Barking and Dagenham are set to go out on of.
tional Union of Teachers in two years.
ecutive of the union boroughs.
the strike about?
It's about the jobs of 160 teachers and the level of education provided in one of the most working class London boroughs.
Last year, 80 jobs were cut out of 1400 and now they're coming back for Heseltine's cuts local ent ndi the case seven Barking and Dagenaam cent of are given as the reason.
This is a heavy blow any council, but the TOTI local council which is 90 per cent Labour has done nothing to mobilise орKen Jones explains the issues 900 TEACHERS in the East London borough of ficial strike for three days from 16 Feb and indefinite strike from 26 Feb. This is the first such action sanctioned by their union, the NaLa Socialist Challenge supporter and teacher in Dagenham School spoke about the issues to Ken Jones, secretary of the local NUT and a candidate for the National Exin the outer London position these cuts.
They've had no contact with trade unions except to tell them about the cuts and had no contact with the local people Leaders of the council have stated that no social justice in these cuts' and talk about a national Call airli against the government' while in practice they do nothing. been the response of the local unions?
The lead in the fight against the cuts - which affect other sectors besides education has been taken by the NUT, which represents per cent of the teaching force in the area.
viner unica: na•:... been as militant even 200 schoo meals workers in NUPE and GMWU for instance face the sack.
Over the past six mor. ths, NUT meetings of 30% have been CommOnDiake and workplace meeting have been held in almos: every school.
It is through such ai tivity that we've been able to get the backing of the national union What are implica tions nationally?
For a long time a battle has been going on for the NUT to strike against job loss as well as compulsor redundancy. If this strik wins, that argument wil have been won.
More i that, vic tory in this area will encourage memoes dl uve the country to resist the cuts. We are now the national focus for activity which will determine the future LOUESC of the union.
We have called on the national executive to call a solidarity strike throughout London on 10 March.
are you doing about getting support in the Labour Party and is being done locally to build support for 10 March?
The NUT is handicappe:
in this fight by , not beire affiliated to the Labour Party.
Even so, the loca.
association is calling or.
local wards and consiltuencies throughout the country to put pressure or and Dagenham Council not to implemen.
these cuts and to mount a campaign of resistance to government policy.
Socialist Challenge 18 February 1982 page 15