London Labour Briefing no. 86

LEWISHAM’S

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

The spirit of Scrooge is alive and well in Lewisham.

efore Christmas 11 workers in the Department were sacked. All were classified as temporary workers, despite the fact that some had been in post for over a year and proper procedures for temporary workers, in reviewing contracts every three months, had not been followed.

Until this time there hadn't been any real fight from the unions against the massive job losses proposed in Lewisham. When those abstract figures — real, the anger of union members was obvious.

By PAT WAYLETT Lewisham Councillor

in getting the issue onto the forcing the Group to hear a NALGO {Sbour Party member speaking on behalf of the sacked workers.

‘The fact that seven out of 11 wor swelled the numbers of Councillors the sackings, but every attempt to rei workers or even delay the sackings until equal opportunities implications were investigated, was narrowly defeated.

Dave Sullivan, the Leader of Lewisham Council, even had the gall to claim that the fact that the majority of sacked workers were black demonstrated = , Mreciesaes ‘of Lewisham’s equal opportunities

’.

These sackings have finally stripped any pretence of a “bottom line” away from the leadership. For months they have been telling the unions and the Labour Party that making the cuts was the only way te avoid compulsory redundancies. Indeed, this argument created the small majority at the Lawiahaen Local Government Conference in favour of

pe gv publicly retracted that commitment at the last Labour Group meeting and stated that there was now ‘‘a very slim chance” of avoiding compulsory redundancies. ‘Opposition is growing daily. The tast rent increase was voted down in Housing Committee by 2 combination of Labour Councillors and tenants, with cynical support from the Tories. Later, it was reinstated by Policy and Resources Committee. ‘As the opposition grows the right's answer is to remove any dissenting voice from policy discussions. John Lansman and Tony Link have been sacked as Group Officers. Those voting against the rent increases have been asked to resign from the Housing Committee. ‘At least 15 Councillors have new been subject to disciplinary action. They may even attempt te expe! some from the Labour Group. Unable to answer the political questions raised, they emulate Thatcher and remove people from discussion.

‘The main fight will now be from the Unions, tenants, and ‘rank and file Labour Party members. Councillors are just ‘the expression of that fight within the Group.

__ The right’s attempt to isolate us in the Group rasts with their own isolation from the

(Cops bar the entrance to the Civic Centre

The battle over the cuts in Haringey became further embittered in the weeks before Christmas, when the right wing Council

Councillors, having failed to give majority support to | any a ea ee a adjourned the

LABOUR RIGHT SET TORY COPS ON US

meeting until January 18th.

By then Harris will have stitched up a ith the Tories which will ensure his savage attack on jobs and services becomes Council policy.

By MIKE MARQUSEE Haringey Labour Briefing

‘The 14 Councillors whose socialist courage and discipline succeeded in halting the cuts juggernaut, at least for the time being, are: Ron Blanchard, Craig Brewin, Davina Cooper, Pauline Crossan, Peter Doble, Wicky Gavron, Vince Gillespie, Kevin Hargreaves, Roger Harris, Steve King, Narendra Makanji, Dave McCulloch, John Moore, and Martha Osamor. Peter Chalk, on holiday at the time, wrote to the Chief Whip stating that he too would have opposed the cuts.

‘They have all been threatened with the Labour Group.

In the weeks before the Council meeting the pressure on the ruling right wing junta had been mounting.

‘The Public Works Service, already facing severe cuts in its capital division, was threatened with extinction when it emerged that the Council's deferred purchase agreement was illegal. Spearheaded by women and black building workers employed under the deposed left leadership's equal opportunities policy, an effective campaign of publicity and lobbying was organised.

(Continued on back page)

‘PHOTO: Leese Herbert

The following is an excerpt from the newsletter of Hackney Councillors Against the Cuts

The five, ten and 15% z cuts exercise finally made

its way to Labour Group on December 14th, along with a set of detailed recommendations from the leadership resulting in a package of cuts totalling around 7%.

Groups deleted: ‘cuts in parks maintenance; ‘360% cut in Hackney Show: Sclosure of six libraries; ail

Senior officers were in- Council-run laundercites vited to answer questions _ eclosure of all urinals and from. Group members, thice public WCs and reduced Mich they aiid ‘fortwo opening hours for the rest

fe domestic. refuse. collections reduced Io one @ week (950% cut’ in street

hours, demonstrating their

customary ability to avoid 5

anything” resembling a jprintena straight answer. "edelction of all cwelve direc (presumably acting under torate women's officer posts.

strict Teadership Total job losses are difficult

to quantify at the moment, but

arelikely (o be around 300-400, wved through vacancy

5 and redeployment

This package fs certainly not

the end of it. Another round of

instructions).

The only thing they seemced clear about was that more ‘cuts Were needed, and that the package before us was

only the beginning. culs is to be offered in

In the end, the package was February, and_ proposals now given the nod after minimal being investigated include a {debate at around 1.0am, with freeze on all Council purchasthe vast majority of is sup- ing, a [reeze on all recruitment

(Giniess ¢ can be justified t0 the

porters. having. nothing what ‘Gang of Three”), a freeze on

Soever to say. The whole thing

then went {0 full Council on all manual worker overtime: December 16th and is now further rent increases, and. Council policy proposal 10 force community Predictably, the package in- groups tO make their own culs valves cuts infront line services, 45.4 condition of grant aid but protecting senior officer The cuts package has not posts, Itigeludes aloe of vacant been agreed by Borough Cos. post deletions and unclear “effi- ference or by any other Party Cleney”” and ""good housekeep- body. ‘Borough Conference ing" savings, but most of the agreed that a cuts package could precisely defined cuts are as bedrawn up for investigation. It Follows: did not agree to those cuts being (07.5% cut in Community implemented. Nor will i have

Development: the chance even to comment of

‘@30% cut in support (@ the next round of cuts, as these worker co-9ps: will be agreed in February.

fecuis in housing grounds" This process of turing Labour maintenance; Group into ever deepening cuts

fof ever shorter notice is the specific stratesy of the Chief Executive and Director of

leciostre of all Housing Ac tion Atea offices; ‘funding For Festival Support

West Middx Nurses protest

Staff at West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, staged a pre-Christmas protest against government pians to reduce nurses pay. Staff shortages mean that nurses, ate forced to work extra hours to maintain levels of ‘care. The gavernment is now proposing to cut nurses” Extra Duty payments to £1.20 per hour. Thi

payment covers the hours that nursing staff work between Spm and 7.20am, weekends, bank holidays and even Christmas Day.

West Middlesex Hospital alone is 100 short on staff: will they recruit at this rate of pay?

Members of NUPE, RCN and NALGO at the hospital ‘showed their contempt for this proposal. During the day-long vigil outside the main gate, nurses carried placards and leafletted passing motorists and pedestrians, and in the evening sung carols.

The festive cheer was in sharp contrast to the Christmas horror stories of the results of the Tory attacks on the NHS.

Brian Prince, Brent South CLP

SAVE THE NHS!

Londen-wide rally Sponsored by London bodies of ASTMS, COHSE & NALGO, and branches of NUPE Called by London Health Emergency Speakers from unions & campaigns WEDS, FEB 3rd, 7.30pm The Camden Centre

Bidborough St, London WC1 {King's Cross tube) Details from LHE, 01-833 3020

Not the Leadership Report

HACKNEY,

NEWS

he spends several pages piecing fopcther a very accomplished in

i the end, shere is the ? Cut through the ver ‘arching and

ter? Very Bi The “st seems, 610 No bottom line. no safety valve, jor the Tory

Finance who want to avoid members indulging in any coDSultation sith the Party

In February we are to have another Borough Conference. It

something even more awful, wil

Cuts out in the open:

The battle

drawn

Aswe enter the New Year

has become clear that

last month’s decision by left Lambeth Councillors to resign from the Council Vice-Chairs, marked a watershed for

(Chai etc.) has

positions

Seems likely that the Council not g0 away next year. Once he ss e iEadership will seck a blank che- finds Labour Councits ready | all those involved in the acto make cuts within asi of and willing to make cuts he will | battle over cuts.

come back for more, and more,

fague priorities, on the pretext Sad more. The advances An

that action must be taken quick:

fy — too quickly to consult the - drew says we must provect are Party on particular cuts already being eroded, and this This “blank cheque” man- tly the first round of cuts. It is

Simply not worth hanging on 10 the notional power of local government when i becomes othing more than the proxy power of an oppressive and icious central state machine Socialists must never be perceived as an arm of the Tory | © government. To be wicked into | al Going their dirty work, and | al making their cuts, will discredit us with working people for years 19 come, not just because tee capitulated, but because we ‘were stupid enough 0 actually

date must be resisted! Comrades tho oppose the cuts have ak of hard work to do if ac policy is 10 be adopted at the Borough Conference in ‘One of the key levelled at those opposing cuts by Andrew Puddephat and his cohorts is that we have 00 Strategy. In contrast, he has put his strategy before the Party the October Leadership Repor 1 gives them great anguish, reat pain (he (ells ws), t0 be

The first sign was 2 debate the Labour Group over

from Linda Bellos being put

the vote out anyone else allowed

to speak.

The redeployment scheme

is essential as part of the

‘ouncil's vacancy freeze. It llows workers two offers of ternative employment.

By Greg Tucker

Lambeth Councillor

TT they do not Hike the choices

Taking cuts. shedding tears believe we were running things! frith all the’ sincerity of the The leadership strategy is not | 'Pe¥ may appeal. They will have Walrus and the Carpenter a Statesy. It tan midious | DO more than twenty minutes [0 Tn this “strategy” document, capitulation to disaster. cxplain their case. After that

Waiting for the |:

they will be redundant

The first action of the n hier Whip ‘has been 10 pul

through Group a plan to remove the left from Key committecs

ough of us have now beet

removed from every committee to ensure that right wing policy

job cuts oe

In particular, Group agreed

fo remove a number of of us

cuts in

The budget

By Tony Cordell Secretary, Hackney Joint |

Committee ‘able to come up with the answers with the minimum. of cost to levels of empioy- ‘ment or service.

This is no longer the case. All the methods of creative accounting used before have either run dry oF are now declared illegal

The real fight hes yer 10 begin. So far the Council main workers wil lose. their jobs “during the Wfetime of tis Alter some early divisions, all of the ursons on the Counci! ‘re now fully committed to opposing. the Council's curs | 9! Dackage. So far no one has fost fis oF her job. When the thvest of this becomes realty | f the real fight wil start &

ing the reality of cuts. A cuts package givi

tions of 5, 10 and 18% redu tions wes passed by the full Counc in ‘December. These {onl oe rnposcd soos. acbers months and wil be fully effec: tive by the start of the new finanetal year. This, claims the CCouneil leadership. is the only way we can enter the New Yeat without carrying forward 2 eefiet

These cuts will include the closure of branes, closures of lGunderettes and the caretu vetting of all vacancies. No ew temporary workers. wil be employed and those cur rently employed will not have their contracts renewed.

The Council claims it wil avoid cutting the Housing or Social Services areas. ‘wherever possible. This they Rave done to some extent though the ban on hon contractual overtime has had

‘The Labour Group in :

industrial relations policy more vicious than any other public sector employer. whether Labour, Tory or Alliance controlled.

Coinciding with this offensive against the workforce, grants to By voluntary organisations Bi have been slashed.

Women’s and blac

Holidays for the Hackney ih nee eiderly had to be cancslea | Predictability) borne the

brunt of the cuts,

recently because the staff ot The Council stil claims to

the hotels were not permitted

Shop Stewards ean leadership.

redeployment agr

Camden has adopted an Council has refused anything less than complete

management control

Councillors sit iow with representatives of the

manual and saff unions, It was obviously too embarrassing that

Kept supporting the unions the attacks from ‘and. Group.

‘We now have the First detail-

ed paper listing proposed cuts As expected, all services are Seriously affected. Some whole departments

‘are done away ith, others are fundamentally

altered,

Cuts. include. closing _down

theee old people's homes, 21 out ff 27 luncheon clubs, and three

jay nuuseries. Seventeen out Of Housing Offices would shu

along with Housing Advice and

consumer Advice Centees, farce libraries would 90, a5

xisting voluntary sment, the

‘The proposed procedures

feature quack like

‘psychometric tests" for

inividuale and the right of

ppeal to management!

jy Camden Labour riefing

As the Labour Group

considers using Tory ant Union laws, it has given Senior management free rein fo vieurniee and intimidate Staff A consultative

fo.do overtime be opposed to compulsory. document sent to every ‘So far the cries of foul from | redundancies — though not, employee received a derisory the local Trade tnions have | of course, in the vountary _-7Oreplies. Staff were also

Sector. Their stetegy, however, is to redeploy ‘Council workers compusorily

been ignored by the Counc Peaceful Iobbies have taken place at Council and Labour Group. meetings and the

unions’ ‘position has been | agreement io the process, made clear on many | Although NALGO had been Sccasions wiling to renegotiate the is

expected to sign away their fights in regard to redeployment by January

— tearing up every th. Again, the response was patheve.

‘The Counci's future course Lnciesr; one option remains

=<4| lines are

would some swimming pools and all the summer "play Schemes,

The Labour Group's next step was 10 spend two Sundays discussing which cuts should be made. At one stage Labour Party branches were to be consulted luring the intervening week Even that facade of democracy has now been dropped.

Tf the right has been getting its act together, so 100 has the lett. Councilors Against the Cais have produced a bullet ‘cxplaining. our case and giving ‘details of af the cuts proposals. This is going out 10. Party embers and is being circulated throughout the Council, with the official approval of the Council unions.

The Group leadership pro: mised that’ the Party. and ‘workforce would be kept in Tormed. But they have produced ‘nothing. So our bulletin is being ‘ead avidly by workers and Par fy members alike, starved of information,

The Labour Party has clarified its position, No longer tan the Group leadership claim any ‘mandate, Vauxhall GC, ‘which had appeared to waver in September, passed unanimously in December resolutions against any cuts and called on the Local Government Committee 10 launch a public campaign against chem.

‘Council workers are finally waking up to the fact that this Time the cuts are for real. As we fo 10. press, there is 10 be a Council workers Day of Action ‘on January 18th

'NALGO will be taking strike action with support from other Unions. Voluntary sector ‘workers are organising a public meeting and lobby the day of the next full Couneil meeting — Fanuary 20,

‘And, after a period of retren: chmeni, Lambeth Fightback is beginning to get organised. I is building support for the Day of Action and planning its own conference for February 6th

‘Altera period of phony war, the last ‘month has. seed firm battle lines drawn up. The next two months will be crucial in determining the fature of the ‘Council

Even with a majority of the Labour Group against us. and slear weaknesses in the Council Unions, we are begioning 10 ‘overcome our problems and re main confident that we can win

iNew threat to workforce

‘compulsory tedundancy and Contracts Already, workers in the Housing Department ‘are beng threatened with the need to reapply for their own jobs.

In response, the position of the NALGO leadership has. Softened. It now accopts the inevitability of job losses and makes the distinction between acceptable and Unacceptable cuts. This policy must be changed if 2 fightback is to succeed.

‘The cuts in grants to the voluntary sector have meant flimination of a women's ‘centre and of lish ‘organisations, and the future ‘of the main biack and ethnic ‘minority organisation in the borough (LECR} remains in soube.

‘Given the track record of the Labour Group (ominously, there if stil no decision as 10 ‘whether homeless Bengali families will be deported) such racism and sexism is only to be expected.

London Labour Briefing No. 86 January 131h-26th 1988 page 3

JEREMY CORBYN Chair

IMP for Islington North since 1983, formerly Haringey Councitior rom 1974 Hornsey CLP agent 1972-82. Member London Party Executive since 1979, currently Vice Chair. Party member since 1966. NUPE ‘member (former full-time ‘organiser). Honorary member ‘of the National Union of Mineworkers

‘Active on health

Initiated five Private Members Bilson justice for pensioners.

Jeremy Corbyn for Chair! Joan Twelves for Vice

Chair!

In response to requests from Constituency Parties, trade unions and affiliated organisations we have accepted nominations for the ns of Chair and Vice Chair of the Greater London Labour Party.

‘The London Labour Party is at a crossroads. London is suffering from very high unemployment, huge cuts in its health service and the growing misery of the homeless.

Discrimination has always been rife in London ‘and cuts in public spending at all levels are significant. ly worsening the position of women, black and ethnic minority people, and others,

In a city of great divi sions of wealth and pover ty, the London Labour Party has to demonstrate that

‘© For a fighting alternative! @ Socialist policies for London! ‘© Support for all those in struggle! ‘© Opposition to witch-hunts!

it is on the side of the poor, and united London Party. the oppressed, the elderly not one divided by the — the working class. It witch-hunting of must emphatically state its socialists. socialist objectives and ex- _In particular, the Officers, plain that only socialism and Executive must res: can offer full employment pond to the views of and fulfilment for all. Ap- members, by implemen: easement of the values of ting Conference decisions the Tory regime can only and providing back-up for achieve’ further electoral initiatives at the grassroots defeat. — by CLPs, Women’s Sec. ‘The London Labour Par- tions, and trade unionists. ty has alarge membership We see the role of the and contains people of London Party as suppor: great vision and talent. We ting popular struggles to Want to see a more open, defend the health service. accountable, democratic local services, and the vital

Voting takes place at the GLLP AGM on March Sth & 6th. if ‘you would like more information contact Jeremy Corbyn, Red Rose Centre, 129 Seven Sisters Road, London N7, 01-263 3450 Joan Twelves, 3 Blades House, London SE11, 01-582 2855

LDDC Deputy sacked

campaigns against the Tories’ planned — social security, anti-trade union, local government, and education legislation.

The Party in London cannot run every campaign but it can and must give leadership, space and sup: port to campaigns for jobs, peace, ‘anti-racism, women's, lesbian and gay fights, on planning and environmental issues, and for anti-imperialist and inter ational solidarity. tt must become areal campaigning Party that fights the Tories.

There is a crying need for a popular socialist cam. paign for freedom. The London Labour Party must be part of that

We are prepared to work together to provide the leadership and commit: ment the Party needs so it can go out and fight to win London for Labour:

JOAN TWELVES Vice Chair

Lambeth Councillor since 1986, Chief Whip May 1986-Decomber 1987, Vauxhall CLP se 1983-86. Member London Pany Executive since 1984, Organised Hora We Go! concerts for Women Against Pit Closures on behalf of GLP. Party member since 1980. NALGO member, branch secretary Inn London Polys branch 1981-83, Active in women’s ‘movernent, especially abortion campaigns, local health, education, recapping and anti-cuts campaigns,

The sordid saga behind the

On Monday November 30th, World in Action revealed that when John Mills accepted the post of Deputy Chair of the LDDC, he disclose past convictions.

Forty minutes before the programme went out, a top

il servant from the Department of Environment rang Mills to tell him he had been sacked,

All Board appointments fare made by the Secretary of State for the Environment (DoE)

Two of his companies have collapsed with combined debis of over £750,000. ‘As managing director of ‘one, Fairline UK, Mills was charged, found ‘guilty and fined for six offences under the Trades Descriptions Act, and three under the Fair Trading Act

By John Turkie Hackney North & Stoke Newington CLP

“The offences included sell ing faulty battery-powered South Korean “Lucky Panda” toys, found to be dangerous and not tested in the UK; and selling brassplated jewellery as goldplated.

‘Whilst there’s no love lost between the Chair of the LDDC, Christopher Benson, and John Mills, the LDDC Board understand the crucial political impor: tance of Mills’ role within the organisation.

‘The morning after Mills was sacked by Ridley, the Board appointed "him “special consultant”? to the Chair, with no position on the Board, though in effect doing his old job, with the same conditions: two days a week on a salary of £18,000.

Benson: who does he think he is Rik Mayall?

Ridley was having none of this, and an emergency Board meeting subsequently sacked Mills again.

The day after the TV revelations, Mildred Gordon, MP’ for Bow and Poplar, began organising for an early day motion, at tempting, amongst. other things, to establish the basis on which Board appoint

ments to this powerful {quango are made. But the other two

Docklands’ Labour MPs — Peter Shore (Bethnal Green & Stepney) and Nigel Spearing (Newham South) — refused to sign, following

the Front Bench quiet. He ‘was the perfect person to present the “human face of the LDDC” and stitch up deals between the LDDC and Labour Councils. (The LDDC’s previous Deputy Chair was Bob Mellish MP, now Lord Mellish of Bermondsey).

By the end of that Monday evening, Mills had contacted all the relevant Coun: cil leaders and, crucially, John Cunningham and Bryan Gould. Mills claimed he was being set up, and what was at stake was the “historic deal” between the LDDC and Newham Council over the redevelopment of the Royal Docks by three

major development consortia Ridley, according 10

Mills, was unhappy with the planning gain” deal that

had been negotiated — which is not legally binding developers. — and

to torpedoe the agreement, What he was asking the Labour Leaders to believe is that, working without the Board’s or the DoE’s authority, he conded “what is’ generally believed to be the largest redevelopment deal anywhere in Europe.

‘The suggestion that Ridley (always the prime mover behind the redevelopment) hhad not approved the deal before it was signed is weated with incredulity in the property world. And they should know.

‘What és true is that Cunningham et al were over the ‘moon when Newham agreed the deal. For months the Front Bench had been pushing Newham to con- ‘lude the £3 billion deal with the property companies via the LDDC. Once they had, the Front Bench had every excuse (0 continue not to

conversations with the Front Bench, claiming that such a motion would damage a “‘good”” Labour Party member and the Labour Party in general.

John Mills, a member of Holborn and St Pancras Labour Party, used to be Deputy Leader of Camden Council. He's on friendly terms with the area’s MP, Frank Dobson, and has ‘good rapport” with John (Cunningham.

Mills “claerly wasn’t appointed on the basis of his business skills, but for his labour movement connections, aiid his ability to keen

Mills affair

NICE F

thas shut him up.

Meanwhile the LDDC is left with a major problem in replacing Mills. Finding someone of equal work calibre

give a political lead in opposing Urban Development Corporations.

Despite the Front Bench lobbying for his cause, Mills

is now left pondering shouldn't be too difficult whether to sueen somefiner But finding someone with point of his sacking. Initial- high-up Labour Party cor

ly, he had been threatening to “spill the beans”, but his the limelight — to take up quest for further employ- the position on the Boar ment ("as a consultant”) could be tricky.

Bermondsey witch- hunt

The witch-hunt in Bermondsey is being stepped up. It is urgent that all comrades pass the following model resolution.

This . condemns the decison of Terry Ashton, General Secretary of the Greater London Labour Party, to send a report to the National Executive Committee recommending the suspension of ‘Southwark-Bermondsey Labour Party and the subsequent expulsion of up to 40 members.

It notes that this report was prepared secretly and behind the backs of the Party, without any reference to Party officers or any Party body. So far the Party has not been allowed a copy of this report, although information in the report appears to have been supplied to the press. Apparently the NEC could suspend the Party and expel members without the Party seeing the evidence.

This .......-.. § opposed to suspension and to any expulsions arising from the report and calls upon the NEC to reject the report outright

nections who is willing — in

London Labour Briefing No. 86 January 13th-26th 1988 page 4

London Transport

WHEN FARES GO UP THE TRAFFIC SLOWS DOWN.

As fares soar:

Service cuts prepare for privatisation

Bus and tube fares in London rose an average of 9.5% on January 10th.

This is double the rate of inflation and contravenes the directive by the Secretary of State for Transport that increases should be kept in line with inflation

The new directives for London Regional Transport, due to. be published shortly, are likely to be much tougher, with a further cut in revenue sup port inevitable,

=D Clpsinaige

Subsidy has been cut from £195m to €58m in three years. Over the same period, some fares have fisen ' by between 100-150%.

The huge increase in fares is taking LRT another stage towards being a profitmaking business, ot a service. The biggest increases are aimed. at

LABOUR RIGHT SETS

=o Clete

groups who most depend ‘on public transport

‘© Children using buses at peak times to get to schoo! will be paying 2 disgraceful 150% more than they were four years ago.

By Maria Eagle

‘e Night bus users face 2 66% increase in one year

LRT are also destroying the simple fare zone strut ture introduced by the GLC. They will now charge different fares according to the distance travelled within one zone on the buses.

= Cetin

They are also introduc: ing new suburban bus asses separate to the Travelcard in outer London. They coincide roughly

TORY COPS ON US

(Continued from front page)

‘At the Homsey and Wood Green GC the cuts package was defeated by two votes, Eriefing’s “needs budge resolution lost on a tied vote,

The following night, on December 10th, a special LGC was held, to be followed by 3 Group meeting, to debate the new cuts package.

Even before the 1,000 angry Council workers, Tenants, community groups ‘and. Labour Party. members

ound the Civic

‘massive police

PG), was on fe. Large green police ast one loaded with ere. parked round

riot ger, the Civie Conte

‘The LGC convened in the Council Chamber and Party members and members of the public were admitted to the

public gallery, on the authority Of right —wing LGC Chair Paul Head. From the beginning, the gallery were vociferous in their ‘Sppesition to the cuts and hostile to cute cupporters. Head baited the people in the gallery and. repeatedly threatened to use police tO lear them out. Left delegates demanded that police be Femoved from the buliding and moved a named vote on the

Chairperson Head, whose speech in support of the cuts was clearly inspired by Nor man Tebbit. dectined to call s hamed vote and then refused 10 acknowledge _aumerous challenges to his ruling. The gallery erupted.

Head threatened to use the police yet again, whereupon 3 fumber of us, left LGC Gelegates and Councillors, joined the galery in a show of Solidarity. The LGC adjourned ‘and reconvened in smaller Sommittee room — but in the meantime police, on the ‘ders of Toby Harris, formed Shuman barricade to prevent ‘anyone leaving the gallery.

‘Some one hundred of us ‘were deliberately trapped in an ‘enclosed ‘space. an act of Criminal kresponsibility

‘When, afer twenty minutes, police allowed us 70 leave the gallery. we found that votes had already been taken at the reconvened LGC

in the full knowledge that voting delegates were at that ‘moment imprisoned in another Dart of the bulding.

By this time the demonstra tion’ outside had long’ sr dispersed. However, 2 larg contingent of police remained inside the building

‘As the remaining Counc workers and left Party members, disgusted by the

with Borough boundaries and give some indication ‘of how London Buses is to be sold off bit by bit into private ownership.

LRT claims that the extra revenue will go towards improving the network, but the King’s Cross fire has shown how little LRT care for the safety and wellbeing of passengers and staff.

Everything is geared to cutting costs and becom ing profitable. Any extes revenue generated by the fare increase will be used to cut subsidy still further.

The quality of service is continuing to fall as prices rise on the buses and the tubes.

whole afar, prepared to leave the building, they were attack (ed by police in the Civic Centre foyer.

Initially, this attack was clearly aimed st the women bulging” workers. One left Councilor was violently ejected from the building and another denied admvasion Four of us were arrested two women building workers, ant Cuts councilor Craig Brewin, ‘and myself (present as an LGC delegate’,

‘All this took place in full view — and with the apparent ‘2pproval of right wing LGC ‘Secretary Owen Tudor and the Borough's Chief Executive.

Meanwhile the rump LGC had approved the cuts and the Labour Group had been con: vened. Left’ Councilors in. formed the Group that one of ‘their own members was undet arest and that others were at the police station trying 1 help.” Right-wing Councilors refused to adjoum and the ‘Group went ahead to pass the cuts’ peckage with little Giesent

{Later that evening the four of us who had been arrested Were charges Conduct and released. The following week when we ap peared in court. we found thet 20 additional charge of Sssaulting 2 police officer had been lad against Crag

Day of Action called

Build March 9th!

London Bridge, a joint of “protecting what we have, to_manage which relies ex: union committee of shop snd selling this 10 diserumied chisively on the mein collapsstewards from the Lon. 410 overcharged tenants and ing as hospital. wards close,

om ee other voters will be doomed to schools are attacked, with don Authorities, is seek- faijure. The unions at branch massive cuts and horrific social

ing support for a one day and workplace level have alarge services eases fand staff with @

strike and demonstration responsibility. Some old styles workload three times above the on March 9th. of trade unionism, including contracted targets.

. = felying on a compromise work- London Bridge has had the

It is called against the C4 out ina Director's ora Coun- arguments surrounding one day Local Government Bill, the cillor's office, cannot work. strikes and one day demonstra. Housing legislation and the Increases in pay. conditions, job__tions, They ean only be parts of Education Bill sccurity are no longer inthe gi" a campaign of mobilising and

Contained within the local of such people Shifting opinion, but they have

as ne is Forgotten, Workers together in a | Saslcies, soten propontls demonstration of the solidarity | which together with the cuts Trade union members —_necessary to build for genuine

oul aatly chow that altcal as

By Fd Hal The Lambeth Comellocs,” il ber bere fe organised

London Bridge flame of local democracy and cuts in jobs and services, That

| side wal simply disappear and Stwards ‘system, activist end that the destruction. Of & in = absence * rae among the tenants and the cor whole tier of democracy is not

Sac ndon Fights Back

ing Public Services beid belore The March Sth Day of also convening a recall cl ay of 9 Ciistmas allowed, Norman Action against attacks on conference in April to co-

dustrial action "is aot. ap. By Davy Jones outside London, Propet att time. Secretary, London Manchester © Obvious confidence Fiete Back London Fights Back is

Ridley now fas comes not only Figs Back. winning increasing Sune but also from the weakness SSnepee gs narnia Jens ako from thcwesite ts initial backing from include the Hillingdon vias ake London Bridge and Council Labour Group and

Weakness leads to bad errors. London Fights Back has the newly formed Fight Brian Gould advocated share grown to include the Inner Back Group in Hackney. A purchase few wecks before the — London Teachers second bulletin of crm, and Linds fcllos and Association, Southwark information and other Landon leaders are busily cantata risk

ew come pad Ht against the cuts fs being

the pliers af an Equal Oppor rinted as we go to press. we Industrial action in If you want more Tris ako impossble so argue selected local government information from, oF to the caw of am Equal Oppor. centres and schools affitate to, London Fights tonite employer whe Blocking aeross London fs now a Back, write to London Grex Proscsion though * feal possibilty on March Fights Back, co 23 es oe Sth, Compton Terrace, London ee London Fights Back is 1.

pects ALA policies to produce zhane lection saccess in 1989 will be Sessions ree

found wrong, and any thought

Brewin. We have all pleaded ot guity and will be vigorous-

wagner Gia lege hk Public Meeting in Solidarity with the Saar Palestinians

wing colleagues must be held Organised by LMCP

{ty responsible for these 9p 7.30pm, Friday February Sth oe a ee Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC2 cuts “bottom fine’ goes. (nearest tube, Holborn)

Labour Groups will resort to. Labour movement speakers:

anything ~ including police st tacks and forcible. imprison: ment — to destroy opposition. ‘They will not succeed.

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