President, Lambeth Trades Council DELEGATES from all over the country came to the first meeting of the steering committee elected by the Lambeth anti-cuts conference earlier this month.
They decided on a plan of activity to follow on from the success of the conference.
The 6 per cent wage limit was seen as yet another attack on local government services. With strict cash limits being imposed by the Tories, there are even fewer options open to workers and councillors who want to maintain services and jobs.
Michael Heseltine has now postponed the date for the announcement of the new rate support grant, which determines the levels of local government subsidy from Westminster. Rush It was December, but is now delayed until some time in January. It gives local authorities even less time to plan action against cuts, and right-wing councils will use this as an excuse to make cuts. The delav will force councils to rush the preparation of their budgets, and in the rush cuts will be made.
postponement cides with the special Labour Party local conference December by the party executive in order to divert support from the Lambeth conference.
The Tories will be watching the 'official' cuts conference decides to organise any fightback. steering committee will be sending Ted Knight, leader of Lambeth Labour council ON 1 November, hundreds of delegates from all over the country attended the one-day conference called by Lambeth Labour Party and trade unions to plan action against Tory cuts in local government.
After wide-ranging ascussIon. the conlerence voted resolutions and amendments.
the policy stalculcul conterence The statement outlines the action needed from both conculors lo save toos and services:
'Specifically, Labour and should undertake..
policy.
due to be announced on 4 alone. ironically coin- will Labour called for 6 and possible, to see it The Lambeth Room mustn't happen to Lambeth.
*no cuts in jobs or services.
act about.
OSUO plementary rate increases this financial year.
*no sales council to argue that the rest of the movement should adopt the same fighting policies as the Lambeth conference.
Liverpool demonstration
Saturday will be an ideal opportunity to win support for the Lambeth positions. The steering committee has agreed to produce a leaflet to publicise the policies needed to fight cuts. We hope to be able to produce an anti-cuts newsletter.
Action against the cuts has to have the support TO Co CounCes and local and national trades unionists.
Lambeth manual unions have taken a firm stand. They are planning two weeks of strike action aimed against the Tories. They hope that this will coincide with any pay especial there especially if the Union is on strike.
Ted Knight, along with other Labour council leaders has to maintain a determined stand against cuts. Lambeth is at the forefront of the anti-cuts fight, and the steering committee wants to make sure that Ted Knight is not left to stand The date set for the recall conference is 17 January. We want it to be a working plan against the Tories and with any section of the public sector fighting back.
Unlike the last conference, be open to delegates from local Party wards, industrial unions, shop stewards committees. want it to be the broadest conference to make sure that the Tory plans for the public sector are stopped once and for all.
Credentials are available from: Local Government Steering Committee, 103, Lambeth Town Hall, Hill, London SW2 IRW.
this cent pay Brigades action this one Brixton TED KNIGHT Labour councillors carry . out Labour parties should fight those who are not prepared to make cuts..
The conference voted 'Trade that: unionists should consider..
Lo-pealt nev seas anon. tor examaore une sale or council nouses, and to take strike action against *refusing ing overtime and ignt ior a shorter working week *Non co-operation with the introduction *refusal to deal with increased charges.
In so mp ment these ference voted to 'establish a policies, Cull steerin committed organise a svstematio cam paign to win support for ac exchange and disseminate informalion on tac acuon be movement organisations details trade unions and Laboul make the commitments called for by this conference should be mandated to call a ConnerencE organise action in support penalised by LOCa government crisis steering committee Room Lambeth Brixton Socialist Challenge
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(Report) Photo: Peter Harrap