London Labour Briefing no. 85

The Labour Group on Camden Council is carrying out Tory cuts right across the Borough.

Cuts of 20% in services and 2,500 posts are to jemented this financial year.

The scale of this attack has meant that the workforce and community has only one option facing it sting the cuts to fight off redundancies and defend service:

Since July, NALGO — the largest union with 5,500 members — has had a policy of no co-operation with cuts and opposition to voluntary and compulsory redundancies. This policy was won by a two to one majority at a 2,500 strong mass meeting.

Given the scale of the task confronting NALGO, in Camden and across London, it has found it difficult to convince its membership to stick to the policy. Nevertheless, at its AGM in November, it maintained its opposition to cuts, although. it agreed to negotiate restructuring and redeployment arrangements.

Those proposing co-operation with the cuts — except for those leading to compulsory redundan were able to muster only 15 votes out of 800 at the NALGO AGM.

By Labour Briefing supporters in Camden NUPE and NALGO

The vote indicates that NALGO members are not yet prepared to escalate their non-co-oper ito an allout confrontation with the Labour Group. Indeed, members in the Housing Department voted 300 to 50

out strike.

Nevertheless, there have been victories:

‘residential workers in mentally handicapped homes won 75% of a regrading claim after a 6 week strike;

‘@workers in Central Estates Management won the right for a temporary worker to apply for her post;

and there was an 80% turnout on a one-day strike on October 29th.

However, temporary staff across the Council have ‘not had their contracts renewed as shops have been reluctant to take action. The branch executive, despite a good policy, has not yet taken the lead necessary for shops and departments to take action, and cuts have taken place.

NALGO has received the backing of UCATT in its fight, but NUPE has adopted a policy of critical cooperation in the hope of saving its members jobs at the expense of NALGO members. A NUPE meeting in July voted six to one to co-operate with cuts.

But as cuts have hit front line services hard, manual jobs have been at risk. This has opened the eyes of NUPE members. There have been local official disputes; and at the last NUPE meeting the majority for co-operation was reduced to three to one.

The devastating attack on services has also led to large and angry meetings in the community. meeting of 250 furious parents met to denounce the loss of 350 nursery places and the introduction of charges;

nts in Chalk Farm harangued the Labour Councillor who was justifying the closure of their local

In Kilburn, 200 tenants denounced the Councits abandonment of any repairs — even those that it is

(Camden Labour Briefing joins the march on December 5t

MARCHING

AGAINST

THE CUTS!

legally obliged to carry out — except those necessary to prevent a dangerous health risk.

‘The campaign against the cuts is being co-ordinated by a Voluntary Organisations Committee, and a Council Workers Campaign. In the run-up to organising the demonstration on December 5th, these meetings have been merged and opened up to all those locally who are prepared to build the demo.

Unfortunately, this has been abused by the SWP who suddenly turned up and insisted that they should have

a speaker on the platform of the rally.

To give the Anti-Cuts Campaign authority, a new committee will have to be rebuilt on the basis of delegations from local organisations.

The size of Council union and local community meetings indicate that people are prepared to fight back. But there is still a big gap between an acceptance of the necessity of a fightback and the confidence to take action. London wide actions will help to bridge this gap.

PHOTO: Leesa Herbert

London Labour Briefing No. 85 December 1987 page 2

Borough round-up

Haringey

The Labour Group scab on the | 9° Close workers in Lewisham

Group's cuts policy don marginals in a general

December 0th sees the @The os of hundreds of Disabilis side ihe’ Civic Cemié for that | squeezed through Glection! “Unless. the’ Party Haringey Labour Parties. _‘cachine posts. the deste of The closure Sening in the hope ‘Sat he | Lewisham’s Borough reverses ts eurrent potas = ‘och: parhiegeaiomyy » ees government until at least

Take some uiference | Conference. eS

people who have, inthe past, | If just one more branch ‘ts ie any wonder that the faised their hands all oo easily | had been mandated to op- is losing support when n support of policies which do | pose cuts, we would have = faced with a

fot affect ther won. challenge it backs sway and

Group voting on a new ding for repairs, equipment cuits package for the books. and special news 88/89 financial year.

@ The closure of four librare Coming on top of the £15 fou, eyes chenns Boes

million cits already pushed communis’ cones two os ae cas Et Counciion. crzanis. | "The conference then attacks its own supporters through, the new package — ming baths, and 3 host of oth “ Lees “ — Cus, have been. speaking to | proceeded to stand on its We (en Pass alte rescore represenis a frightening at- asics jaringey Labour ion and ‘comments | head and support motions We "Ke; if we refune to back fark on the borough's work. @Clossre of residential and Briefing fsoups and are winnine creas. | against cuts in the Library ya"yeten om, poutieg, srton img people which muse be shorsiay homes for chien, Sew port for, thet Serehe; ard 00 somenowa: oe gene uae resisted at all costs. the elderly, end ple with eee ieciee a e They are now being make housing and working capitalism, we will be seen 35.

‘disabilities nes

(@ Further increases in chars for day centres, and the end ol rants or the elderly

The proposals include (@A further rent rise for Cox ciltenants (the third in less than holiday

The toss of chousands of “eThe virtual break-up of che on December 10 Keurig exCouncl Leader | BY Cllr Pat Waylett ore bine coe jobs. including “compulsory “Strategie” uni Race "Haringey Fiahis Back!, the Steve King and local Counc | Hither Green Labour 270" defeat atone Con, feduindancies, in -all Equality, Women’s, Lesbian local _anti-cuts campaign, Craig Brewin, Mandy Mudd | Party branch delegate Amore: then she wteaieands oF

ee connie Tinen votedToreresouiion Geleats over the years, car

Socialism Every individual cut will be

playgroups, to reaffirm the commitment 10 Tenanis, equal opportunities, despite the fact that the Council had

Pe ; siready refused to urd a Les, opppeed, in. the Panty. she | : bs | bien and Gay consultation @ny__Lewisham Fightback will con | Hornsey Wate teing teaten: | ending of intaror pri agen ge ea

ed with as yet unspecified | for peopie with disabilities, Manele. Teachers are | after supporting a hard line < Guts motion ate worthiess. I" matter of regret that

balloting for industrial action 2+ th ices ome siege ter

We won’t let the

Herbert Morrison once Local Government Commit. ‘Whereas beenin te past s | in chikicare staged s weakend | Oe to insulate "some. areas ~ _ that socialism is tee Chair Martin Plaut, 2 sup- tradition in Camden of fighting | Gemonstration. One hundred | {rom that attack unless itis at POF change anything:

tinue to build allances with a those who want to fight.

sa government does. foetsurm ia resiet, but anys tenants’ ront sere ay St Pan- | (HEM Single mothers, Bescon! | 7. rest believe that much more racist measures.” stood by the tenants were ex % Tories by supporting a few paaies for Rasietonice eo. Se he Delled from the Labour Party. | “#5,0.bechopned. less platitudes at the with 2 speaker from London Socialism, for them, is So now. it appears, there are 'Y, | _Up and down the borough, | meaningless platitudes s+ the Fightback and reports from

degrees of racism: and ant. Now the Labour Gr

1D 5 | people arc sctting organised and | 52m€ time, different sectors in Lewisham

what @ Labour Council Facet commitment ike al our Preparing to do the same. by | P reiovety is fightening oss under 8 Tory;govern- other ‘nlcies’ are. only removing: the whip (rom thy 4 {atime Seton hoa discs male Oe ae "es dan 12th, pm ment: attacking the local felatve Monifesto Councilors mined | sions ‘being taken by Labour epttord Town Hall working class and in- As the Labour Group. ana | fimied, resouress, Councils in London’ we wil few Cross Road Woducing racist measures. By Fred Leplat the Kinngck supporters inthe | emely sieerc sroups lore many’ Coun seats

Sitlar ie paren: lobes nig priefing (Ocal, Labour Party. attack | (oan Snes oer ‘nd control of some

coumtnon steed for sterion Camden Labour Briefimg sociaisis ‘and the working | iocallaton: movencnt Councis, We are _ then

tlass, they abandon ‘yr in May 1986, they did 0 on thetesisofemanieste which Forthe Council workers and Maing ides that sociale is

romisedne Tory cuts evenit community there is Sttle dif- about a new type of society Komeant “conflet wih’ the ference between the Labour They, now no longer even Jovemment, They. therefore Group end the Tories itis only pretend that ‘capitalsm can fed to the electors about their 8 question of degree. ‘Gradually be reformed: fis 2 5 = intentions {he only lternetive Is to question of remeining in office NOW they are fying about fight back in Camden and and managing capitakem. a in on [3] I mn ntons "o'Saaens across London. Theale ofthe Those: the labour move

ment who have twined their

either the Labour Party or the Manifesto. Gorup of Coun. x Gllors is fo facintate the Coun backs on the working class

land services and equal oppor. Privatisation. tunities. The massive package

of cuts, 20% in services and 2,800 jobs, is being pushed L AM BETH ‘rough the Labour Party by

By Paula Watson Tory-dominated _ West- : : earn ire else Cay Comma, Westmiosien Goat Co eres maar ie eer

following Margaret That- Soy so uiificall tha he hav against designated sales; and bulving end verbal abvse of cher’'s method of in- sken cary reirement igbbies at bath meetings of the ear timidating all those who The Tory Council is using Council and the Housing Com:

for redundancy or retirement, through the police and the Chesler “House in Victoria, les seent to be a bit unnerved

and is quoting the Tory” ant courts, This started shen the tenants ‘are required 10 sign a” bY cofslant picketing and the urn Jaws "to sabotage | Lambeth Against Alon has been holding weekly meetings for | Police wee used fo break up.a Contact stipulating that they invasionet their offices by “The Latour Group's oniy | Nesenace erected wide mpresenration form pro-chomse sop: | Ice by arresting from the public: {9'30pm. Raita woman answer to the i" in the | frase have atactods allety four’ NUPE "shop "it provides for the street door Workers agianst the Cuts s on Manitesto, Group of Coun. Tine groups organises weekly pevtioning and leafleting in | stewards, whe are all aciiists tobeiocketarthesametme,so 1g ils campaign against Gillors who oppose the cuts's | ,f/te OURS organises weekly peitionng and leaflet Against the Council's privatise that the many tenants who do privatisation, despite. the. vi that they should remain in of- | iver vere cessful eventorgertseseotarfas teen a pubic | tion plans, and five Labour por have a key to the outside timbation of ts leading ae fice to protect the working | meeting caled by Vauxhall Women's Section and sponeores | Councillor, Cannot gt in or out tivis, who are still inthe class against the worstetfects | Tornoe wu tambem Agomst Artovand Vauntial’ snd Nowwood | Since then a mar of attrition ““Coustil officers have Keys to forefront of the strugale. of the cuts. To do anyining | pug buls Dy ta has been waged against the nine. all the las, which they use, With the help of Westminster else, they boliove, would beto | “The noeuing was attended by about 100 people who heard | After two appearances at the without warning or even knock North Labour Party they. are hand over power to the Tories. | a 'mchandsaw repon the growing opposison'te Aiton amongst | magitiacs cour, carcully ing, ‘barging in. om the. oc. Producing leaflet explanning For Group Leader Tony | | abour MPs. It appears that all London Labour MPs are now | spaced to provide the maximum — cupants, many of them women the facts on privatisation to be Dykes, being in office is the | committed to vote aganst Alton rain and anxiety. the five Gatheir own oc with children, distributed to | the | Council ese tee ox tas tx power | Copa wets visas lion, ssicacaeorim | Comcmorsiec howcomen’ Senna GAG eesti’ ito mucklorce oho"bure Bern cork

From pie ig canning: | campaign needed. Linda Bellos, whilst stressing the need of all | ted for trial next February, with old that they risk jeopardising sistently misled by union Camden Labour rieting warn: | omer to contol thor own ferulty, outinad some of ne | the hearings carefully artanged ther chances of moving to bets aes fd that cuts, however seat, |, women {2 control ther own fertility, outined = insochva way that iW willbe Gif-— eraccommodation. Some disorzanisation is even wore in essence anti-working ficult for them to appearineach "Despite the initimidation'the becoming apparent in the Tor wae i eceance griortng | Other speakers wore Chr Jean Twoiver, hom tambein | ‘ul (rth = Despite the imidtion the becoming apparent in the Tox wehad power as a Counci: 28 | \chom spoke of their personal experiancos of abortion | The four shop stewards have “Tenants in Chester House are play unhappy at the strength Iwas really the Tories andthe | ““Tsmbeth Against Alton ie also sponsoring a picket of Wiliam | Beem subjecied t0 pressute at beginning to organise and a will Of the oppostion, Gity ‘banks dictating t0 the | creion's suger, Shelton Conseaatac MPforstrcatnom > | NOH. All” ate Coupcll [S'resn'is cmerging. Tenants The “dreadful Lady Porter

Labour Group,

"This is now confimed by the racist ‘measures adopted by the LGC to repatriate trish

ployees and have been up on fealise that their chances of ever rose from hospital bed to fight ‘iciplinary charges. They be sacked at any mor

So. great has

wellknown 98 Life" supporter ‘Our next major focus will be 2 South London demonstration

to be held on January 16th at Clapham Common, 12 noon. Fi

ther details and publicity can be obtained from: Juliet (677

being rehoused are growing in- off an atlempt to dislodge her at creasingly slim in the face of the from the leadership, The attack strain Councils policy of selling off failed for now, but there. is

people, and possibly other na : become that three of them have or : 7 auch grumbling in the rank:

7288); Joan (582 2955); or write to the S. London Women's | Pecome that three of them have more and more of its property grumbling. in the ranks HonBl groups, to reduce the | Conire, 55 Acre Lene, SW2. | chosen 10 pay fines rat Mectings ure being held and Affer all, they only have a ma (es soca Anne Porter | let, their cases go 10 court. contact has been made with the jority of three, and this could

(ees Indeed onc has found his posi: Labour Group, easily be lost next time round.

London Labour Briefing No. 85 December 1987 page 3

GLLP Conference

GLLP London Labour Party condon tabour Party

Conference

rules socialism out of order! srieting Fringe Meeting

A resolution from Ham- I Despite the efforts of Stan- ry Ashton, the

ial Conference on seek 10 amend A Plan io Win, A Plan to Win and almost alt how to shut down Bermondsey YLEA Labour Speakers:

grounds that it is not rele- seck io. negate. revious dec

The contentious resolu- sion or advance notice under the : aniving with Nei

imimetistey tno ato: Wspowetogan'nitslsnghy te “Shel ae acne Sharon Atki don Labour Party policies.”” ale s0 elzacs ty 4361 eens and eakn 4 ae Aone footie; Se,women ove fe Boao im cube ie ae attoconann_ | Jeremy Corbyn MP

resolutions, Hammersmith’s *®@48 simple plea has been ruled — previctabieis tha ‘ut of order by the Standing Sud block votes of th

hich is. ed'vo hide from the fact that the Management“ Commirtce

st vion Tota aee'Cagng wat On the ceoplas to completes Reps Joan Twelves

ree people of London — especially of Interests. showing. whether

ae RENE peace are NEEDS SOR tania SRN Nadine Finch Meecha Swear Suns “et “aea™ ce awe Coe aalgteans SUPE the a a Steve King ee ee eee ee eee! REDE TOW na

Sanding Orders could well The reluiion of the wade teinker SED deinen | THIS oe toa Ham have some difiufy expaining wnion section from 160 lz wil! the Ladera of We Londen mesamtits oine te hate to Walworth Road

the feasons for their decisions to allow more than half of those Party is more concerned with wait a while Tor socialism (0

Fe eee | Bees oe Soar oe ae er 12.30 pm Shinn ropes fe eeumes! Gerace | Sunday December ce: m = LCC: the main A Plan to Win? P 4 This Conference comes at Gq; Frank Hansen | Labour Party has By Kate Allen indicated that thei first move represented under the mass. an important time in the Brent presented the Hackney North CLP —— be to terminate eS the London labour move- even worse attacks on the | Labour's fightback in elected for a thid term. has escalated due to Labour Hackney locum cover for ment, ticularly at local very people who put Labour | the capital. Margaret Hodge, Leader of boroughs reneging on their maternity leave has been cut massive cuts in jobs and cess, these concessions to | Councils stay in office. admitted that the threatened persons unit and its new in other Labour boroughs:

services ‘Thatcherism will only pave | defend and even create ‘areas such as catering and policy of repatriation of Irish the closure of nurseries and is that Thatcher is so power- futility of trying to combar | budgeting. considerations in preparetion minority people ere subject to London Labour Party is,

| London is so demoralised down reformist politics bas- a firm commitment to the Council's freedom to controls. commitment to Equal

| that we have no alternative ed on the middleclass. Equal Opportunities popes oth Aca Vicrkersiwto tied cary. Onportuntes a eoanduy butto implement “‘humane" In contrast Labour was | although this of course is ®artheid. gut Coun policy and ofr and seperate om cuts in order to stave off the swept to power in many | dependent on the “over ode offered no strategy cent serve are now emg armpagng to min lectins nationally. left, with their policy of cuts | commitments they were in Islington to suppress any spending increases in this. ‘communities, and this should 1985, is now finally at an there is a will to fight the | jepresented in offices of recommended genenc job GCs have passed resolutions Tones. sion, the economic calamity and it is on this basis that | anuuue t-dofers thee” wh ten shoss ata Structnes, A daft feport on by opposing al cuts Sad facing Labour Councils will Thatcherism can be | action women, children, temporary and relief stat. recommended the abolition of supporting the London.

London Lobour Briefing No. 8S December 1987 page 4

Left councillors disgust

Eight _ senior Labour Councillors, including the Chief ‘Whip, have resigned their positions in disgust at Lambeth Council's £60 million spending cuts and have

resign in

worse service; that the people of Lambeth need more and betier services, not less, and that Linda Bellos is playing into the hands of the Tory govern: ment by making the cuts for them.

Part of the government's attack on local people.” The resignations come as the Labour Couneil embarks on a second round of cuts to close a £60 million gap caused by govern: Ment’s spending restric

the people of Lambeth. The Councillors who have resigned their positons are: Joan Twelves, Chief Whip Julian Lewis, Deputy Whip, Chair Police Committee, Vice Chair

galled on Council tions. Recruitment has “Everyone knows the Construction Services Leader, Linda Bellos, to already been frozen, with next step is compulsory Steve French, Chair do the same. the aim of cutting the redundancy — and with Construction Services

Council's workforce by a one in four unemployed fifth, and rents will be go. the _last thing Lambeth elected as Leader to make jit". end rents. in needs is, more people on es carcteeeereen, RGR DY a leant £2.50in each 6 more patel Said. “She is fgnoring the rade are at Gsingst wishes of the local Labour * iui inament ae. hehe. Parties and breaking the former Chief Whip, Joan Promises she made to the But with £16 milion stil Twelves. "We will remain People of Lambeth solely 10 be found, jobs will in- as. Councillors, workin fo hold on to power at all ovitably be cut back even with the trade unions, the costs. further, with staff being community, tenants "and forcibly redeployed into the lacal Labour Parties to priority” areas. The. fight these cuts, to protect Councillors who oppose our services, and to build the cuts argue that tenants opposition to all the will be paying more for a _ government's attacks “on

Greg Tucker, Chair Economic Activity & Employment

Alison Higgs, Chair of Health & Consumer Services

Jonathan Oppenheimer, Vice Chair Health & Consumer Services, Chair Norwood District Housing Jobn Harrison, Vice Chair Social Services

Bill Houghting, Chair Brixton District Housing Committee

“Linda Belles was not

We are no longer prepared to remain part of an Administration which is destroying services and making staff redundant as

Who’s

Does Camden’s ruling Labour Group want to

next for the chop?

tad stated they were unable to Provide accommodation

unites and resutts in forced the section are repatenation, re-open and have

medal istoct ftces to bay tha Camden wil one ay "be made wale for London oroass and Brigg Slop operating new acia (S¢,(M¢ loner Hamlet High them courcon hin” Cates criteria in the assessment of Sot presumably ie ihe oe “Ciaye ocher London homeless applicants. households tionally sf Boroughs are closely monitorTheirony of the Homeless homeless The relentless attack on the ing the situation in Camden Persons Section — that i homeless has been waged” with a view to adopting their has been closed to the public. By Fram Mason Hongside an attack on wo ‘own harsher ‘polices towards since April — should need HIPU steward inthe Homeless Persons Sec. “the” hombies A” ‘Labour she Nate tion. The unions. have. miade authority, formerly Comyited ena sorawragt sidance, Setter” systems and homelets, sanpor be allowed to pay: eee i ilippines.as he has with the such as hotel occupancy checks. vices to the homeless across Labour Group has resulted p23? Sears 7 Sigs one Bape he in the effectual deportation "Np if che Chair of Housing Ghose 10. Go. “Camndef must reconsider its Of homeless irish people. is seriou about not using Ibe Cee Sn ew panera ee Camden's reponsibiliy went io why Ras he not yet made deci edn the pees because of alle Ghcarded, The Labour Gloup Goumty Sligo to show relatives Sion on thee canes, which were ed irreglaries™ was elected on its manifesto to. Camden to discover the oF November? 3 act as the homekss, ethme hotel booking had been cancel" AKRough: the leadeiship of 5 aed. women,

If not, they should im-

Will he then be providing avelwarrants_for ‘thera 10

Ashton own goal (again!)

PAUL FOLEY spoke to JOHN BRYAN Labour candidate for Bermondsey in the 1987 General Election.

report to the Notional Executive Com recommending the sapension of Soxifwark jermondsev Labour Party and 10-40 Party i We note that this report was prepared secretir and behind the back of the Party, without any 10 Party officers. oF

ody. So Jar the Par

Brother Ashion

Although Ashcon’s report has fice of Bermondsey CLP Bermondsey CLP is cur- John Bryan knew of the report rently Facing the threat of ashen ne wae conecied by 2

Suspension and expulsion "eporer com the Sourh Lon

Of 40 of its most active “C\ter ottcers of Bermond the Bisse been allowed @ copy members. so CLP. comtacted Terry o Labour in Londo of this report, although infor The fist includes John Asston fox a copy, they were ‘mation in the report appears £0

eve foes sapped 0 the pa

Apparentiy the NEC could suspend the Party and expel 20 With the Alliance in. total — members without the Party see disarray, Bermondsey CLP is ing she evidence.

told to find out about i is the newspaper,

fe When asked if the repor hhad_gone tothe GLLP Ex cutive, Astton replied that he

Bryan, the Labour candidate o_. os for Bermondsey in the General Election

The source of the threat

a secret report prepared by ay “employed by. Walwort” OWSEd 10 recapture The seat for =e is opposed 10 Terry Ashton, General Road, and answerable only to Labour. The last thing they suspension and’ 10 any expt Bee oie cer nes a Terry Ashton own Sions arising Jrom the report,

and cols on the NEC 10 rejet ft

the Labour Party NEC on Bermondsey CLP will probably

shton: thanking. hie for “his “tremendous efforts. jn’ the general election campaign’ The letter goes on 10 describe Bermondsey asa successful campaign” and” ends with

owing Walworth Road, London SEU.

Messages of" support and

shouldbe sent 10:

fey Labour Party

Defence Fund, c/o 91 Mina Road, London SE17 208.

dishonesty and blatant supporers to disregard of democratic __ motion of protest procedures This is outraged at ‘One can only surmise that the decision of Terry Ashton Bermondsey CLP is being General Secretary of the Greater punished for its consistent cam-= Londom Labour Party 10 sen.

he f

HACKNEY OFFICERS NUPE Greetings to London's Labour Conference No cuts in jobs! Save public services! Defy the government!

Islington North’s MP. JEREMY CORBYN

and his agent

KEITH VENESS

Send greetings to GLLP Conference and demand:

JUSTICE FOR PENSIONERS!

Abolish standing charges now!