CPSA Chairperson, Glasgow THE 200,000-strong strike by civil servants on March, which followed the 90 per cent solid one-day strike to launch our pay campaign, proves that the membership are willing to take action over pay.
The leadership of the Civil and Public Services Associa332 02 SAPASES 103 membership would rather have others do the work for them. They did think that way, but more and more members are now being convinced that it is their actions which count.
At first they thought pay research which our last conference endorsed despite the opposition of the lett would allow us to cash in on increases won in the private SCCLOR Now it is clear that the government intends to limit any immediate increase to something like the public service workers have won, with the rest of what's due in stages - perhaps going through to April 1980.
It's becoming clear that we have to act now to force the full increases under pay research with no delay.
Then the union members were told that this could be done by selective involving only 1,300 placed workers token one-day strikes to show Now, when Lord Peart and the government say that they are going to suspend those who refuse to do the work of those on strike, the membership are realising that the action has to be escalated.
Thirty thousand were out in Scotland last week; and despite Ene weather 2,000 in Edinburgh, while Glasgow rally was packed out.
the Department National Savings Glasgow, the number of scabs fell from 80 (out of 5,000) in the first one-day strike to 20 this When the membership found out last Thursday that scabs had been sent home early but still paid, they came out again.
Many members now want to ongoing National Giro HQ carried the strike through to the end of the action week.
well- The problem is that the union and a few leadership does not want involve the Headquarters Edinburgh and Glasgow coming out, but told other branches to have meetings.
CPSA branches cross picket lines set up marched ana ruone servants wno were the coming out in West Scotland, and the NEC last week decided of against supporting the regional here in one-day strikes members.
Ken secretary, is strengthening the government's wages limits by action DHSS and Bootle to whole of the supported workplace protest members in some were instructed supporting denying us a decent wage.
SCPS hands of the rank and file.
Thomas, our general STEWART MeLENNAN the Concordat, rather than isolating them for It is vital that control over the campaign is put firmly in the The union area committees must take the lead in convening area action committees to link from the NEC. up the strike leaderships in each office and branch.
Most importantly, a national conference of area committees is vital to provide the national lead that can reject any staged deal and escalate action because that lead wil not come All-London Civil Service Strike Committees which just getting off the ground - that's an inter-union body.
*I think this co-ordination is very necessary, but it's difficult because it's all come to a head rather suddenly.' North London PAM SHEPHERD, of Haringey and Islington DHSS, told "The NEC has got to be forced to do something now. Forty more suspensions are on scotland - thi government is calling Thomas's bluff of selective action and testing us to see if we are serious.
45-minute stoppage, but most of our members wanted to go out for the day. If there was a clear call for escalation from the NEC, for everyone out, they would get the response.
*All the branch secretaries in North London have been meeting to plan action, and we have to extend that to fully involving all the members in deciding what action to take.
Socialist Challenge 29 March 1979 page 5