can't wait...
Since coming to power a year ago, the Tories have slashed the social services to the bone. Now, Environment Secretarv Hesaltine has decided to turn the screws still further.
£200 million is to be lopped of money promised local councils this November and 14 councils —mainly Labour-are to lose another £19 million for alleged 'over-spending'. Lambeth, Hackney and Islington are to be cuts called for by the Toriesrate rises appeared a solution. These include the councils Hesaltine is now penalising like Lambeth who sought to offset cuts by raising rates by an astronomical 49c.
As Socialist Action and others pointed out at the time, however hoping to fend off a fight with the Tories by rate increases was illusory. First, it merely passed onto working people the burden a call for a national conference this November to begin a fightback against the Tory Attacks which threaten to destroy the welfare state.
The aim of the conference was spelt out by Knight himself: "The object of the labour movement must be to force a change in gov. ernment policy or, if that isn't possible, to force the government out". "The conference will bring together the public sector unions, local councils and the labour movement generally, to say that unless a stand is made, then what faces trade unions and labour councils is a reduction in jobs and services". backing of local Lambeth public sector unions.
RESPONSE As Ted Knight explains, there is no longer any way out of either jobs and welfare services have to be cut wholesale or else a fighting stand has to be taken now.
It is no longer possible to hang onto office (cutting as delicately as possible) -while awaiting the return of a Labour government in four years time to restore the losses. Under Hesaltine's axe, there will be nothing left to restore Such a call has the had joined in.
dilemma facing Labour authorities: to a halt.
SPREADING Tory As Geoffrey Drain (NALGO Gen. -such as NALGO, NUT, T&GWU, Led else-where.
- particularly from NEC members awards up to 28%.
its third month.
There 1s no way FERMENT standards rampant inflation independent unions.
necessarily, become minority regime mca.
ghetto uprisings backbone
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"The fight against the government has to be made this financial year. It VIVA ST.