workers are so insistent that correspond to their work requirements?
strike committee in Liverpool.
Social workers on strike in Liverpool, Newcastle, three London boroughs have an unprecedented determination to hold out for our acmand to negotiate local agreements, in spite of failure of our union. NALGO. to lift a finger to build the The anger which has built up during nine weeks of strike spilled over Thursday when social workers picketed meeting NALGO's strike operations committee demanding assurance that we would be fully consulted agreement is reached.
In keeping with the kind of union democracy we have come to know well, the committee retusca to speak to representatives of the strikers their pay National talks on the demand for local negotiations begin as we go to press, but a deal already reached in Brent is a sign of ominous things to come, PETE CRESSWELL, secretary of the social workers' outside the NALGO HQ. and So there was a three-hour occupation of the building. The demand conference of strike committees is for representation on the the union's official strike body. ine union met employers for the first time on a yesterday, when another picket was held. An offer is expected.
SIMMERING of Why all the militancy? The an Issue nas been simmering or a number of years now. any Since 1971, scales for social workers were has put through 20 Acts of Many which have had a major impact on social workers THE FIRST national women's liberation movement drastic should SCCHI unemployment, a fall in living standards, and the effects of the culs. the social results of which we are meant to patch argues We already have many extra responsibilities. manding payment through local negotiations. but me emp overs know dia if we bust through the national standing scales. I could wei cau to IOca demands WOTACES. librarians, the health inspectors, and typists. Hence their firm resistance to But OUT spreading which is what social workers in hundreds demanding, NALGO is doing its best to contain the action.
Worse still, a deal has been swung in ine Nw borough of Brent which shows the pay ominous signs of being used as the basis for other settlements.
Carnamen! wen srent council rerusce their social workers' claim to be nob-evaluated in common wIll the rest of employees, the social workers where the woman is put on trial increase strike action, this action.
negotiations. are dethis, This other local such environmental SHUT UP instead of the strike action, council areas are shop.
London the 728 votes to 373.
the council's with a branch vote of 107 to 30 in favour of Union leaders moved at once - by telling certain members of the local branch to re-open The new offer involving the same amount of cash as perore, was to put a third of the social workers on nigner grades by promonon.
divisive offer was unanimously relected by the Brent social workers, but the union leaders got round this.
A branch meeting was held during me day, with tne breni agreeing to shut up Needless to say, union had never attempted to La belligerent speech senior district organisation officer. Andrew Jack, the offer was accepted by Brent social workers handed out leaflets on the picket of NALGO HQ condemning these manoeuvres and calling on us Government publiespending cuts, rising unemployment and falling living standards all mean more stress and difficulties not to be influenced by the Brent settlement We won't be, although this is no doubt what our leaders would like to achieve. Plans are now being considered for national meeting of all social services shop stewards.