London Labour Briefing no. 97

wer Hamlets

| Council does

UNITE AGAINST

RACIS

ATTACKS ON THE HOMELESS!

Following its trail-blazing, racist evictions of homeless Bangladeshi families, Tower Hamlets Liberal Council is set to make history yet again, and inspire a major under ig of statutory provision for the homeless.

This comes amid increasing concern amongst the top ranks of their a salad” parent party — the

Tower Hamlets evicted homeless Bangladeshi families from Bed and Breakfast accommodation (by stopping paying the bills) on the outrageous grounds

s were “intentionally as they had left

moring the fact that many of the families have been settled in Britain for jears — some members for most of

The Association of Liberal Councillors and the Parliamentary Liberal Party have both condemned the actions of Tower Hamlets Council.

Simon Hughes has written twice to the Council, and has also condemned their

By Jenny Fisher Bow & Poplar CLP

action. Hughes blamed the evictions on government restrictions on local government finance. Fundamentally this is the true cause — but the Council has still found the money to carry out court action against the families rather than house them. The Council has gained much from their action. It is not a question of the bills of the families concerned — it is also a question of lowering expectations amongst the black community in London about their housing rights; and encouraging the racists in the white community to blame black people for their share of the housing crisi: Tower Hamlets Council has also provided fodder for the Tories to pursue the divide and rule tactic they thought they were the masters of; and undermine the housing rights of black people through the statute

book. The current Housing Bill has always been

seen by the left as just the start of a fundamental attack on opportunity in housing for working class people. As reported in the press, it now seems that the next target will be the homeless. The Tories are considering the repeal of the 1977 Housing and Homeless Persons Act, and a major redefinition of “homelessness” — to the new definition of “rooflessness”. The statutory right to access to permanent housing is under threat of being replaced with a right of families to temporary

accommodation only.

This is where the Tower Hamlets Liberal policy of “investing in racism” pays off. If the homeless are portrayed as black people who have no right to be in Britain, then

esting in homelessness” is the next step — and the homeless will find themselves isolated as they are attacked.

The labour movement must see through this class attack by the Tories, and respond with class solidarity, in a united campaign.

Meanwhile, the Tower Hamlets homeless families are no longer all in the Church Hall they were offered sanctuary in after their evictions. A variety of organisations, including the Church, have found a ramshackle collection of temporary accommodation while the Homeless Families Campaign continues to press for permanent accommodation to be offered.

‘As we go to press, the latest development is that the HFC presented indi

to the Social Services,

undermining the professional role of

iren’s needs, the Council Leadership instructed them not to use Section 1 money to fund any continued stay in Bed and Breakfast.

Are the Tories listening? Will the next thing we see be an attack on statutory provision of Social Services, Tower Hamlets Liberals do the Tories ty work?

LABOUR-— TAKE THE POWER!

London Labour Briefing No, 97 June 22nd-July Sth 1988 page 2

Library camila

Council issues summons

The Leadership of Hackney Council has issued a summons aj “the unknown occupiers of Goldsmiths Row,

Howard Road, _ and Somerford Grove Libraries.

This followed their triumph at the Borough Conference, where by

combination of intimidation ‘and manipulation they secured the reversal of & previous decision to reinstate the six axed library services,

‘These libraries, _ whi have been occupied by library workers, trade unionists, and members of the local community since March llth, have provided an ever growing focus of opposition to the Council's cuts policy.

‘More and more peole are finding it unacceptable that

the Council is prepared to do the Tories’ dirty work for them and attack its own workforce and local supporters.

People know what

damage library cuts cause to the education of the Borough’s young people, to the elderly, to people living in run-down communities — in fact, to all the people the Council claims to care about.

Many have taken an in creasingly active role in the fight to save library services.

By DAVE KEANE

The Council, on the other hand, has. become increasingly’ determined to crush this movement — hence the summons.

‘The summons, taken out by Keith Stevens, the Head of Library Services (and a NALGO member) is for a fepoststion order. I rather hiypocritically cites us. for Ublawful use of Council pro perty — Deeause we provide 2 book lending service!

‘The Council's plans had been to deprive fhe communities around the three ibraries - of any booklending service by putting the materials ito store.

The affidavit goes on (0 say that the Counell wants to tse the buildings for "wider community. service” with “hopefully some booklending facilities". If Une Council gains repossession it is very doubtful that any of these things will happen. from the workers’ point of view, is the Council's total disregard for their trade tinion, NALGO, and of the collecive "bargaining proces.

From the start of the oc-

lost library services. Though we have stated repeatedly

Hackney Health Emergency

Things are hotting up in other departments. ‘The Council is threatening to + dock the. pay of Housing Mobile Patrol workers for following long-established trade union policy of not covering for vacant posts. This action may provoke a strike. As the Tory attack on public services grows fiercer

Friday, June 24th (the day and as our Labour Councils of the hearing). increasingly act as the We will appeal to the Tories” agents, the workers

have to respond with in- ‘creasing vigour to defend themselves and their services.

‘One final indication of

@No library closures!

@Hackney Council: Fight the Tories, not your workers!

‘@Drop the Court action!

@No victimisation!

Lobby the Central Office, Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, WC2, at Ipm on Friday June 24th.

(Hackney Teachers Association have already promised support).

When the current administration took power in Hammersmith and Fulham in 1986 the aumber of left Councillors came as a shock. Briefing supporters stood marginal wards, and few ‘were expected to be elected. But with the local election straight after the Fulham byelection, Labour swept to power.

The result was three roughly equal sections in the Labour Group — right, soft left, and hard left. The soft Teft did a deal with the right, and took the Leadership, though the hard left gained a number of posts — notably Chair of Housing and Chief Whij

‘The hard left — with support from some of the soft

— fought to adopt an expansionary programme, They were particularly successful, but eventually, under the threat of resignation from the Leader, the programme was pruned.

Some members construed this as “cuts”, and resigned from Council Committees (but remained members of the Group).

‘The Kinnockite policy for the last two years has been studied in action. They were, however, forced to obtain a large loan, mainly to build

By various strategems, take-up of the loan was delayed, thus allowing the Tories to pass retrospective legislation outlawing it. This devastated the Council's house-building plans. Other ‘manoeuvres included delaying the appointment of staff to vacant and newly created Posts,

‘This strategy was not without problems. The left opposed many of | the measures, and the right objected to cuts in the housing capital programme.

A deal t won’t wo

Both right and left argued that more resources should be allocated to housing. Eventually, this policy opened divisions within the centre, A gap widened between those wanting action, and chose keen to maintain inactivity for their own reasons.

In the Group AGM this year, three people stood for Leader: Gordon Prentice, incumbent, — ('

man); Hugh ‘Thompson, from the other half of the soft left; and Mike Goodman, a maverick right winger.

‘The two centre candidates had a running mate for Deputy. The: right didn’t, and on the left Ian Harrison from the Briefing Group decided to stand for Deputy Leader. Some comrades wanted Harrison to stand for Chair of Housing, but he refused.

By ALAN LENTON

Harrison recognised that he had no chance of beating Vivienne Lukie for Deputy, soa campaign was launched to ensure that she withdrew. Since Lukie would withdraw if Thompson wasn't elected, the comrades set out to stop Thompson ‘becoming Leader. This meant backing Prentice or Goodman, and they decided on Goodman.

Confused? Read on, comrade.

Prentice is a Senior Local Government Officer at

Walworth Road. His job is to ensure Laboir Councils toe the line. Thompson also comes from the soft left. Politically, there is not a lot ‘to distinguish them — except that Thompioe oppoted the of inaction.

PiGonioan var eae oy many — especially the Harrison grouping — to be the weakest candidate. When the Fulham Party launched a witch-hunt against Milicant,

40 Years of the NHS

With Mark Miwurd, Big Red Band, Joe ““Seamonster”’ Brand, Maria Callous, Annie Connell, Diane Abbott MP, Brian Sedgemore MP, Local Healthworkers

Assembly Hall Hackney Town Hall Tuesday July 5th

7.30pm

£3 waged, £1.50 healthworkers, £1 unwaged Tickets available on the door Sponsored by Hackney Council

Win some, lose some

On.June 16th the left

Here's why:

@This was 2 dual byelection, which encourages cross-party voting.

‘Many supposed Labour supporters refused to vote for Andy because he is ‘openly gay, and/or for his running mate Joko Macfoy because he is black.

‘@The ward contains the largest Council estate in London and angry tenants are on the receiving end of the Council's strategy of implementing Tory cuts.

This combination _of bigotry and disaffection gave the Green Party ‘enough votes to hand the ‘seats over to the Tories.

In two other wards, Labour rightwingers held their seats, and we may

By Jim Thain Hackney North & Stoke ‘Newington CLP

Row expecta further stepping-up of the witchhunt fuelled by the decision of the Annual Borough Congress not to re-open three occupied libraries.

Following this, rabid rightwinger Gez ‘Mullally had a vote of no confidence passed on Militant Councillor Lynne Faulkes, and is trying to have the whip withdrawn from her. Workers Power supporter George Binette has been removed from his post as Branch Secretary. Now it is surely Briefing’s turn.

The right will find fresh inguisitional capital on June 24th, when the Council hauls library occupiers before the High Court.

But we should not become bitter. These struggles steel us for the greater battles ahead.

The Bicycle Chain

The Bicycle Co-operative Association Limited

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With a truly stunning price of only £350.000 For each of these fat-tyred, index-geared, 18-speed machines sold, The Bicycle Chain will donate £35.00 (i.e. 10%) to Bikes Not Bombs This organisation exists to promote appropriate means of transport in Nicaragua The !Vival comes in Black with Red Trim The !Vival comes in sizes to suit women and men from 4’ 11" to 6’ 3"

For more details phone:

Mosquito Bikes 249 7915 Brixton Cycles 733 6055

The BNB (UK) Atlantic Coast Project is supported by Lord Avebury, Stuart Holland MP, Lambeth/Bluefields Twinning Group,

London Labour Briefing No. 97 June 22nd-July Sth 1988 poge 3

Computing staff fight back

As part of the abolition portunities policy, maternity of the GLC, the London pay, back to the | legal Residuary "Body was minimum, cuts in holidays, Created (0 dispose of the "mentary discipline and GLC's assets. ee Basororn = One of the biggest of these Staff were offered — apart from the County “counselling interviews” at Hall buildings themselves — which job offers would be is the Central Computer Ser- made on an individual basis. vices (CCS), which mow pro- The joint unions, GLSA and ‘vides computing facilities to NALGO, responded by callmany of the scattered re- ing a mass mecting which mains of the GLC and, of voted overwhelmingly to course, the bulk of 1 Doycott these interviews unTLEA was originally to til outstanding issues were have taken over CCS, but settled. ‘with our abolition coming _Hoskyns and the CCS Up, cuts, and, one suspects, management responded with government interference, cosmetic improvements to ECS is to be privatised for the erievance and free in one of the biggest disciplinary procedures, giveaways since the minor concessions on mater~ ‘Westminster cemeteries. nity pay, and “‘equal opporHoskyns isa large com- tunities within CCS only” puter contractor, set up by Sir John Hoskyns (one of By a CCS worker Thatcher's leading advisers). It is now owned by Martin After ten days of fruitless Marietta, a large American negotiation, the unions callaerospace concern with huge ed another mass meeting on defence contracts (it built June Ist. Hoskyns manage the Challenger rocket which ment went over the unions" exploded). heads, and issued a bluntly Tt is grabbing CCS in a threatening letter toa staff, “facilities management” with a tear-off slip at the deal, getting the equipment bottom offering three (actually hired), 300 trained options: staff (computer staff are @interview and job offer Scarce and. expensive), and saccept, a. job. without March Sth “Save LEA demo shows wide support for bothering with an interview 2ducation in London. @1n0 job. the vital systems staff. tends to use CCS as a “This slip, the letter warn- Within a day, the June 2nd foothold to make a big grab ed, had to be returned by deadline was withdrawn and for Local Authority comi a whole series of concessions puting service when new on staff side representation government legislation had been made. forces them to put the ser- ‘tthe time of writing, itis vices out to tender. Many slips were to be collected by not clear how substantial battles over trade union and staff representatives and these concessions are, but other rights are to come. bringing a big jump in salary held pending a satisfactory they seem to be a move Local Authority computing for some. agreement. towards recognising the workers should watch out — ‘But on conditions they are Around 100 of the slips unions in all but name. ‘Hoskyns is about! less appealing: no equal op- were collected, including all It is clear that Hoskyns in-

lan Harrison

Gondman supported it to believing, that they could the hilt, As Fulham delegate “slide in’* left policies on to Panty Confurcoce he side, Socal Desocacy se spoke in favour of the expul- tered with the corpses of sion of Militant. others who have fallen into ‘Last year Goodman was this trap! the Chair of Planning. He There was a large measure allowed Chelsea Football of agreement on the left, the Club to redevelop its ground right, and part of the centre ina way which drove a cart on the importance of housand horses through planning ing. A set of policies could regulations. Eventually, the have been agreed with the DoE called in the scheme for breakaway centre. Over investigation. He then refus- time, there might have been led to fight the Tories over a political realignment. The public enquiry on the possibility existed to change redevelopment of the Island the balance of forces in site. His (inactivity on this favour of the left issue incensed local groups This is not to say of land they plastered the area course, that these things with “Wanted” posters! would have definitely hapFinally, he admitted at the pened, but a clear possibility [Group meeting following his existed and it was the election that while he was responsibility of the left to Chair of Planning he had try to realise i been the company secretary Instead, comrades opted fof a building company doing for an_ organisational soluwork in the borough, but tion. The result is already had not declared his interest’ clear. No realignment of ‘Some comrades justified forces has taken place and their decision to back Good- the resentment of the man in various ways. Some breakaway centre at _ the Jargued that Militant are the behaviour of the Harrison ight wing and deserve to be group is pushing them back fexpelled. Others argued that into the arms of the there was no difference in Kinpockites. the politics of the can- The comrades have got ldidates, Even if this argu- themselves into an unenIment is accepted, the fact viable position. They have that Thompson came out as sacrificed a lot to get where Jeay a long time ago means they are — but they can’t get that they should have ap- any further without more of plied positive discrimination the same. And, after making jand voted for him. all those deais, what will Seeing Goodman as a happen to the socialist hopes weak candidate the com- with which those comrades Irades fell into the trap of took their Council seats?

Anti-Apartheid Sacking was “political Make decision’’ A

PHOTO: Mertine Stead

2 Sacked ILEA NALGO 5 Bricting supporters in Shop Steward Tony fea NATGO Marriott — victimised ae 2 T for his trade union ac- Trias, in Ss tivities — continues to “Tony is being strongly = press his a for backed by his own ———_—_ | reinstatement. ILEA/GLS_NALGO branch codealiih Sas By Mike Phipps ‘Alarm bells are ringing in and by NALGO nationally. Sentech: ‘Chair, Greenwich & County Halll corridors. (John Daly has written to meeting in Woolwict Berley Anti-Apartheid When a concerned con- the Authority about the called by Greenwich ——— | stituent confronted Isi- matter). and Bexley Anti- Gnd is now on tial for___| ington South ILEA Member "This is the latest and one Aparthei {reason for his role in the | Joan Hooker about the of the most outrageous in Speakers included a Alexandra Township sacking, he was told that a long history of harassrepresentative of SATIS Committee. the matter had been ment and victimisation of (the official Anti- The most important discussed at 2 meeting of |NALGO and other trade [Apartheid campaign for contribution was made by | the Steff Committee at- union stewards by ILEA of- [South Africa's detainees), Lionel Morrison, last tended by the Head of Per- ficers, all too often backed Political pressure is an 1. utilise their authority to fand Terry Bell of the year's NUJ President. sonnel — and Hooker ad- up by Labour members try- essential part of the cam- ensure the reinstatement Friends of Moses Morrison, himself 2 former | mitted that it had been a ing to prove that when it paign to get justice for of the steward: Mayekiso Campaign. treason trialist and “political decision’ comes’ to. management Tony Marriott. ILEA 2. set up @ member-level MN member of the South veteran of several years in | _ Not that it matters, but they can be as tough as residents should take up inquiry into the sacking of African union NUMSA South African jails, argued | Tony is not a member of the Tories. the issue with elected a NALGO Shop Steward spoke about the huge strongly for direct links | any political party. ‘Tony Marriott has a case members at their surgeries which will investigate: [support for the biggest____with trade unions there Hooker, ILEA™ member pending before an in- (details of surgeries from . abuses of ILEA’s equal Stayaway in the country’s He explained how NUJ | with responsibility for dustrial tribunal (claiming ILEA/GLS NALGO on 633 opportunities policy history branches had twinned Cereers Service {where wrongful dismissal for 5569/70). b. flouting of the ACAS He aiso described the directly with South Tony worked before being trade’ union activities). Code of Practice top level meeting African trade unions and | victimised for his trade Meanwhile, NALGO Please pass the follow- c. the ignoring of the (eroiving NUMSA, SACTU raised material solidenty | union activity) revealed members are taking in- ing resolution in your grievance procedure of the {he South African to support them that the sacking wes for dustrial action on his branch, section, wade LEA. Congress of Trde Unions), _ Responding toa "breach of contract”, behalf. Following a suc- union and GC: Defend Jobs and Serland the ANC which sometimes sharp | thereby confirming. that cessful day of action on “This... deplores the vices in the ILEA. Defend jappears to have overcome discussion, he ergued that | previous tales of “failure June 8th (when 60 NAL- sacking of an ILEA NALGO the ILEAI”” earlier hostility to the ail the organisations fo meet probationary re- GO members picketted Shop Steward from the If passed, send copies to Friends of Moses fighting apartheid Quirements ..”" were what County Hall), the Branch ILEA Careers Service. We LEA members, GLLP Ex Mayekiso Capsign. Moses deserved the support of | NALGO had always claim- has called another one on call on the ILEA Labour ecutive members

7s the Leader of NUMSA, British activists. ed they were — pure Friday June 24th, Members to: ILEA/GLS NALGO

London Laboir Briefing No. 97 June 22nd-July Sth 1988 page ¢

- Socialist Conference

‘‘Chesterfield’’

comes to South London

July 2nd-3rd; 10.30-5.30 (both days)

Thames Poly, Woolwich, Calderwood Street (Woolwich Arsenal British Rail)

Speakers include: Jeremy Corbyn Sharon Atkin Betty Heathfield Lindsey German Duncan Hallas Hilary Wainwright

Saturday Morning

Main Session: Black Liberation and the fight against racism

followed by workshops:

Immigration and deportation; Southern Africa; Black people in the labour and trade union

movement; Black people and the education system: the threat to civil liberties.

Saturday Afternoon

New Realism and the Fightback against the Tories

Workshops:

Building solidarity with workers in struggle: Health; Education; Local Government; Unemployment; Gay Rights; The environment and

ics; The Rights of People with

The Economy and the Socialist

Alternative.

Plenary Session: The Poll Tax

Evening Social

Sunday Morning

Women’s Liberation and the struggle for socialism

Workshops:

The Family and Sexual Politics; Abortion Rights: Organising Women in the labour and trade union movement; Black Feminism and the struggle against double oppression

Sunday Afternoon

International Solidarity and the Battle for Liberation worldwide

Workshops: South Africa; Palestine; Ireland; Eastern Europe; Disarmament and NATO.

Final Rally: Creating a Movement for Our Time — for a fighting, united left

London Demonstration in support of sacked

P&O seafarers Wednesday June

29th

Assemble 12 noon Hyde Park corner

We will march to P&0O’s

headquarters in Pall Mall and Picket

March called by London Support Groups All Briefing readers are urged to attend, and

to publicise this demonstration in labour movement bodies and campaigns

BRABANT RD TRADE UNION

CENTRE N22

WooD GREEN TUBE.