Newcastle THE nine-week old civil service strike is costing the government 15,000m a week in lost revenue -which adds up to pounds for each striker.
But despite the success of the selective strikes, it is now becoming tactic on its own is not sufficient to win the dispute.
Consequently,: members the civil service becoming frustrated by the poor leadership shown by the national council of the civil service unions.
In some cases workers have taken matters into their own hands and have come unofficial action during the past week.
For example, the Livingstone computer centre, cesses giro checks, was out for three days, closing to the public of the benefit offices in Scotland and. AT the Wales TUC congress last weekend the largely right wing leadership started lose •la:Con At the 1980 Congress it had succeeded in stifling almost all debate and opposition. But since then the crisis in Wales has rapidly worsened ma urc piovucul das ulcicascu Lu 13.6 per cent — nearly one in seven of the workforce.
As a result a left oppostion to the leadership has begun to emerge. Two issues In particular brought open opposition.
A motion from Merthyr Tydfil Trade Council demanded a special Coent, and Lliw Valley Trades Couy- conference cil called for the establishment of a youth section of the Wales TUC.
Despite opposition trom General Council both motions attracted substantial although the chair - JM Griffiths the IUWU declared them defeated.
It was the massive opposition to the Wales TUC's social plan which most rattled the leadership. plan seeks agreement between the unions, the CBI, and the Labour government on General Council cit obliged to withdraw the resolu. tion endorsing the plan.
lhe document and debate was surel! consultative. Speech after peech slammed the plan Sacialist Challenge 7 May 1981 Pago 14. . ....
scad iii r=r a million enormous clear that of unions are increasingly out on which prounemployment servants.
to win the dispute. for the public NUPE led the benaaeuresto orsaner Democratic Party'.
Emlyn Williams, miners' union president, that the social plan was an attempt to get a new version of the social contract and that he had been mandated by the NUM to urge total rejection of it.
began the fight for alternative left policies at there is still a long way to go. Strike unemployDes Dutfield, the South Wales NUM, made one of the the most important contributions. He attacked the pathetic leadership support, of many unions ment, dubiously ready for a fight now, given the right And in reference to Wales The secretary George Wright, added: 'Don't apologise for using next the strike weapon economic employers are kicking you in the guts.' at another Wales TUC conference, and that can only accelerate the formation of this emerging left current around the NUM and NUPE 4 in6 didoos Calls for stepping-up the action will be heard over the next couple of weeks when the trade unions involved are holding their emergency motions calling for an all-out strike from the end of DHSS branch is demanding complete stoppages at ports and airengaged in an all-out strike, and Thev nave never even seenon strike for more than a day for anything less than full strike pay.
realise that they don't have any choice but to go the whole way once the selective strike strategy When that happens the union members could be most uncivil The indication is that there is a growing determination Derek Gregory, full-time officer employees' union attack, calling the South Wales and explained nacemen.
secretary The NUM and NUPE delegates the congress, though deputy The adopted : president ot for money over unemployemphasising that 'people are Committee, none too veiled general Dutfield when the The social plan is to be debated next election
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the north of England. Wales TUC Congress