London Labour Briefing no. 95

CABS SCUPPER LIBRARIES VICTORY

So you thought the 1930s was the Golden Age of British Stalinism? Sadly, Stalinist-

type techniques of stifling dissent are now being refined to a frightening degree in the Council Chamber of Hackney Town Hall. Just read this incredible tale of bureaucratic class treachery.

The occupation of Goldsmiths Row, Howard Rd, and ‘Somerford Grove libraries began on March 12th: when library workers joined by local residents and activists showed Hackney Council there would be no closures without a fight.

Despite the Council’s attempts to discredit the occupiers and scare off schools and parents, the action has gained in strength. Volunteers sleep in to thwart ‘the type of noctural visit which has broken previous occupations.

The Council remained as intransigent as the occupiers. But at the Annual Borough Conference on May 15th, they were plunged into crisis.

‘The crucial business of the day was an amendment to a no cuts resolution. Rather than call for a deficit budget, it showed how the libraries could be spared without overspend, making no commitment to reversing cuts in other sectors.

Essentially reformist, this proved a successful united front tactic, splitting the soft right. The amended motion was passed by 74 votes to 66.

‘The jubilation of victorious libraries’ supporters met a cowardly, at lemocratic (and, it transpired, preplanned) response from Council Leader Andrew Puddephat. To forestall the election of Council officers, Puddephat moved an adjournment, on the pretext that he could not stand for re-election without financial advice on the effects of the amendment (as if he couldn't have solicited this earlier).

What this amouxted to was: “Don’t like this game no more: move the goalposts or | shan't play.” Outrageously, this contemptuous attitude to the democratic process was supported (with one honourable exception) by the Conference Arrangements Committee, chaired by Lesley Courcouf.

By JIM THAIN Hackney N. & Stoke Newington CLP

The libraries’ response was to build an even greater lobby for the reconvened Conference on May 19th. It ‘was augmented by Hackney NALGO staff instructed to close libraries early. Left Councillors John Bloom, Peter Chowney and Felicity Harvest prepared to take power should the right stand down.

But the Council Leadership had also gone to work. Their master stroke, as representatives of Hackney’s tolling classes, was to drive a wedge between library workers and employees of the Direct Labour Organis2tion to be scrapped by Nicholas Ridley.

Puddephat went to the DLO with a simple message: it's their jobs or yours. Entirely consistent, of course, with their policy of staying in power at any cost — even to working class solidarity.

0 chiefs responded to Puddephat's message by inciting their members to barrack library workers. Hackney’s Labour Leaders are truly visionary.

Such is the ideological bankruptcy of this ex-left Council that Puddephatt is now praised even by the Tories, as is witnessed by a recent Conservative leaflet. Thatcher herself would be impressed by his implementation of the divide and rule tactic.

Inside the Council Chamber, the rank “Stalinism” of Labour Party bureaucracy was revealed in all its sickening putrescence

KFIGHT THE CLOSURES

ee my LiBRary o

join the occupations

(2

Puddephat and his minions proceeded to overturn Party policy agreed at the same Conference, claiming contradiction between the libraries’ amendment and another resolution endorsing the Council's overall strategy.

To corroborate this wilful misinterpretation of the facts, they presented spurious figures purporting to show how reopening the libraries would result in a deficit budget. The deception was exposed by Peter Chowney, but, urged to resist the libraries amendment, the Leadership's lackeys duly obliged.

At this point, refusing to accord the ABC any further credibility as a democratic policy-making body, Bloom, Chowney and Harvest declined to stand. When Bloom said, “This is the end of the ABC,” there was an exodus of left delegates.

The bureaucrats may have split the Party, and they may have split the workforce; but the library occupiers, in the front line in the battle to save jobs and services, will carry on fighting till the bitter end. No surrender!

LABOUR-— TAKE THE POWER!

London Labour Briefing No. 98 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page 2

Occupying LCC take control — against the cuts | A S but for how long? 225 ==_

Town 7) site Wo also demanded that he ‘At Lambeth Labour fish Town (17) Site Of Pe atarlborough Bulling® site in

Group's reconvened Folytechnic of North Lon Holoway Road, due to close

AGM, Linda Bellos and ark ‘ hrext year, be Kept open

ee geup ot cea awe occupation ‘At fhe end of the frst week

‘The move was sparked traitors abstained on all off by a decision taken by

the key votes. management without con- _Feinstete the two lecturers at

With these abstentions, Sultation just five weeks Ladbroke House, a5 well as they allowed the LCC to win before examinations were Keeping the | Mariborough control of the Councit. to start, that they would Building open (the official ver

sion wes. that they

be held for all KT students $0n,was. Mat, ey

In mid-April, Linda & Co.

decided not to stand for re- at Bloomsbury Junior Finally agreed to con- - is they had not received A seemingly trivial matter. any future decision affecting | 1986, Tower Hamlets

this is only the tp of the the Poly. On Friday 13th the | Alliance Council has em-

enough support. from the iceberg of management's ef- occupation ended

local Par and that their braced housing policies

Coes Uilgee forts to push through Tory was alimited victory. Two

hee SSS ever before the GERBN tenactung posts sre stil being BaAEEC Ge becomes iw. ‘xed (retinng lecturers won't | Borough.

At the time this looked ‘We also asked for consulta. be replaced); and manage: Estates have been sold off like a stunt to mobilise sup- tion over brosder but equally ment blames Bloomsbury | to developers, whilst port and a ‘popular’ call important ssues such 35: Health Authority and Hackney | homeless families in bed and for their return, If this was \ “Sthe loss of two Black lec- Counci for the loss of our | potetgeny "accommodation their plan, it went badly \ turers at the Ladbroke House surgery and the flats. ebsegerat tgs wrong. The trade unions and site (cuts which make = But the occupation has ind 7 a CLPs were unimpressed. ‘Steve French fockery of the Poly’s belsted shown ‘management’ ‘our | Scapegoat for the overall

the NALGO Black Workers allthe rules and it would all even more jobs than the | surgery at KT ported our action: NALGO an | scapes Liberals Group EC, which refused to have to be done again. former leadership. SESS os inact com | WATE comrenonee oe | bom cues oo eee CWeebactine (Shehadto lewas The righ held on The LCC have no majori- | medetion flats on the by boycotting scab icturers. | whipped up by the Tores.

Esruct Council Press OF. to their new positions and ty on the Labour Group, | Trowbridge and Clapton Park andthe NUR also sunported pages Pare

ficers to scrap the planned picked up the rest. having bitterly divided with | estates in Hackney (making — — although our own “union”, | Leader of the Council wrote to Black Workers: mupport * Archrsiecappiig. scab 433 students homeless): NUS, wae apathetic. :

Linda” press release.) Janet Boston” was made Sendany decisiontoaxe Po. With more cuts on the way, | ‘,o'6a0" °) Henan ey,

$$ Cir of Housing in return ty courses, staff or facilities in we are preparing %0 fight | sores move te, better areas By Cilr Steve French for her vote on the Council eee sca ‘and their places be taken by Lambeth Leadership. hhomeless families in less good

Two years ago, Sorabji The Council snow led by was deemed unfit by the especially in the rightDick Sorabji (Labour Party LGC to be on the panel of leaning:

full-timer and LCCer) who candidates, but won on ap-

“The question epitomises. the

Campaign plans Sal

burden on its budget rather than

amped ina the lst minute peal at regional level (Gur- in North L Speco wis funcamentt to block Joan Twelves’ at- prise, surprise). have a strong base to con- right to decent housing.

np ro baome Leader, Wisi Loadacus” te our resance, The aut ei indon athe Chea” ai

ouncillors Against Bellos has turned tail on her Parties _miust see seat Socialist Environment bags ioe *

ie Cue tate had’won manifeto promises Sorabhi_ the “eeme™ support Pary | abd, Rewerces Associaton £7 Jon Graken, eS ae eae

tunanimous support from the has never even pretended to policy. If they don't — they | (SERA) was founded in 1973 Hornsey em Tati has ciel ce Coane

LOC andthe, backing. of oppose cuts, and during the should be Yold to resign. | ‘© combat the fouling of the CLP app

environemt andthe

ees egy aoe Housing Assistants —— Pee sat mous cami | Sgt The Coch

powerless 10. prevent this bill

pede gent Sethe died anny Coe eaten oe

pineal Second month Fe star a ee a bed ops meng

> Sorabjihadns sve be ictal campaigning grou. The Snd frying bat abo se Ne | omelet foie

yacking of the Party in sacar ee Loe Ne ‘The article reinforced the} Journal jreen - tical comext: what are the ~

tose inde op oe | OWN strike Soar of Green Salons pola coment wha athe | gyi gtepondl eee

by Milton Friedman) that

AGM. and therefore no ‘ For too long London has dispowed. of? What arc the | 4. Milton, Fri -

Councillor had a mandate to By Housing Assistants | 'scked alocal SERA group and economic f support him. are entering their second By Housing Assistants | [S22 0%.‘ mind ia sndimated wastedispoal policy? | f0%ermment icentvs ond, i Heer rthy"* Mann | mosthor industrial acon at Strike Committee oe gg a pee ee

vent controls and welfare subSides for the homeless with the|

had been the original LCC | the | New Islington & viduals recently took place at prepared for discussion at ihe

Leadership candidate, but Housing group has supported us with all | Haringey Civic Centre het North London” SERA he withdrew as soon as he | ASSO se te ube ary ih more | eto guy coeeeiiats esi tien he gtd the rs becca Pact dialer ve put in a claim for — 2ction promi ‘vacuum does exist in green cam- Future activities: te eerave re ieee Tegrading 15 mouths ago,” te tbegoaeat ofthe Heining| polgiog: clondag: Ofer ost seaes of Fears ee —— ‘Terry Ashton (General | negotiated fora year until Gos, moudee'ocer 10 Hous, | Spoltical under’ the terms ee ‘Why does the Council blame Secretary ‘of the ‘Greater | talks broke down at ACAS, So'Asotiations and toatract | incr funding grants. in con- SERA AGMI: Saturday Junc | homeless fami fore ee London’ Labour Party) at. | and then went out on in’ tstgesumsafpenateinvesiment | tat, SERA ian ovenly 4h, 100mm, Haringey Com- | iMECHS? The Ach do nt Year fended ‘the reconvened | definite strike on April ino Housing Associations, the | political organisation campaign- munity and Trades Union Cen | "Mov meeting following the |, The management Srike has a fery poliical edge. | ing around socialist principles. ire. 24 Brabant Road. Condon | ONY, 20% of new lettings previous week's “first at. | thatthejobisaD rade 8. but bough st an offal | "We dewded osc upaNonh N22 nearest tube! Wood pant io aati foe ceviow og Wins iaskst om recruiting black ‘and strike, we are only receiving £25 | London group, and embark on Green) fast accommodation tempt"” AGM wshich failed | hn minority candidates with a neck from the MSP. We are | two iniinther Sth Anniversary Fundrais- | 1985/6, compared sth OO i

to elect a Leader and four | Sins minor ania {sth Anniversary Hundrai 1 Brent and 40¥in Hackney. I

caling on Labour Party bran- |e We shall produce an En-

other key positions. The cen- | tower grade C ches and unions to send | vironmental Charter as a basis Spm, Rosemary branch. Is! recent years only 23% of three} Head feb hed wed hc. | “Tete” “iney woud be emageefseppenios. ake | lortpat nomattesostorthc ston Ni SN 1 Redroomed fas have gone to unprecedented tactic of | working to the same job collections (payable 10 “strike | 1990 local clectioms in the Interested? Comtact SERA. ronseless faruilics. areas tacc, of | gong ©, a, St MRGTAg Yaad eelies | cpealtte san at a Unread St London St cpa wih guns. | pms italk “uroh ‘We terah hag rac a pro-cus candidate, he or | "We'ting ia agumene of Wedneaday and ‘Tharsday for Kensington By-election bay Vi simply ones di fensive and believe tht it is the the duration. fier an hour of syoigin job that should be graded, not ‘Comtact: Aniekan U) LD-

i not a ni ‘moren }-controlied Tower

snrcmmeiows cect anges acm coo “3 | Soggy Tory percent te cre of Appeal decision in

ere tavalig, Ashton “ts i Monsncsent's Exch 01 284 127 Game ad

Sy ter parr ene regen og my weSlad ie Unie Thc union pretest fe te arecies rops ead

| Tottenham erences

‘The Court wasn't happy

2 = eyewitness account” | Brendon Rhys Willams has "Kensington CLP hos not yor Open mecting ergorised | caused the first by-election selected ts candidate but is IC. ws By Soglast Outook | of this Paciament a me: a a ee at i. peaker: jor test of Labour's stan- meeting in the week after ; 1 |: gee ae ee Bacar goes te pres along 2 enoating with ‘fascist ou | Anna Wagstatte | ding in London. "Ban Bouse, who stood ‘and the Chet . : By a Briefing ieee hee 0d coe kore We hove called 2. Immigation, Posce | Campaign for Palestine) | Bs tunnor, ed nas the support ct Mee orci met oe "tat titer Green OHSS | MONDAY JUNE 6th, Spm | correspondent in Black Sections, Serene EHS cifice on office have been out on strike | Lewisham Labour Club | Kensington Precisely how Labour's NEC | ship, the Borough Secretary tenham DHSS. office (on for over = month, demanding e witcha te sudson cles. | Head of Housing Services (0 Thuraday May 26th{0 00; ther strom tscnt rcemoy | round foo no steps Sr Brendon wee sooger \orelchellonge'sactyet seer. | Commenting on the pose! th Saplred "here be teow pete ts hat sagen in Torys and “Farthe SUB. Kenengtonseti_ | assurances tram the Chiat nown fascist activist Paul Sue inaccnccinic sree te tar: but | had come under fire from his be @ difficult’ challenge. The Nash, en active and’"high “We are caling on wade | mesing organsers wil assst | local Associaton Sbe won 5 375 votes June Meena Meebo ot the untitcaee Sammao” ciate | itetcng trcers for those to | He recently won an unex. Wi tho voters stick withthe

Gombsretcetie”” | paced" vote sconce temiymged mid aaa National Front Supporters’ groups snd evervore opposes | Cuore cern mo | fom th. Asuocation pre Wil they pump forte Tones? bc ga NR gee Genomes pam no | SSS tase mon monies | Can tater win om ower or emer se See ceatriecperece, ‘for Laver ae br Stion aii ae eenaty | “tne ee Tory canteens’ “certeay seomeants the bert DHSS computers ore nied npiatng totes cureey | gan carga © Rectan Test. chance wel svar nove tit oo nie rapa check xed | aN 2 Be 8 Sect tant Ghesect tte NEC ond gale ig me SR are aaa Gagan eeee

National Front Supporters”

Race, class and housing policy

cialist view

ory-Liberal sing policy

‘The Council has been adept at timing its statements about the homeless to. complement. the "racist hysteria in the “popular” tabloids over issues such as visa regulations affecting families from Bangladesh.

Effectively the Council has reinforced the racist mythology Which surrounds homlessness.

‘An article in New Society on ‘Tower Hamlets Liberals quoted the ‘Chair of the Borough's

fenanis’ Forum referring 10

‘another fot of Bengalis being brought over os fast as they rehouse the last Tot.” Not surfrisingly the Tenants’ Forum is funded by the Couneil.

Tory Minister. John Patten bas admitted “that it costs £10,950 per year to keep a famiTy in bed and breakfast. But he also admits that £5,500 per year Will pay the debt charges and management costs for a new Council flat, and £7,000 per ‘year will pay for a house.

By Cllr Phil Maxwell Leader, Tower Hamlets Labour Group

Using these Tigures, fF we built 4,500 new houses. and 4,500 new flats across London

hotels, £43 million ‘sayed”” by London

would “save"" £5 million.

For the Council the homeless ‘problem’ Is used to divert attention from ts insidious role as ‘a municipal estate agent sustain-

ig privaie developments though estate sales and planning deals “dsigied "to "break up ‘working class communities.

Tt should be noted that the

Fraud Squad are currently in-

ting the loss of up. 10 134m via the Homeless PerSons Unit, Hoteliers have been discovered overcharging and demanding payment for families not’ placed in accommodation.

Furthermore, payments to the Council from the DHSS. have fot been pursued, accruing. a ‘massive financial loss. The prin-

pal cause of this has been Cunt underating in, the Unit compounded by created bythe Liberals’ phony cera i

Tm am attempt to reduce the cost “of Rousing homeless families, the Council has used the law of “intentionality”. The

amlets Council seems ins families despite a Court ylast week of April

ut the way the Council was care, but the Council, undeterred, milles to prepare thernselves for

ed by Labour Councilor Abbas king end vindictive”. and has has uncovered a massive row het Executive Officer and the

Phil Maxwell, Leader of the ‘ecutive, held 11 months ago, 1c should not keep copies of nd personal correspondence on no leaked to the Labour Leader: "shown to have instructed the stain all such documents.

‘Cllr Maxwell said: "Despite soutive, the Council has sucrep-

joh has been held In reserve in ‘onitical of them.”

is episode shows the ral justice and its increasingly curt of Appeal should seek the that his original instructions ore or officers.

Racist evictions

High Court has upheld Council myth that the families have no

‘evictions of large umbers of roots inthis country. Mr Nazim tainly Bangladeshi families Ullah is not untypical. He has from. bed and breakfast worked as a porter for many

ears at Claridges Hotel

In 1980 be put his name down fon the housing waiting list; he hhas a wife and five children, the youngest only a year old. Mr Uilah has Tull residential status Ja Britain; he came to Tower Hamlets in 1963 and has lived in Bdtain for 24 of the past 27 years.

"Two years ago he went to

accommodation

fm each case the Council ‘wrote to the families stating: “ie Would have been reasonable for You 10 continue fo occ the which, 1 understand, would have continued 10 be available ‘for occupation by yourself and, ‘members of your family had ‘you remained there.""

"This use of “intentionality” Bangladesh to bring his fami amounts to back door fepatria- over. Afler leaving = onc lon The evicted include bedroom flat because of over-

‘crowding they were housed in temporary accommodation by the Council. They were then tvicted because the Council Slaimed they made themselves homeless

"The Bangladeshi community is being made the main victim of the cash crisis facing the ‘Couneil.

‘At the 1987 Liberal Party Assembly, Clr Steve Charters excused the evictions by arguing that "Councils are being forced {0 do this sort of thing Because they do not have the resources {0 meet their stanutory respon ‘sbilties."" In other words, the |government-induced criss is Being passed onto the most vulnerable groups.

Tamities with appalling health problems, including a child with congenital heart disease, and a blind single parent’ with diabetes.

the government has. enshrined ‘the Council's municipal racism ‘nto new immigration laws. Dependents may now only enter the UK if heads of households ‘can prove thele families can be housed and supported.

"Through this new legislation, inspired by Tower Hamlets

iberalism’", the "government of the family" has reinforced the nstatonalised breaking op of families.

(Case histories explode. the

London Lobour Briefing No. 98 May 25th-June 71h 1988 page 3

Pensioner Bil Turner on demonstration against Tower Hamlets Council policy of seling off ‘estates. Bil has been thrown out of his home on the Waterlow estate in Bethnal Green.

The government has embracced a sophisticated strategy of in ‘esting in homelessness. Just as they are prepared. 10. invest

jons i. breaking. strikes, they are prepared to pour Similar’ amounts. inte creating ‘areas of bed and. breakfast

The bed and breakfast “inusiry"” ot only creates vast profits for, hotelier. It also Functions. as a form of social control, attempting to debilitate ‘and disenfranchise a huge ‘minority within inner cities.

For the government bed and breakfast lines the pockets of profitesing hoteliers and susfains a rich source of ‘marginalised and non-unionised labour to support service in ddusiries in the capital. Current policy facilitates the lucrative {ransfer of public funds to the “free market” private sector

“The introduction of the Poll Tax will increase the attack on

Demonstration against evictions of homeless families outside Bethnal Green Town Hall

‘From Bill Tomlinson Housing Strategy Officer

Dear Mr refer to my previous letter of 23 December 1987 when I advised you that the Couneil would continue to provide temporary sccommodation for you and your family until the decision of the Court of Appeal on Some other cases. where the facts were similar to your own. was known

‘The Court of Appesl decision was handed down on 27 April 1988,

My understanding of the Order is that it requires the Counell to do the following {send you a letter of decision. setting out the basis of the Couneil’s conclusion that lt was reasonable for you to re main in the accommodation which was available to you in Bangladesh:

2. if the Council is able to formulate such a letter from the information which was available to it at the date of your Original decision letter, it need make no further inquiry: 8. if the Councll 1s unable to formulate such = letter Decause of any inadequacy in its investigation. it must make further inquiries before writing a further letter of Geoision;

‘The Council takes the view, however, that itis entitled to take into account all information before It at the time when Sewrites the letter, and this will be done.

Tam writing to inform you thst this process will take place within the next seven days and I will write to you

again, Eee

the homeless. More than any ‘ther group, homeless people are ‘isolated from the iminishing services provided by Local Authorities.

‘Nevertheless, a family in ‘carcerated in squalid bed and breakfast conditions will be ev pected t0 pay the same tax as a person living ina luxurious Docklands home!

‘Social control through <luen conditions mas provide short term gains for the governmcat Ie the long term i could spell Gessters "We have already ‘witnened the ably of homeless families 10 fighr tor their osha

it i regrettable that this courage has. Bees channeliod Towards lobbsing the extatish iment, Neither the courte nor. i the foreseeable future. parita-

iment fx going 10 provide homes for the Bomeiew omit mass 3¢- ton will do that

i onseless families are for ced on 10 the sicets, socialist.

feed f0 ensure that Families are Sheen support and protection. A

the end of the day. have to be

used if necessary instead of being viewed as an

area with a dire need for invest

‘ment in public housing, Tower offer an attractive alternative to

Hamlets is Internationally renting Tenowned as adumping ground "Both the government for adventure capital. Millions through its cut in Rate Support isbeing invested im housing and Grant. and. the Council

other developments which Lndermine the ability of the Council to meet housing needs and compound high levels of meme nd its inception the London Docklands Development Cor: poration (LDDC) was given 55 Df the 63 actes of building land Previously available 10 the ‘Council. 95% of the LDDC's housing developments are for ‘owner occupation. All are well ‘out-of the reach of local people 90% of whom cara less than £10,000 per annum.

through its sale of estates, have complemented each other 10 a tack, public sector venants and the prinple of fow rent howsine For all who need i

“The sctle of this attack on public sector housine — the jeht for everyone to ive in a defeat home — has shifted the political agenda around housing Beues, The concept of a com: prehensive public sector housing Provision no. longer Sacrosanct within the Labour Pans

Housing is a classic ise on The LDDC isaccoumrableon- which Labour hay allowed ly tothe needs of big business. It Tories 10 set the political agenshould be abolished and land da. Labour's former housing feturned to the lor=" “'unell to Spokesperson, Jeff Rooker. has be used principally for now, e pros

‘There can be no fudging the ne managed issue. A future Labour Council Instead of hhas to face up the the fact that veil be virtually impotent in

by. local Council responding aggressively to. the attack, the Party hay too often

Tackling the cfisis unless there is attempted 10 be “inn 2 campaign to repossess, on and creative” within the behalf of local people, the land parameters. set bythe stolen from us om behalf of government capital.

"The public ownership of Ownership

building land ix 2 pre-requisi 10-2 socialist housing policy. Cir Jeremy Shaw. the former Chair of Housing. argues that “ee have too much rented a commodation in” Council ‘ownership: there's 2 need for a beter mi of ames for rent and for sale 10 local people at prices ‘thes can afford.

Instead of tacklin of land ownership and pr property prices and the profi Srientated building industry, the Teft has (00 often buried is head in the ground to discuss the 2 fention of the role of housing Essociations. and co-operatives and the Fight to buy

‘The Council's ambitious "The bankrupicy of this. ap strategy of estate sales has ons proach manifests isell when compounded the Borough's Labour ‘Councils (such as Housing crisis. The vast majori- Camden) attack the homeless oF ty of people living in the utile the resources of the

Borough cannot afford to pur chase — the average price for 9

Metropolitan Police's Riot Unit as part of their housing manage

Studio flat tbedsi0s £70,000, ment team (as in Hacknes)

“The Liberal Manifesto on "Housing iv a compley issue housing mirrors current Tor. and there are no simple sol Dhilosophy on the inser sities. tons, However. there are Tan The Liberal Manifesto states’ damental pipet om which a

the Council will dispose Of soxialist housing polles needs 12

property and land feb evetopers, building soxieries, housing policy hhowsine "associations. co- —canmot_be achive. within the operatives and india framenork of a free. market cancination of alt Council (sched prices

fund and “accommedut Cohaing tao “publi ones determine its future tse Similars the building industry

promote an si hhas ta be brought under pal

wonieeship throws controle

bout they ate perhaps more tele

econ

Pus Tinks ssith the 1 DDC 10 362 2

KAIST

We oe Fy Cake fee Saves & imguricas 10 aha PR Wee tamesed oF derelict lad can

fomecreadine setuid ani utede Bethnal Green Town

Hal

shared ownership schemes can

; : z

London Labour Briefing No. 98 May 2Sth-June Tih 1988 page 4

A £2m

‘sacrifice to the gods’

Bloomsbury Health Authority has agreed drastic cuts of £1.9 million.

The Health Authority was facing a shortfall of £6m between what it needs and what it's got from the government.

‘They have decided to:

Close the Soho Hospital for Women as 3 centre. for gynaecology and cut the number of women treated in the speciality by a fifth. Cut: £700,000.

‘@Close St Peter's Hospital

although the Unit Manage: ment Board says this “has Tong been regarded by staff as 2 total break in. faith with jongstanding assurances that the relacation of the St Peter's Hospitals’ service would hap pen in @ planned and orderly mnranner” Cut: £300,000,

‘© Cut Family Planning Ser viees, although the local Com: munity Health Council wars: “in the light of the agreed eed to reduce the number of Unwanted pregnancies in Bloomsbury the closure of fur: ther community clinic ses Sions ‘would "be Sounter productive.” Cut. £109,000,

Possibly close the College Health Service, unless the cot leges find the money to take this on. themselves. Cut: Taken from press release £160,000, against Bloomsbury cuts

Where the axe will fall

Save St Peter’s!

St Peter's Hospital, fac-

@chop the Development Fund Tor priority services for jocal people. Cut: £630,000. iin addition, the Health ‘Authority called for massi tuts in the number of people treated who happen to live Sutside the immodiate area

Commenting

Commenting, Camden Councillor Ben Griffith, who is ‘a member of Bloomsbury Health Authority, sai: "There's no doubt that the cuts agred will take great chunks off the NHS locally The Health Authority is tying to shrug off its responsibilty to care for people who don’t ‘etualy lve in the area. “They're simply turning their back on the commuters ‘and the il people who come here for treatment because their GP thinks that’s best for them. We should welcome these patients, not tel them to ‘90 private oF go without “That's not saving Bloomsbury Health Authority — it's destroying the National Health Service “The bulk of these cuts were agreed “simply as 3 sacrifice to the gods in the Department of Health. The trouble is that assumes the {gods will be satisfied. All the evidence ie they'l just come back for more.””

not to work in the large, imper

109 eaty, would be forced to choose Bloomsbury Health between transferring there or

looking for 3 new job.

‘Nobody is opposed to the criginal,plan of relocating the St Peter's group to 8 new. in

group of four hospitals

carrying out kidney jegrated Centre on the Mid

transplants, dialysis and diesex site

other ‘specialist that the search for short-term

based Boaebuy oes ler aeeee The group (St Peter's. St stripping binge. breaking

Philip's, St Paul's and the Shaftesbury) was descr ‘ed by mangement last year

pledges on ths, and undermin {ng or abandoning the. long: term future of this key

fas "pre-eminent in the specialist unt. fields of Urology and Nephrology” Petition

But now there are fears that it could be swallowed Staff have launched 2 pro up in efforts to solve test petition to stop the Bloomsbury's problems of closure which will disrupt under-funding, treatment’ for existing pa

Closing “St Peter's would ents, outpatients and future save lose than £300,000 run- planned admissions. Con. Sa eS an EO Oe ye sultans are caling on Health Bloomsbury's deficit of 6m: Minister Tony Newton to in but developers are already ev-_tervene personally to halt the

ingupiistenvette Suectste, osure Tite property valle of te four Meonmbde @ campaign is reseaee Sr’antme Covent Getting.” underway,” with fom med ae Sereuading Bloomsbury Hes Authonty

ff fo thik yan especialy

es those members who nodded

Theouon tie cleeste Aon

Sisters are fuous at the

Danie planta shunt the 39-bed ‘The campaign has appealed

Hospital into a clamped for support from. health 30-bed ward at the Middlesex unions, other unions, com Hospital” left vacant by munity and other organisa previous cuts! tions,” MPs, Councilors and Themove — decidedin April concerned’ individuals in

na consultation and ‘no 2 for proper planning

‘ould break up the loyal team ial staff which Ras

Bloomsbury heatth district and Westminster.

1 you would tke to help. ‘contact 01-833 9347 and ask for Leigh (switchboard), June made St Pete's so friendly Weeks (ext. 40) or” Jean fand supportive for pationts. Douglas ext. 18)

Same staff would lose ther (Taken from jobs: others: ‘chosen leaflet)

campaign

‘March Sth: marching to defend the NHS

Charing Cross Hospital, about the murses” pay rise

capitulated to public pressure? Or is there, as there always has been

It's only a promise so far — ‘we've seen nothing yet. Even if wre do get 2 15% rise, it won't Change how we think about ‘work, or solve the problems of Shortstaffing and bad housing.

How short-stafed are you? In this Health Authority, we’s ‘working with about 2 30% shortage of nurses. In fact, the Authority couldn't afford. 10 pay us all if we were fully Staffed!

In Canada the aurses got 2 100% pay rise some years azo. Very son after, half the nurses Jost their jobs! This government ‘wll follow that example — it wton’t realy spend any more on nurses tham Before, due to the short staffing.

Nurses are difficult to recruit now, especially in London, with figh rents. Sometimes we just about manage with agency Staff. Sometimes we don't manage

Will more people take up aursg now?

Tthiok many more Accommodation fees

The housing anyhow, with

The London Health Workers Co-ordinating Committee has arisen from the body which played a major part in making the one-day strikes on February rd and March 14th ‘as successful as they were ‘Open meetings are now being held every two weeks

The bulletin, London Heslthworker, con be received if you send 9 Sonation to Andrew Philips ‘slo Union Office, Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, Landon NWS. Please make cheques payable to Charing Cross Hospital JSSC or Royal Free Hospital JSSC (while accour for LHCC is being opened)

Focus on London’s health NURSES’ PAY RISE

Reject the Tories’ ‘divide and rule’!

‘What has the overall effect of the pay deal been on nurses who took strike action in February ‘and March?

There's expectancy in the air, afterall these months of waiting.

“The pay rise all depends on clinical regrading. Each nurse ‘must be assessed individually by her/his local manager. It's 2 deliberate manoeuvre to keep us ‘waiting and to foster divisions between nurses.

1 feel most sorry for the student nurses — they will see very litle out of the pay deal. Their Percentage increase will be Substantially “lower than for ‘Qualified staff, and this must nly widen the gap between them. The students. seem ex tremely fed up at being used as hard labour foc s0 ite return

‘The students and young nurses took the responsibilty of Drganising the last two strikes. 1 ‘was very impressed that not one ‘asked for more money. The placards and slogans were ali for "Full Funding. for the NBS

(OF course, that includes bet: tee wages forall healthworkers, but it proved our anity. And Uthat unity with other hospital ‘workers fs still there, wailing,

Riverside Health Authority has

The Authority meets on May 26th (as Briefing goes 10 press) to vote on its own plan to close

fire local hospitals — the ‘Westminster, Westminster Children’s, West London,

Mary Abbotts, and St Stephens! ‘This is a shocking cur in health services, almsot 100 Huge 10 it would have tragic conse: for tocal people, with

the los of large numbers of beds and cots. Stalf would be

PHOTO: Martine Stead

moved around and over 600 This obviously calls for a huge ant-cuts_ campaign. How are the healthworkers responding? ‘The enormity of the cuts and the timing (following hard on. the heels of two strikes) has taken many healthworkers by surprise. The young nurses who led the srikes are sill learning how to run a long battle and join

My department would amalgamate with ts counterpart from Westminster Hoeptal and tecome a Specaliy, Charing Gross would fouse all the Sects Separments and cesse iO be a local general hospital Ordinary "people round here fool be forced to prisms kh ee seme Leino cu peyeewatiod “Meee tae aisoene iB ble some amazing les and ‘As for the staff at Charing Ravertised their plan as an im Cross wearctcing them mot prosemen it Reaihcare! be complacent. Our workload "However, we have retaliated may increas by 30%. Our work with our own information cam andards would almost cena.

rain- — paignand have been helped b iy drop and there wouldn't be fhe'huge public support forthe noush space to work in We NHS Our lee “Plelp te Age

may sec ew -coniracts being iksued, like the P&O workers.

1 cannot see this happening wrhouta fit People can oy {ake so much.

ed” has played a big part in tapping local support. The links we nade between the five hospitals Goring the strikes have ‘been invaluable

Underground Safety

Tubewatch reveals further job cuts

As safety levels on the London Underground come under the most intense scrutiny in decades, the London Underground chiefs plan a fresh attempt to cut costs and shed staff.

London Underground Ltd ‘should be forced to withe

Tubewatch, the bulletin

‘and workers, has posals by

Underground Utd which will affect some 10,000 frontline Staff

The plans amount to a sharp increase in work, 2 reduction in pay. and conditions and more job losses,

‘Such changes can only decrease safety levels at 3 time when the public and staff are extremely concerned Shout “the state of the Underground system

‘Subscribe to. Tubewatch One year (12 issues): £10 lorganisations)

£5 (individual)

£2 (unemployed)

Send name, address and remittance to Tubewatch, PO Box 22, 136 Kingsland High St, London E8 (cheques payable to ‘Transport Resources'’).

The propossls are a sick joke. Coming st a time when Condon Underground chiefs fre accused of putting costs before safety, these changes would result in hundreds of jobs being lost and an incrediBle strain being put on remain: ing employees: