Workers Socialist League

Socialist Press, Trotskyism Today and the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, 1975–1984

Loudo More O3s Axed

Socialist Press no. 40, 11 August 1976 · scan p. 12 · about 506 words

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The recent government announcement that 46,000 Civil Service jobs are to be axed over the next three years represents a massive attack on the inhs and canWAI ditions of Civil Servants.

•The main government departments affected are Defence (20,000• jobs), Inland Revenue (5,000 jobs), Health (5,000 jobs), and Environment (2,500 jobs):

Of course "defence" itself -the maintainance of the British imperialist army with its overseas detachments and repressive forces for home use - is not being cut. The sacking of office staff is simply to axe jobs.

Moreover, the cuts can only result in worsening working conLEFTS BETRAY Cont'd fron prospect of 'sacrifice' to make capitalism work. Even where they talk 'left' their policies accept this necessity. Their demand for import controls to save "British' industry is the clearest of these.

There are many 'left' talkers both inside and outside the Labour Party, the sum total of whose talk means "Don't fight".

The Militant group inside the Labour Party Young Socialists (who even call themselves Trotskyists) say for example:

"It would be a serious mistake, down the government. As Arthur Latham said, the Labour government might be like a bad meal, but another Tory government would be like a dose of arsenic for the workers."

The WSL says that the central question is the mobilisation of the strength of the working class, not as a pressure group but in a way that declares workers will not accept capitalism's crisis put on their backs.

ditions for all Civil Servants.

The Civil Service union leaders have spoken out against the cuts but argue only that the figures on which the government based its case are "innaccurate"

117L - 1 4. what is needed however trom these union leaders, and in particular from the leadership of the CPSA, the largest of the Civil Service unions, is a determined fight to defend everyone of these jobs.

Civil Servants must refuse to cover the work of colleagues who nave left and not been replaced. The Civil Service unions should monitor manning levels and rall strike action if the management INTUIN MILE MON try to force employees to do the work of those whose jobs have been cut. int Page. vote against these attacks in Parliament and fight for alternative policies, organise in the trade unions for strike action and occupations to fight the cuts.

*Fight for work-sharing on full pay worked out by elected committees of trade unionists.

*If the employers say they can't pay, then open their books to prove the necessity for nationalisation without compensation of that industry.

*For a programme of public works paid at trade union rates in order to employ the unemployed.

*No state control of wages! For a sliding scale of wages clause in every agreement so that wages rise automatically with the cost of living.

*Reject the Callaghan-Healey attacks at the Labour Party Conference. Every delegate must take a stand against Labour imposition of Tory policies.

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as the "Tribune' group recognises, to vote in such a way as to bring

← Contents of Socialist Press no. 40, 11 August 1976