hours demanded by the unions.
In accepting conferences.
In the very week that the TUC-Labour government concordat was announced, the Guardian carried an interview Denis Healey.
Chancellor remarkably frank.
In reply to the question You clearly unksome Torm Ol permanent incomes policy inevitable? the Labour leader replied: I think it is. You have to have one in the anyway, and that's a third of the labour force.
In other words, the Labour government will maintain a permanent force of low-paid workers, force an incomes policy down their throats and hope for the best. The first test for those union leaders who are recommending the 9 per cent offer will come this week.
The ambulance staff have already shown that they are not are set to recommend a 9 per cent increase. Despite the comparability clauses, this is a far cry from the £60-35 the government offer, the leaders have ridden roughshod over their members and the decisions of the TUC and Labour Party prepared to be intimidated by either the government or the ideological offensive Tory press. Their could well be followed by other public sector workers.
The WORT the situation reveals is this: an all-out strike by public sector workers would be the most effective way of winning the Cal.
The course recommended by Fisher was, at best, designed to put pressure on the government make a few concessions.
Fisher might be satisfied with the crumbs he has gained, but most low-paid workers will be extremely unhappy.
The militancy of low-paid threw the Callaghan government off Because of the proximity of the General Election (it legally be postponed October 1979) he was forced to union example present LABOUR's Iron Chancellor' the return of the Tories. accept that the 5 percent norm -WAS HO JOLECE OUCaLVe.
But the designed to demonstrate that the government had not been converted to free bargaining. It was also aimed at the aiding the trade union leaders to contain balance. sections of their rank-and-file The weakness concordat from beyond ment's point of view is that it has no status in law. But this is policy is inevitable'. It is these right-wing policies that will ensure something are elected to office concordat was TUC to convince the collective the militancy of of the said this week:
the governlambs bolstering (800 4530), Hackney SCG Ann Chesterton Anon S. Zutschi Ian Harrison the sound James Blanco White Week's Total Grand Total Get your Socialist through placing many regions * By asking concordat.
per leaders This says that a permanent incomes solidarity opportunist one. which the Tories could well remedy when they The concordat is a desperate they attempt by Callaghan and the elsewhere ruling class that they can still deliver the goods and that the last few tive.
NUPE militant Ray Varnes spoke for many others when he could be •We are not sector workers going to be made the sacrificial weak the Morons (249 3867), Charge and the Slightly Abnormals (806 6279) — and to the Criminal Records disco. for the paper.
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special to sell locally? customer's order — possible in Write Offices, your local It's against and Labour Party policy. Fisher tells me to accept the 9 cent I'll reply that we should recall the TUC.
The acceptance by the TUC of the concordat without any opposition reveals yet again the total lack of a senous alternatve strategy. I the absence of such a strategy we should not be too surprised low-paid workers refuse to vote Labour in the coming elections trend could be countered bv Labour councis following the lead of Camden and meeting the full claim. The argument that this breaks the of the strike is an There is no national strike. There are only selective strikes. Where these result in victories show is possible and demonstrate how effective a national strike can be at the present time.
Fisher rejected that alterna The consequences of accepting the 9 per cent offer severe. The public might be first victims of the concordat, out une wumate casually will be the Labour government.
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SOCIALIST Challenge Spring Lottery. Tickets 10p or fi per Prize is choice of 12 volumes of Trotsky's Writings help or a f25 book/record token.
Draw is on 2 May in Socialist Challenge offices. Help yourself while helping the paper! Why not order a few books of reader tickets on a sale or return basis PO Box 50, London .EU. Lottery, SC 2XP. Organised by results! NUPE leader ALAN FISHER said he hoped that the concordat would help to solve the current problems in the public sector; he was pleased at the references to achieving fair play to members like his own without having to hurt the public by going on strike. NUPE district committee secretary for ILEA, RAY the concordat. It's against TUC and Labour Party policy. If Fisher tells me to accept the 9 per cent I'll reply that we should recall the TUC D Weppler.
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