NALGO member explains the background.
At the NALGO conference of 1977 the local sortion he called on the union "negotiate abolition of the national social worker scale since it has in the past kept the gradings of social workers comparable local government.
Behind the resolution was the growing TESTALES social workers with both the Southwark social workers have been on indefinite, all-out strike since 14 August. On Monday they were Joined by 220 social workers in London's Tower Hamlets, where 84 per cent voted for the action.
Other social workers in such areas as Liverpool and Lewisham are expected to come out soon and are already taking selective industrial action. A London annual | grading system which covers Deir pay, and the low pay itsell.
The union leadership showed the little enthusiasm for the 1972 conference resolation and was censufed for its inaction at this year's conference until & Augest that they fimally met the national employees to request the abolition offte national scale and the opening of local negotiations on waces The employers turned the There's been no improve. ment in Pradines for over ten wear although the job has expanded LODESTSI Re-organisation. new legisla created by falling living standards and th cuts in public spending have all added to the work load of social Ironicaliy it is the very policy of culs in social expenditure which explains the resistance of the employers to agrecing to the It was not workers labour intensive, the cost BIONEERE claims would be authorities workers LONE Just how rising to 2100 lot workers with demands. as excessive social services are -HOKIES pay policy on all outside араті ALEUTE INCREASE strength.
themselves, movement. the added difficulty that any by significant cash increase would : embarassing during a period next? of pay restraint. A successlul outcome of the social workers strike could also unleash a wave of sintilar claims from other underpaid the agreement social workers are as talustrated by the claim suhmitted by the strikers in Tower Hamlets They are asking for a bet of 160 per week qualified seven ycars experictce. By any standards this could hardly be described But the Government's determination to impose a rigid workers worthies as the police or the bosses of nationalisod indusensures that the socia workers' claim will not be won Already the ruling class press is startine to pour out horror stories of how people will die as a result of the social workers Ar this stage the important point to stress is that without a wirbout an increase in public expenditure the whole future of Charler' the social services if threatened, of Already Tower Hamlets saffing levels are 20 per cent under In this sense the social workers are not just striking for but TOr unemploved, the mcntally Ill, in Leyland. the elderly and all the under privileged. They desceve maximum support from the labour Leyland Seplesher, Shepherd's Bash. for.coample our members made it quite clear that there would be m clection broadcasts as long as our demands weren't met.
And HOw lots equipment which has been witheld from the Post Office and others have been relcased.
Obviously the union leaders have been under chormous pressure from the Government and from the City. But our action put them in a strong negotiating position, and they ve thrown it away.
However, regardless of the rank and file are not ready for nor at all in sight.
Digbeth Civic Hall in BirmingTher it Crates from Further information from Salisbury Moseley. Birminghum.
Housing Action A HOUSING Action Conventice will be held ar Sheffield 8-10 September, writes STEVE PLATI The first of its kind in this country it ail babe togethe squatters, short-life housing ing rights activists, tenants, and Cuners to dIscuss the forward in action over housing The non-residential charge is 13: fees to include main meais and accortiodation are C15 paid group workers and individeals 00 00 above the average wage, or E5 for poorer groups andrindividuals.
Bookings should he SCDE immediately lo: Self Help Housing Rewarde Library, Ladbroke House Highbury GrOve. London N5 2AD (te 01-6OT 2789, ext. 5027).
Socialist Challenge 24 August 197k page 5
----- pull-quotes -----
OFFICIAL DICKEL