Scots tenants angry

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160,000 members of the England Plumbers: W. Gannon; Confed engineering strike in Scottish Office Minister Malcolm Rifkind had to run the gauntlet of: angry pickets the other week as he made his way to a major housing forum. tenants pickets representing sity associations, called for anti-union Employment Act. radical changes in the government's housing policy-and more money for Glasgow.

In an angry exchange with Scottish Tenants Organisation secretary Frances Hamilton, Rifkind said council houses were being sold because people wanted to buy them-and not because of government policy.

paired invalidated from the election.

In fact candidates receiyed Hamilton had urged the Minister to consider the housing cuts and try to channel more money to resolve the problems of Glasgow's housing.

One picket called for a cure for damp houses and . urged Mr Rifkind to live in one for a week and see what it's like"

Glasgow District Councillor Dave Wiseman then challenged Rifkind to an open debate in his ward on the condition of houses. But he declined this request.

nearing this some of the people" who had been standing in freezing weather had to be held back from expressing their views more forcibly.

Rifkind made his way into the housing forum being held in the Mitchell Centre, Glasgow.

Ms Hamilton said later:

"We aim to protect tenants throughout Scotland, and it is only with action like this that we can make ourselves heard".

Castlemilk Tenants Association secretary Iris McDonald echoed the protestors' feelings when she said:

"This whole thing is just a talking shop-it will achieve nothing for the people who really need help."

She added:

"It will cost £140 million to cure Glasgow's housing dampness problems. So far, only £1-2 million has been allocated for housing-and we have forums like this"

Tenants' anger, like that of Scotland's growing army of unemployed, must be directed towards mass action alongside the firemen and other sections of the trade unions to bring down the Tory government.

The EIS, Scotland's biggest teachers' union, meeting in Glasgow last weekend took a significant step forward with its decision to commit itself to a public sector alliance to break the government's 6% pay limit.

The conference marked a serious blow to the right wing in the EIS executive, with the defeat of their proposals for a permanent pay review body, ormal links with the British NUT and the retention of compulsory arbitration.

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IS EIS yes to alliance