Support the Civil Service Strikers

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men are currently up deteated. But so far, very small numbers in weak-kneed complete isolation from arrogant Tory intransi- approach of the civil the rest of the trade gence that the civil service union 'leaders' union movement. servants have been has kept the struggle battering against for the isolated from other trade methods.

As with BL, a defeat for the civil servants would give a massive boost to the Tories' attack on effective trade unionism everywhere.

And it would be a major setback for all public sector workers. Already, the Tories have set a 5 per cent ceiling on the next round of public sector pay rises. Nurses and ambulance FOR OVER 15 weeks the national leaders of the civil service unions have argued that carefully selected strikes, with high rates of strike pay, would defeat the Tories.

The key weapon was going to be the blockage of tax, VAT, and other revenue to the Government. And over £5 billion has been blocked.

But Thatcher has not given in. In desperation the national union leaders made feeble attempts to step up the selective action, and combined that with going cap in hand to the Tories, begging for a compromise of 8 or 8½ per cent.

The Tories said no. against exactly the same the last 16 weeks.

Hitting

Clearly, it is in the interests of all workers that the Tories' strategy for the public sector is TO recommend all-out strike action, strongly expecting to lose the vote and thus have an escape route for giving in.

But CPSA members voted | 45,336 for all-out action, 24,124 for escalating selective action, and 33,744 for giving in. In other: unions the votes were weaker for 'all out" but decisive against the 7 per cent. The Inland Revenuë Staff Federation voted 22,923 to 18,371 against all-out. But when those who voted against all-out action were polled again on escalation or giving in, 17,328 voted for escalation and only 3,199 to give in.

The Major Policy Committee of COCSU, on Thursday 18th June, voted to step up the selecFrom meetings weeklv the basis rank and dithering crats.

But so far, weak-kneed of the civil service union "leaders' has kept the struggle isolated from other trade unionists. Instead of unionists. Instead of hitting the: docks and airports with an all-out strike, and appealing to other workers for support, the leaders went instead for selective action with high strike pay, involving designed to, and cannot hope to, decisively hit the bosses, the bankers and the Tories.

The strikes need to be backed up by mass pickets. The COCSU full council, at its meeting on July 2nd, should pledge to make any action decided by rank and file members official - and mobilise the militant striking offices for flying pickets.

In areas like Scotland and the North, very high votes were registered for all-out action, particularly in the DHSS and DE offices.

Failure

More demonstrations and publicity — especially for claimants — are also needed.

The local COCSUs must be democratised, made more accountable, turned. out towards the wider labour movement, and linked among themselves.

The first step towards links, with the national meeting of COCSUs in Manchester on June 6th, were very important. The failure to hold the agreed meeting on June 20th was a setback.

now on these must be held thire nonriding: HILD providing for leading the file despite the of the bureau.

ers in from trade Largely as a result of these tactics, many trade unionists do not identify with the civil service struggle as strongly as they should do. There seems to be gulled by the media. They ar fighting for the right to negota vague feeling, even among militants, that this isn't a 'proper' strike and that civil servants are not 'real' trade unionists.

To counter this, we need to stress that most Wales Miners.

civil servants are low paid workers. Two-thirds earn less than the average wage.

Clerical Assistants are on between £59 and £72.60 before tax.

They are claiming

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Vague Vague

arbitration' Emlyn Williams, President, South