Civil servants fight 6%
Socialist Press1980 1980-12-03Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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Tens of thousands of civil servants in towns across the country walked out to stage rallies in working time last week in a protest at the Tory 6% pay limit.
In London, Central Hall, Westminster was unable to accommodate the numbers that arrived. 5,000 packed into the rally-while 1,500 more were diverted to an overflow meeting.
In Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh ald other towns there were similar rallies.
Bill Kendall of the Council of Civil Service Unions declared in Central Hall that "these meetings are the first shots of a protest campaign"-but gave little clue as to what ammunition if any was to be used in the next salvo against the Tories.
He did however offer the damons High thered sevite squib of the civil service IOnS H10? obtain the findings of the independent' Pay Research Unit which would show how far civil servants' pay has fallen behind.
It will also need a bit more than the wrangling of legal eagles to bring a halt to the Tory attacks.
And thousands of angry civil servants appear more than ready to take the necessary action. between December 1-12 on the employers 10.5% offer.
The executive of the NUS has recommended rejection.
But the executive discussed whether industrial action would be part of the ballot and decided against it.
By thus hedging their bets they were plainly doing their best to create conditions for acceptance of an offer which amounts to a savage wage cut for NUS members.
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Seamen ballot Seamen will be balloting