AT A meeting on 21 October. Liverpool's City Council agreed to hold talks with the local government workers unions, NALGO, on the typists and machine operators dispute.
This was a real step forward for the 400 women employed by the City Council who have been on strike OVCT months over regrading claim.
Despite the fact that ine strike has caused massive disruption to local administration in the City, Liverpoo Council's Liberal leader, Trevor Jones. had always been opnosed resuming negotiations or gOmE TU arbitration BUl a the Council meeting, Liberal drew back supporting Tory proposal to sack all the typists if they didn't return to work in the next month Labour Party Group called for the reopening of negotations with NALGO and, if thesc failed, an agreement to go to arbitration.
At a further meeting berween the Council and NALGO on Monday October, the City Council leaders rejected the union's proposal for further negotiations but were preparea to agres so 30i orm of arbitration.
The form of arbitra tion will be determined by the NJC. But the terms of reference are to be worked Liverpool T ALSLTU and the City Council.
This could prove to be a sticking point since the union will reject a simple comparison DELCI local authority workers.
They will argue for comparability with othe public and private secto workers and tor a whol range of considerations such as low pay and equal opportunities, to be taken into account Socialist Challenge 29 October 1981
Socialist