Labour councils must stand against Tories

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Restore your After the adoption by 800 delegates on November 1 of a fairly comprehensive programme of action for the fight against the cuts, the Lambeth Steering Committee is planning that the recall conference on January 17 focus on the fight to take that programme into practice.

The problems in that fight have been prominent in the news during the last two weeks. Lambeth Labour Group itself has voted to impose a 20% supplementary rate to compensate for "overspending" and Tory financial penalties.

Wage cut

Only four Labour councillors are waging a principled fight against this move.

The rate increase amounts to a wage cut for workers in Lambeth. And it flies in the face of the call from the November 1 conference for councils to confront the Tories, reject rate and rent increases, and call on unions to take strike action against any attempt by the Tories to send in receivers or commissioners, or to surcharge Published by Folrose Ltd for the Registered as a newspaper at the councillors.

True, the Lambeth Labour Group in defending its services is still to the left of many Labour councils, which are obediently carrying out Tory cuts up and down the country.

But the prospect of further huge rate increases in the next financial year, possibly even coupled i with cuts in spending, scarcely provides a rallying point for the struggle against the Tories.

There are repeated warnings that we must avoid "another Clay Cross"-referring to the Labour council that was ousted and surcharged by the last Tory government for refusing to implement rent increases.

But precisely what is needed now is a Labour council that will show the same fighting spirit as the Clay Cross councillors.

Local authority workers who take action on the cuts risk their jobs: why should councillors not be prepared to place themselves on the line-and on that basis demand that union bureaucrats mobilise action in their One motion to be discussed at the recall conference correctly emphasises the need to focus on such action by both Labour councillors and trade unions.

Workers Socialist League, BM Box Post Office. Signed articles do not Tabled by Leicester TGWU 5/287 Branch it reads:

"This conference resolves to:

1) Circulate all Labour councils, Labour groups and District Labour Parties informing them of the policies adopted at the November 1 conference and calling for no rent or supplementary rate rises this financial year, and no rent or rate rises to compensate for government cuts.

2) To organise through the Steering Committee regional labour movement conferences to discuss a) united direct action in the form of rent and rate strikes to oppose any attempt to make the working class pay for Tory policies, b) united trade union action to prevent closures, cuts in services, and redundancies in line with the policies adopted on November 3) To call on Labour councillors to publicly support such actions in defence of public services."

We urge Socialist Press supporters to back this resolution. Lambeth Labour Left which opposes the rate increase will also be holding a lunchtime meeting around the theme "Labour councils must take a At the same time the fight 5277, London WC1N 3XX. Printed by recessarily represent the views of the W for strike action during the Lambeth Week of Action in February is pressing ahead.

Members ot the IGWU, UCATT and AUEW are pledged to strike for the whole first week of February-with emergency cover. They will also picket the Town Hall, calling on other unions to take a stand.

NUPE leaders however have said they will only strike if the council concedes a 35 hour week-a bizarre excuse for avoiding action.

GMWU members have yetto decide-while NALGO is voting on a sectional basis.

The high point of the week is expected to be the demonstration on February 4 from Clapham • Common to the Labour Party Headquarters at Walworth Road. The march begins at 1 p.m.

The Local Government in Crisis Conference is open to delegates from trade union branches, shop stewards committees, CLPs, Labour groups and trades councils. For further information ring 01-274 7722 ext 2066.

Morning Litho Printers orkers Socialist League.

So here it is. Your 8-page Socialist Press.

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Already we are beginning to have to stockpile important articles that should be in this week's issue. We have had to cut short our analysis of political developments in Britain -in the Labour Party and the Tory Party. We have less space to lay out the pages attractively keen to ensure that We are keen to ensure that the cut in size forced upon us by the latest surge in inflation should be as temporary as possible. You can help.

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