Nalgo NEC evades action
Socialist Press1977 1977-02-02Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 10 →
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RULE THE UNIONS LYDEN The role of the trade un Lion leaders in using bureaucr atic manoeuvres to prevent Many action developing against the cuts is illustrated clearly by recent developments at Middlesex Polytechnic.
Last November the NALGO branch at Middlesex Polytechnic voted at their AGM by 200 to 7 in favour of a series of one day strikes against the non-replacement of staff vacancies.
However this overwhelming vote was not big enough for the NEC of NALGO to declare the strikes official. Instead they demanded a ballot of the membership.
This took two months to Anderson occupation who have played a leading role in the struggle against the cuts.
The conference wil also be addressed by one of the three shop stewards at St. Bartholomew's Hospital who were suspended and then reinstated following their strike.
The week long strike (reported SP 51) took place over attempts cut overtime.
Reductions in overtime pay are adding to the enormous effects of 15% inflation at a time when union bureaucrats have imposed the 4% pay limit on their members.
An official survey in 1975 showed that overtime accounted for 10% of the total pay of ancilliary staff.
The CLASH conference organising committee has prepared a resolution that seeks to draw on the lessons of these local struggles and to point the way forward. organise, taking place just after the Christmas vacation. Yet under these highly unfavourable conditions the result of the ballot was 194 against the strikes with 187 for, a majority of just 7!
Using this highly dubious result, hardly a true reflection of the feelings of the NALGO members, the NEC are refusing to declare the strikes official.
This has only saved the NEC for a short time however. A special EGM has been called to discuss the situation. If this meeting confirms the original strike decision as it inevitably will, the NEC will again be put on the spot.
Just how serious is it about backing branches fighting the cuts?
EGA picket NCE
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OUR FIGHT 15 AUREGHT