally initiated the

creased when the viciousness lobbies of Labour Group Fightback Campaign. ‘The campaign had been Gf the ‘cuts. proposed by and Council mectings, fore ‘The protests succeeded in Anticuts councillors working towards this lobby Brent's “Labour” Group ing Brent Labour Coun- getting reprieve for the day

tnd saw i as a tet of the bocume known lors to retreat bhuod lock Porsches *Y protestors began. to. feel threatened with discipline if Streogih of feeling. among TAME KDOW or cuts, Shdcoeanioriatemconty — ROREEES and old people's Felpless and hopeless in the they joined the protest.

Unions, community groups, designed {0 save £5 million, guards homes, ‘out meanwhile all face of Town Hall power. Sistyseven per cet of and service wers against he (hetTbn the most vulnerable "Om September 22nd the SsesTMSED PIRES, WEE Brent Fightback was formed NUT members balloted for a aa a nao tuccsing Pobey sed Resources Come {ramen tg make room for the ‘ostop the inital enthusiasm half-day strike, but the The Campaign Co- day" nurseries, children’s mittee met formally to agree finally take place. ‘waning, to join together the union officials have not yet ordinating Committee homes, and old people's TAL stage tiny of the trade unions, community got round to organising it.

Ses ee Cr ihe par prs a cae ee ee pega tige4 worth fighting back.

AS alco ; pe Started to make. cuts, six Che Hagen ee Beate soit ot the Member” of the lobby fects, before Comeclion: Save refed Sang Counelloes teen lowed the Councliors had even debated the ques- Lehi ‘We have also called for into the chamber to hold tion. The most savage of support from. other their meeting, but the scab re afiay lege oe Fare catpaignsinios, Labour Cotncllrs once fea pending etch socal Gen Martha Olumer and again refused to make ther services offices use to pre- comrades from Broadwater cuts in front of Brent’s So ie eee ee $aiaddceeed adieappotx, workforce and electorate oe noly call mosting be the and the meting di not 0

‘This sparked a protest by Stonebridge Estate but ahead. sage fae, oe Oe see it it Brent akady Ths was the sort of proSor ideas oF Ot ool RT Sea ee gt tte Cee Source of childminging Tes : Cin wc ahould bin s;post ship sald could never ee Se “Sp gansve “sgcagih pen. Ths tothe community stormed the = Council ‘Council lobby when cuts the size of Har- jittery could not be

Seo ioe or peceeet, sania 2

Ric suceess of he tobby "It ls only the beginning.

groups, Labour Party ac- Despite this, NALGO and

tivists and service consumers the rest of Brent Fightback

in a united campaign. held a massive meeting in the

The Co-ordinating Com- Council chamber, where Ted

mittee meets on Sunday Knight gave proof that there

evenings to. plan public is most certainly life after ing and surcharge.

PHOTO: Geott Cocke

on November 11th shows | With an increase in active

= onfusion clarifie Satire mon, mec pee

Of the Council unions, with ting between now and

SC policy as decided manual workers crossing Christmas, Brent Fightback ied gio by the issue of Leader will not | NaiGO picket lines and will advance from strength

‘At the time of writing -

ed By Pete Firmin a majority of two to one at resolve this. = 3 Friday November 20a) Bo Fes Fea STE saetanecy AC act appa | NUE embos tens tse confusion reigns in the cee nae woe hurried" and” inadequate — for Anderson must be condi- : teas, Giscussion in the Parties, is tional on his continued op- 5 over the questions of ‘In the Leadership election _ to reject a “no cuts” posi- position to the cuts and reee ee ee ee ee | cuts ‘The Labour Group is split ward Cllr Graham Durham ‘hard decisions” after the fight which would mean virtually down the middle q's “no cuts in jobs and “fullest possible consulls- them supporting him as Between support for Ron services” platform because tion with the rade unions". Leader’ on condition ‘of a Andewon, the“ Laral Ron Anderon was fadpne Ths wacucd ytheLabost commimment to a cus | a runs Ty Government Committee the issue. At the, hustinge. Group leadership as a green Strategy s

nominee for Leader, and afterwards, Anderson light to push through their _Anti-cuts activists in the

Dorman Long, the’ right gavenocicar commitment to cuts package without Party have to reopen the : wring proats candidate of Sithdrawing the fm cuts reference to the Party, and policy discussion urgently, | A Figkt wing group of 18 Comncliors have spit wit

the le of package. but only some of little real consultation with particularly as it is now | Brent Labour Party and intend to attempt to run the Councillors. them, and promised the im- the unions, Teported that there is a fur- | Council in alliance with Teries and Liberals.

‘After a-special round of possible for next year —no The votes for Leader ther hortfallof £4 million in | The right wing, organised by former Labear Group Party General Committee Puts puta legal budget. reflect unease with the cuts this year's budget, as well as wren be dye rca

and” LGC meetings had “Party nominations for package; but by no means estimates of at least £20 | Nomination for Leader — Roa Anderson — and won an

nominated Anderson by & Leader reflect the confusion, outright rejection of the million next year. Party ‘ i

majority of two to one on Both Brent North and Brent budget strategy. mn eK Folawed the | 18-27 vote in favour of.right wing pro-cuts candidate

Monday November 9th, ex- South have 2 pro-cuts, Sent advice of the ex-Leader and | Derman Long. =

Leader Merle Amory put policy, but _ nominated the Chair of Finance that | At the time of writing the future of the Comei! hanes in

forward Long at the Labour Anderson in a contest with Because of the refusal of there was no choice but to | the batance as the right cances face evermbelming

Group meeting on Tuesday Long. (South only by 18 the Labour Group to accept make cuts have to recognise | hostility from all parts of Brent Labour Party — inctading

Toth, and this nomination votes to 16, with I vote for him as Leader, Anderson's that the “‘pride” of the | the Black Sections.

von 8-17. Counc Dutta), After 2 care portion Bas shifted under Labour Group in always | Under the surface of events Bes the political reponse of ‘Although the Council mobilisation by the right, pressure from the anti-cuts following Party policy wasa | Brent i “of Eom voted

mating er November lith {he only CLP with an sou Councilor and the unions, con—-acycal facade tobe | gist vets Pecttanun mrendwert aed Seat

Could lot go ahead because cuts policy, Brent Fast, He is now committed to thrown out as soon as the am Sagas

‘Anderson supporters Tefus- nominated Long by 27 votes throwing out the cuts Party took the “‘wrong”” | Samth GCs vated eversbetssnety

ed to move out of the to 24 against Durham, with package, though his policy decision. supporters of cats and in Brent East only a massive Seadership seats” in the ‘Andersea ‘picking up omly for the future is at bet If the Brent Partics can | mobilisation of right wingers secared a small victory for Council chamber, Long was five votes on the first round. equivocal. now go on to reject the cuts

endorsed a5 Leader by the "Anderson was unaccep- The issue facing the Party policy itis virtually ruled out Poliey and Resources com- table to the (lim) majority is not simply the refusal of {hat sufficient Labour mittee earlier that evening of the Labour Group for Labour Group to accept the Councillors ‘would support fd he rgh have no ini. two remons. He indepen. LGC oominaton a Leader, the to make it Counc tion. of calling a special dent of the clique who Rave ‘Those Councillors (around policy. The growing opposi- Sac an near epsank Wield Waar Ccuslumcing (hems sents Caach for tee Ga Mijiee bok acer amr, tonto ecu mame ates pes apna aromaging ore feared hot due for three months) two years and was kicked cuts position will continue to” must be linked up through ieaagebasrdph pray bender forme dnd expect to run the Coun- gut as Chair of Education do so regardless of who is Brent Fightback to building | and strikes directed at

Gil by virtue of their control earlier this year for this Leader. etimpaigh amongst. the | prepared te rejoin the Labour Group ander Ren Andersea’s

of Committees. reason. Secondly, they were A majority of Labour Council workforce to | leadership then they must be disowned by Brent Labour The dispute is not simply pot prepared to. accept a Councillors will probably mobilise against and resist | Party and forced to resign.

over who is Leader, but is Leader critical of the cuts, hold. 2 pro-cuts position the cuts and future govern- Clir Graham Durham, Brent

closely tied up with policy on however confusedly. regardless. Simply deciding

Orpington Labour Briefing

Fighting on all fronts

treachery within our move-

We have recently formed Orpington Labour Briefing 28 an act of faith in

and

We have had situations where the Labour Whip has voted against majority Group decisions in the ‘Council chamber; where an EETPU Councillor (masquerading “asa Labour Councillor) "consistently docs everything he can to undermine what — litle Fightback the Group tries to mount; and where Liaison Officers to the Group are ridiculed and insulted by the hard right of the Group when they attend meetings

‘Yes, there is fight Labor let in poli! out

the Borough of Bromley — that often feels isolated from the inner London left and all

We believe that it is time for all socialists to stand up and be counted, and to join together in action to support black people, women, les-

By Gill Collins and

Diane Pate Debbie Fenn unemployed, pega Tat and all those others who are womans ee

in srigsle. Briefing

We have a triple battle on ‘our hands.

worst in the whole of Britain. Also, the four MPs in the Boroush are Tories.

@We have a Labour Group (of ten members) ‘who, forthe most part, never display any teal anget against Bromley’s Tories.

instead, they appear to regard themselves as part of a rather jolly debating socie- {y where, whatever the social havoc wreaked = by ~the Tories, “we're all part of the same" club, aren't we chaps?”

and shareholders, but should be appealing to Orpington’s working class in the same way it appeals to the working class of Liverpool Walton, Bolsover or wherever.

In the General Election our candidate, Steven Cowait, made it clear that he stood ‘for working class rights and on a clearly socialist platform. Subse- ‘quently, our vote rose considerably, with Orpington’s working class, including many sacked printworkers, voting Labour.

We were proud of that campaign, gnd fortunate to

ment must be continually

Unfortunately the Labour Party's inherently bureaucratic structure (ECs, GCs, etc.) makes it nigh im possible fo get main items of 3 campaigning nature on the ‘aeenda. Therefore, we don't intend Orpington “Labour Briefing to be a talking shop!

‘There will be no bureaucracy: just planning what line of action we can {ake with others to support those in struggle, the victims (of Thatcher's Britain and in~ Situtionalised diserimination. Also, we intend to fight for socalism, not

“There are those of us in Orpington

‘@who worked with the sacked. printworkers in the

‘Spellar, we very much doubt that the votes of the exBromley Printworkers Sup- Murdoch —_printworkers Por Group duritg tbe 86/87 would | have. been for ike: Labour! ‘@who support the right of It is becatise we know that black members to speak for we have something. positive themselves in the Party's to contribute towards our Black 3 movement that we have ‘@who believe that the con-. formed this Briefing Group. stituency of the working Obviously we need to join class is a national one which fogether and get feedback includes many living well from other groups, so please below the poverty ie inthe Jet us know about your

ghettoes that salubrious Bromley is not famous for; Orpington Labour Briefjing will be continuing the

‘@and there are many of us who do not believe that the © ~fight against right wing trade unionism — and, believe

Party should adopt different the fight starts here in Bromley!

policies to attract the votes of Orpington’s stockbrokers

London Fights Back

Local campaigns take off

down, thousands face redundancy, and equal opportunities ‘are sacrificed (on the altar of the “balanced” budget, opposition has grown.

£400 million is set to be cut from the budgets of ten London Labour boroughs next spring.

That's the scope of the “caring cuts‘ which Margaret Hodge and her Association of London Authority (ALA) co- ‘thinkers have in store for us.

When — the London Labour Council leaders decided after the general election that they had no option but to stay in office ‘and “‘minimise’” the effects of Tory cuts, they assured everyone that ser vices could 'be defended and equal opportunities maintained.

Now we know the reali

By Davy Jones Secretary, London Fights Back

Broad-based Fightback campaigns have been set up in Brent, Camden, Haringey, Islington, Hackney, Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark. And London Fights Back, the umbrella body set up from a large conference on local goverment held in September, now has the Support of all these local

ty: Camden‘s repatriation campaigns, as well as half of irish — and maybe 2 dozen borough NALGO Bangladeshi — families (a branches, the Innér Lon- “final solution’ to the don Teachers Asséciation, homeless crisis?); vacancy London... Bridge Shop freezes introduced in the Stewards organisation, majority of London Labour and the Broad Lelt boroughs; cuts of up to Organising Committee.

40% in services in some boroughs, and huge rent rises of between £2-5 a week almost everywhere.

‘After initial heated debates in the Council chambers and trade union branches, it was clear that Margaret’ Hodge's no struggle/compliance _ line had won Round One in the local government battle in ‘most areas.

But a6 thé real meaning of the cuts has become The task now in every clear, es servics are shut borough is to spell out the

has Produced 3.000 copies ot iy fst butt, Gone Mamie angie Socal ge el oe ment in London. And it has” called, in conjunction wit) London Bridge, London-wide Day of Ac. tion iyFebrumry next vost, irvaldig local events tach borough, industrial =o. eee Soe ae oe

fora"

if your Labour Party or ‘trade union has pot already affiliated to London Fights Beck. contact: Davy ones, London “Fights Back, c/o 23 Compton Ter. race, London N1. Affiiation casts £10.

Fightback begins on the ground

Ealing, under Labour control since the i986 local elections, is now on the list of Aithoritigs to be rate-capped by the Tories.

‘While Ealing Council has featured prominently in Thatcher's list of “lootiy lefts”, thera has"been little signs of

‘any opposition by members of the Council to the cuts Budget proposed bythe leadership. n fact Ealing must be ique amongst the London rate-capped Councils, as no members of te Labour Group are prepared to take s stand

‘Details of the proposed cuts are not yet available, but it ‘appears that the “gap” in the Councis finances will be some £47 milion — about 23% of the budget

The beginnings of a “fightback” campaign have been ‘established with support from NALGO and NUT activists, ‘along with some community organisations. The first step ig to try and build a core of activists necessary to give the -Sampaige a sound basis. There is also an urgent need to Build support for defence of the manifesto in the Borough's three Labour Parties.

‘The Council has been savaged by the local media and ‘ight wing “‘residents’ groups” organised by Tory MP Harry Greenway, aver its policies — particulary education ‘and Lesbian and Gay Rights.

real meaning of the Tory and Labour cuts in local government jobs and ser-* Vices and to strengthen the ‘campaign of resistance. It also means making London-wide link-ups with other campaigns. *

humiliating defeat in the “marginal”” constituency of Ealing North at the last election. There is no other alternative but to oppose budget cuts in jobs and services in Ealing: but the fight to rebuild morale amongst activists will be

Jong one! Martin Allen, Ealing NUT

London Labour Briefing No. 84 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 3

| __Southwark —_| Hands off

Bermondsey!

The extreme - moderate -

lunatic bureauerats in the ~The "Labour

The Labour Group of

London and National Councillors, meanwhile, is Labour Party offices in pretty deep disarray, but hhave mow staried moves certainly shows signs of « to destroy Bermondsey fightback against hese Labour Party, but they monstrous attacks on the seriously underestimate democratic rights, of Sem ragpen uthwark’'s constituency : port partes enjoys. Recent attempts by ther

make copy for Murdoch rather than build the

fightback against Thatcher,

Regional Office to iropose’ draconian discipline against the minority of Councillors who have been refusing 10 {oe the cuts line was soundly rejected by the Group as a whole. There are Councillors on all sides of

tion of Bermondsey Party the current divides _ in it the putnam of 40 Southwark who face 25 may — surcharge the

well inclade you if you live capping fight. sc Whatever their current

alignment they remember

het eerie how ineffective the “give-in moderately” leadership

nationally and in the GLC were at the time and do not want to see the local Labout , Parties and what they stand! for destroyed. °

OF course the present potential for a. fightback ‘against the government — however limited — is. also central to the witch-hunters attack. If they succeed in Suspending Bermondsey Party and Peckham Party stays suspended, they can impose rightwing replacement Councillors to dof their caps to the government when (if) the surcharge moves against at

if it succeeds, will ensure Simon Hughes stays as Liberal MP for Bermondsey, but then that might be what pedlars of a Lib-Lab pack have in mind.

The pattem of intervention by the Regional Party in Southwark (which comprises Bermondsey, Peckham and Dulwich constituencies) now makes a little more sense. We had the massive summertime _reexposure of the pretty old ‘Nye Bevan Lodge scandal in

Peckham, the suspension of least a dozen current Peckham’ Party (largely Councillors who were concerning its Labour —jnvolved in the rate-cappiny Club), and disciplinary fight succeeds. eg action against Councillors “With Dulwich Party Tony and Anne Goss for carrying the. banner of alleged intimidation in away Socialist sharcholder-

Which was clearly intended bankruptcy, what a meek to associate them and their wwe will alleged. activities with the « miaht even Broad Left/Militant welcome Mrs: T.gnoting to

Now we see “the big one"

Labour loses « yet again

Southfields Labour Ward should be Sf5Ud-of their election campaign, with hundreds of activists giving their support from London and other constituencies over the three weeks of the campaign.

Well, it wasn’t good enough. David Fanthorpe, the ex-worker of Controt Risks (a dubious security firm alleged to be giving Money to the Contras, and known to circulate hit lists of trade tunion activists) was elected on November 18th with a majority of 274 votes.

55% of the voters tumed out, with 2,682 voting Tory and, 2,408 Labour

‘The Liberal vote collapsed. Jeremy Bash had 1,040 votes in, May 1886; he only received 513 this time, making a mockery of statements and leaflets throughout the’ campaign — in par ‘cular his asking for John Gibbs to stand down!

jucation was considered the main issue of the campaign. Labour definitely didn’t get the message across that Wandwort ow rates wilbecome hing ofthe past when the poll tax is introduced.

‘During the past week Thatcher has announced thet the PT” wil be: introduced in one step, except for the 13 London Broughs, including Wandsworth, which willbe able to phase it in, only charging £100 the first year.

Dulwich,

‘more than a single figure in any one year.

“This message was not believed. The crucial question is what parts of the Labour manifesto, worked out diigently during two Conferences two years ago, could have been delivered: with Such a rates policy, when the Group did not know how much money would be made available in the coming years. It's common knowlege that the Wandsworth Tories are currently secking ways to find savings of £4.5 milion.

Tk was a good campaign, but socialist policies were not of ered. Saying that you wil Only raise the Council rents by what the national Tory government.demand is not very satisfactory to those who pay the second highest Council rents in the country

T's very similar to having a lovely campaign orchestrated by ‘Brian Gould earlier this year; no one liked the product.

‘Kathy Pick, Tooting Councilor, Wandsworth Labour Group

London Labour Briefing No. 84 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 4

On November 16th, hundreds of local people demonstrated outside Camden Town Hall against the Council's policy for repatriating homeless Irish people.

irish groups, Black groups, women’s organisations. trade untonists and Labour Party members voiced their outrage at the latest move by the cutting Camden leadership

“They were addressed by Labour Councillors opposing tho tepatiation policy, but. their requests. for = oputation to the Labour Group meeting were denied by the Council leadership. They. placed the issue at the bottom of the agenda, beneath proposals for ociplining the anti-cuts Councilors ‘which the leadership apparently considers amore pre

“Tha whole affair shows the abysmal depths to which Labour Councils. will sink once they abandon the

ple of no cuts in jobs or services

When. the Group. meeting finally “considered the patriation question, Council Leader Tony Dykes and jousing Chair Gareth Smyth defended the policy but fefused to discuss any of the individual cases — nine of ‘hich had been condemned by the Camden Law Centre 2s racist and arbitrary applications of Council policy.

Councilors Kate Allen and Angela Birtil moved 2 resolution calling on the leadership to reverse current policies towards the homeless and to. issue “an Famediate statement to the effect that no members of our community will be subjected to what amounts to forced repatriation.

‘They pointed out that the repatriation scandal was

fest and most objectionable move in 3

Camden's Immigration Act

Repatriation scandal

campaign against the homeless waged by the Council Leadership since the cuts began in June. The suspension of workers in the Homeless Persons Unit, the bed and breakfast scandal, the attacks on Irish people by Labour Councillors, the policy of one-offer- ‘only to homeless people. and of course the severe ‘across-the-board cutbacks in the housing service as a ‘whole — all prepared the ground for Camden to impose its own version of the Immigration Act. “The left Councillors called on Smyth to resign.

By MARK SEATON

He was also attacked by several Councillors who have previously supported the cuts policy. Nonetheless the Leadership's resolution reaffirming the policy was passed with only the eleven left wing “Manifesto Councillors” voting against.

“Smyth spoke as though Ireland, where homeless families are being repatriated. is nothing more than a British colony, with the same laws, the same economic ‘and social conditions, and teh same government." said Councillor Angela Birt, “It is an embarrassment to Belong to the same party as such a person.”

“AS a Labour Councillor representing Kilburn, which hhas one of the largest Irish communities in the country, | ‘am appalled at the racist policies being put into practice by Camden. Both myssif and the other Manifesto Councillors are going to continue the fight against these policies, and we would urge everyone in the Borough to join with us against repatriation.”

Reassuring noises cover up

retreat

“There is a tendency in our Individual boroughs as we try (0 cope with budget crises of being dragged to the right.””

1 don’t often agree with Margaret Hodge, but that statement, included in her pening remarks to a recent ‘Association of London ‘Authorities “strategy” meeting, was the most hhonest remark of the day. Fletcher's ideas were a D100

Having decided after the elee- reactionary for some leaders, tion that the only strategy for but the shift tothe right Labour boroughs was to ante amongst most of them is such On to power-at any pri, the thar Chris Humphreys. from Borough Leaders came together NUPE (nat renowned for being for an alleday” session on on the hard left) was Forced to November 18th to give each Spell out the historic relation ‘ther moral support in the face ship between trade unions and

declaration of interests on all members. Presumably he thinks ther Party members. will De Shocked to discover that the comrade speaking against ILEA's compulsory redeploy teat policy happens 10 be 2 teacher of that the NUPE Selegate works for the Council

By Cllr Joan Twelves Lambeth

of opponents who have the the Party heck to demand they stick to He reminded the leaders that their manfestos. conflicts between ocal

‘One workshop actually con- authorities and. their tra luded that the main role of the unions have always, be ‘ALA. should be 10 provide a discussed by Party Branches and ‘eluge for tired and harassed that, whatever deals might be Teaders—akind of mutual sup- itched up at the moment to port newark! Keep them in poyer, NUPE "The purpose of the mecting would sill be pressing for conwas to discuss the prospects for Solidation. of bonus, low pay Tondon Labour Jocal govert- deals, ete. Infact, you could say ment over he next wo Or three Humphreys was using a Party years and develop a strategy to meeting as a negotiating forum? Seal with the government’snext "The ALA Labour Group Onslaught; bot the workshops needs to develop a strategy 10 ‘only epitomised the bankruptcy deal wich the” government’s fof the current London leader- plans on poll tax, housing Ships. They couldn't even education apd privatisation. Bul bother to diseuss polities! the future plans can't be divore: Tt never takes long at ALA od from the government's cur Labour Group. mectings for fent atatcks on local authority Giscussion 10 turn to slagging finance: ‘Off the trade unions. The whole By implementing Tory cuts, Shternoon plenary was devoted the borough leaders have fe this pastime, with Glenys demonstrated that, atthe end of ‘Thortton, Chair of the London the day, however much noise Party, starting the ball rolling they make, they will comply by stating that Party meetings with each and. every bit of Shouldn't be used as negotiating government legislation in order forums by local authorty Trade 19 stay in power — and end up Unionists presiding over 2 wasteland of ILEA Leader Neil Fletcher Sum housing, poverty, and coulda’t resist the temptation to unemployment, with nothing to Gevelop the theme. He proposed do but collect the poll tax and that the Labour Party impose a issue contracts to peivate firms

Chesterfield comes to Haringey: reportback & discussion of Socialist Conference Saturday December 5th, 7-30pm, Black Women’s Centre, Lordship Lane, N17.

Followed by Disco (with bar) tll late £3 waged, £1.50 unwaged ‘All welcome

East Lewisham Labour Party ‘Alternative Xmas Fayre Sat Dec 12th 12-3. Lewisham Labour Club, Limes Grove, SE13 Stalls from CND, Anti-Apartheid, Nicaragua Solidarity, Chile Solidarity, tormbola, bar, bookstall

RESISTANCE NOT SURRENDER!

Thatcher has declared war on the inner cities — London in particular. What should Labour's response be?

‘Should we bury our heads in the sand? Should we blame it all on those “loony lefties”? Should we ignore workers and tenants fighting to defend their living stendards and just listen to the yuppie brigade telling ‘US what policies would best suit them?

That's what some people would like us to do.

‘The London Labour Party is holding a special conference in December to discuss its strategy. The real purpose of the conference is to scapegoat the left for the general election defeat and to lay the basis for capitulation to the Tories — the “new realism”. There will be a meeting the weekend before to discuss the London Labour Left's alternative — a fighting

ative based on:

policies for London

‘® support for all those in struggle ‘@ opposition to witch-hunts.

Sunday December 6th 2.30-5.30 Lambeth Town Hail

‘Speakers are being invited from anti-cuts campaigns. trade union struggies. etc. There will be discussion on ‘what our alternative strategy should be and how we win back the London Labour Party to socialist policies. The meeting has been called by the following members of the Regions! Executive: Jeremy Corbya MP. Nadine Finch, Joan “Twelves, Serah Roslols, Pau! Moore, Dave Holland. Phone 582 2955 for creche facilities

Homsey Vale Labour Party Public Meeting Say yes to schools, housing, childcare, jobs and services! Say no to the cuts! ‘Thursday Nov 26th 8-10pm ‘Jeremy Corbyn MP. Local Democracy Under Threat ir Steve King What's happening in Hornsey Vale? ‘Mandy Mudd Haringey Fights Back! — How we can defend jobs and improve services Plus speakers from local community groups and Council workers on how the cuts will affect you — and What you can do to stop them and improve Services in Haringey,

Haringey Council By-election

Briefing supporter Richard Hetfernan will be contesting 2 Horingey by clacton on December 17th — im the teurrently| ‘Tory hed ward of Fortis Green.

Despite attempts by lors! right wingers to ensure the selection (of 8 pro-cuts candidate, Richard managed to scrape on to the by-election panel — and was then decisively endorsed as 2 ‘candidate by his local branch members.

Richard is pledged to oppose aif cuts in jobs and services. Help in canvassing and leafletting is urgently required: meet every ‘weekday evening at 72 Coniston Road.

KING’S CROSS

Continued from front page

At King’s Cross, the staff complement had been cut to 10, and only 2 cleaning workers remained. Ticket barriers were switched around, causing confusion over station layout. Staff complaints were ignored.

Union representatives have repeatedly asked management for details of fire procedures; for example, the provision of fire notices or assembly point directions for passengers. All the requests were “noted”. Fire practices on stations are unknown and there are no signs for the public on how to react to a fire.

instead, London Underground has been searching for ways to make a further £4.5m of cuts. The Underground's official bulletin, Tube Line, revealed i this month, that:

“The Company cannot always rely on extra revenue and the Director considers it important that the ‘Company shows its owners and paymasters it can keep proper control of spending.”

Standards of safety have been lowered throughout the Underground. Health and safety representatives have faced constant resistance to the full use of their powers under:the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act. Cost underlies LRT's safety policy, so does the pressure to keep services running.

LRT has set out to restructure the whole workforce by enforcing tighter discipline; introducing redundancy and raising productivity and job intensification. One-Person-Operation, for example, is just one aspect of job intensification which is causing serious health problems, low morale and high staff turnover.

Awareness of this crisis within the industry has been growing, particularly as staff and public have reacted to incidents of violence and to the dangers and discomforts of One-Person-Operated tubes and buses.

Problems of overcrowding at interchange stations and falling levels of service on the Northern, Metropolitan and Central lines have added to this crisis.

The government will now move to patch up the damage done to the capital's transport system. LRT plan to rush in £9 million of safety work at high risk stations, Nevertheless, many tube workers have quickly grasped the fact that King’s Cross has changed things overnight. Tube workers are acutely conscious of the underlying deep crisis on the system. The fuse that lit the fire leads back to the LRT Board, and its “‘spiv” accountant management.

The unions on the Underground now face the challenge of organising a campaign for safety, @ campaign which would include:

‘an immediate halt to one person operatior station and cleaning staff cuts;

@a full programme of safety measures;

health and safety audit of all workplaces on London’s Underground.

‘A public campaign initiated by the unions would show that transport workers are prepaied to act for the welfare and needs of passengers. The first

in this campaign were made ironically by British Rail workers who gave out leaflets warning of safety problems on the day of the fire.

The Education _ Bill contains a — whole section devoted to, the Inner London Education

By STEVE COWAN

boroughs. This Clause in particular has to be fought

Authority. against by the education There are the long- trade unions. expected ‘provisions In the next two years,

LEA will be subject to severe constraints. on its freedom to purchase goads and services and to dispose of and acquire property. Any item of spending exceding £15,000 ~ yes, £15,000

enabling Tory controlled Borough Councils to apply to the Secretary of State to take control of the educational services which fall in their areas,

‘As expected, there are no clauses requiring these Borough Councils to — will require the consent conduct consultations. of the Secretary of State.

Clearly this will be the Most startling of all area where constructive though is the inclusion of amendments will be clause which gives the Sought in both the Secretary of State the Commons and the House power to dissolve the of Lords, ILEA, should eight.

Teachers and support boroughs decide to opt staffs will be alarmed to out. fead the powers the This clause reveals once Secretary of State gives to again the long term himself to order the intentions. of -_ this transfer of ILEA workers to government to._abolish the opting-out London LEA.