THE Tory budget is only one of a number of financial burdens which are being imposed on working people in the next couple of months.
Already, many council tenants are faced with massive rent rises, and higher rates are on the way.
Many of these finansource, the Tory's public spending cuts, Dul tiest often Labour controlled councils.
One such council is the London borough Camden which last week average of £3 a week and a cent.
redundanthe council's building department are also under way.
And yet, just two years of Camden council agreed to pay its low-paid WULKCIS crease of between f5 ' and £11 above that agreed na tionally.
How is it that Camden has now capitulated to Michael Heseltine and the secretary of the local NUPE branch, John Suddaby is in a good posiWhere the money comes from tion to explain what has happened, lessons are for the future.
ul uc bast. savs Jon. 'the Labour group leadership's attitude has been to keep its head down, and hope that, as a so-calcu high spending council, it would go unnoticed 'But recently, threat trom the district auditor, the council reversed its position on a number of policies.
Crucial It was this intervention by the district auditor vhich proved crucial. Th counci was threatened with court action, and the councillors with having to personally pay surcharges make up for what the auditor considered past 'over-spending'.
Part of this was the pay supplement agreed by the council during winter of discontent. Ihe council are now proposing ._-.144.0 Detence . . . -£36.7 Mealth .. .- £16.7 ...Il/.3 Social security.
£115.3 billion John Suddaby withdraw that supplement.
The reaction trade unions to these measures la been disap pointing. Originally, John exodus. Wice was ally of opposition to the cuts bv the unions. the district auditor entered Lne scene and we are talking here about the law and the effectiveness of legal intervention that unity was seriously weakened.
"Thus, a NALGO mass meeting agreed …TO cooperate with the council and the building workers voluntary redundancies.
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£125.9 'On the other hand we in NUPE had a one-day strike on 1 March, but the Tact unar omer udons de temporarily out of action has had serious : implications.' Constraints The reaction from the local Labour Party was also mixed John recounted: 'At meeting I attended week, there were a large number of Labour Party who criticised the leadership of the council.
saying there were constraints and the council had to obey the law. And, of course, they used the fact that there is not a London campaign against ine cuts, national campaign or campaigns in other boroughs to justify tre dances The building of such campaigns is, believes John, crucial for the fight against the Tory cuts Camden : grouping of the Labour indeed coul cillors voted The Deficit: how it was financed in 1980 Sales of Government stock National savings ..
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Printing money (note oca authorities Other (tax certificates etc). cuts package — supported by many rank and file party members situation neere a situation where Labour Parties dissociate themselves from councils who implement cuts. But such a split should not just directed towards selecting councilors. Outwards 'What is also involved is the Labour Parties turning outwards, involving themselves in a campaign with the trade unions and Leilallls mobilise the community and demand that the coun Cakes a stand.
Such questions are becoming more important the local looming The twin policy of Lab. our Party members work. ing to council candidates those who implement : cuts, while turning to the community as a whole to mount a campaign to back up such a stance is something which deserve. LNe most acave consideration by militants both inside and outside the . 70% - 7.5% :£10.6 1.5% 1