Conference to discuss action on the cuts

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London, March 2 Camden Labour councillors have already made their choice. now face a £2 million surcharge They will meekly administer for settling above the national Tory policies, with only a few rate in the 1979 low pay' dis- words of protest. pute. In these areas, the Labour In June and September this Party and trade unions, together year, councils that have refused with left-wing Labour Group Called jointly by the Campaign for Democracy illed jointly by the Campaign for Democrac in the Labour Movement and Socialist Organiser the Labour Movement and Socialist Organis Islington Central Library, Holloway Rd.

and credentials from CDLM, 169 Barclay As Labour councils make their budget decisions for 1981-2, the Tory government is still pressing home its attack both in the local government arena and in health, education and social services.

Labour councils now face a stark choice: to become tools of Tory policies, thus devastating services and cutting living standards; or to help lead a fight to Deat Dack Ine lores. A- ' L -1- Alar to carry out the Tories' dirty work will face a clawback of part of their government grant. Direct Labour organisations face massive cuts as government funds are withdrawn. Bigger ient increases are planned for April. And all of this is backed up by Heseltine's Local Government Act.

Words of protest

In many areas, Labour coun cus dominated by the rignt wing minorities, will have to decide how to deal with these Labour lieutenants of the Tories'.

Two major labour movement conferences, last November and this January, have debated the cuts fightback. 600 delegates in November voted for no cuts, no rate rises, no rent rises; for no council house sales; for Labour and trade union mobilisation to defeat the Tories, and for a fight for socialist policies, including nationalisation without compensation of the banks and industries like drugs and building.

400 delegates 'at the January conference confirmed these policies and called for regional labour movement conferences to take the fight forward.

But Lambeth council Labour group who sponsored the Conferences, have flouted the Conference decisions. They have raised rates and rents. They are talking about 'widespread savings'. They have agreed to sell council houses. Other left wing Labour Groups have been no better.

The lesson is that militant policies are no good unless there is an organised force to fight for them. The efforts of local groups like Lambeth Labour Left must be supplemented by strong national organisation for militant policies.

The retreat of the national public sector union leaders from organising a fight against cuts, closures and sackings can be checked.

The Longworth Hospital occupation shows how closures can be fought.

That's why Socialist Organiser and the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement have come together to jointly organise a conference on March 21.

It will hear reports on local struggles against cuts and closures in the NHS, education, nurseries, etc; against rent rises; and against sackings in local The conference will discuss the crisis in local government, looking to the examples of fightback by some councillors in Coventry, Camden, South Wales NUJ NEC member Simon, Collings argues the case for a full discussion on media censorship. Be there!

Saturday March 21 10.30a.m. -5.00 p.m.

London N7

Road, Smethwick, West Midlands and Lambeth as well as to the Clay Cross councillors fight against the Tory Housing Finance Act in 1972.

It will help organise support for fightbacks against the Tory attacks, and examine the lessons. It will plan national campaigning activity. And it will construct the framework for a strong left wing capable of seeing that the decisions of the broad conferences in November and January are implemented and defended against backsliding.

Labour Movement Conference Media Censorship and convened by National Union of Journalists Saturday February 28 Birmingham tails from Ron Knowles, JJ, 314 Grays Inn Road, London WC1.