is lost and the GLC will be abolished.' Until now policy has been to fight abolition even after the Abolition Bill became law, and to create the maximum possible obstacles to the Tories had are. ingstone previously argued that the unions and Labour should hold to a policy of non-cooperation with the new bodies which are to take over the Gre functions. His change of policy puts him to the tight of Labour's national policy WHILE LIVERPOOL City council continues to fight the Tories attack on local government, GLC leader Ken Livingstone has delivered another blow to the campaign. He is pressing the GLC Labour councillors to reverse their stand of boycotting talks with the government on abolition of the GLC. His argument is that: 'We have to accept that the battle which is for 101cooneration.
The move will certainly be welcomed by Labour's environment spokesperSUlI John Cunningham who is to urge local councils and trade unions that cooperation with abolition now the only sensible course. This move, if accepted by the GLC Labour group will crease the difficulties facing the unions in the fight to defend jobs and services.
Livingstone's argument is that Labour msut the disruption which LEUIL tion, because it would be electorally unpopular. The fact is that abolition will result in huge loss of jobs services. Failure fight will mean that will co-operate with the Tories in their atlack. In the fight against abolition the ball is, now firmly in the court of the local government unions.
They must now make it clear unal Iney will con tinue the fight, and that if group discusses staff cuts, or sits on the bodies making these cuts, they will find themselves fighting the unions.
SOCiAList