THE DEMOCRACY for London campaign is the trade union body of the GLC set up to fight the Tory attacks on local government. It's central focus has en abolition.
Fast approaching, changed. If Thatcher's plans to axe the spending of hit-list authorities aqainst the abolition of the GLC and metropolitan counties will be severely weakened.
With that in mind, DEL heid an activists' conference on Wednesday January CLO both aspects of the campaign.
The conterence ended abruptly. with industrial undiscussed. when the chair ruled eight resolutions out of order and closed the conference at lunch-time.
On the surtace what is al issue is the constitution under DFL operates. In reality the involved stop and conwill the OT Ine campaign, what activity TOCa authority alployer. committee of the TUJNC DFL subwhich controlled primarily by officials and ay officials of the unions All delegates must be fully But with the rate-capping deadline its emphasis has increasingly successful, the fight concerned. Shop stewards' organisation at the GLC is relatively phemomena In September, DFL's aCLIlY scuiclal y Jimmy Fitzpatrick gave an undertaking that shop stewards «convenor would be integrated into the camBallel At the TUJNC meeting prior to the January that undertaking was thrown out and he subsequently resigned The difference in view was wieme ference was consultative acsignca to lllpall Iformation to the union activists — or whether those same activists, ultimately responsible for bringing their members out against the government, have a real say in the campaign.
When conference closed feelings ran high. Many delegates protested being treated what they regarded as a fundamen tally undemocratic way Of the 119 stewards at the meeting, reconvened after conference closed to discuss the business conference refused to take.
I WAS the campaign officer who gave the to the shop conthat the shop stewards' we into the extend Equally the letter soliciting resolutions for The fight against the onslaught on local authorities will be of major importance in the coming months. Unity within the unions on clear of effective industrial action to combat the attack on jobs and services will be a significant factor contributing to Success the fightback.
At last Saturday's local governmen Cone call Jack Dromey LNE TGWU made clear the Jimmy Fitzpatrick told Socialist Action:
Those two points were overturned on the day. That made my position untenable.
dicated on the eve of the conference that although I would interpret those the ACCOOIN LUI ference that would be my final act on behalf of the campaign because couldn't go along with the decisions which had been made.
So having explained to the conference what the position was, I also explained that had resenced as of the cone ference. the nine secondees we originally by the fact that Pollok position of the union officials when he said he wanted 'the best possible' for his members. It is this approach aLtempting to compromise WILS government that has shown itself to be comDielel) which reveals why tensions union ofOCLWCCI ficials and activists.
Talks Thatcher's attitude to had, seven have been suspended by the GLC because of the City of Westminster legal action; the last two of us decided we no longer continue as camstaff have Jala resigned also.
Through the DFL we have facilities to meet and discuss abolition and rate-capping. We have facilities for JSSCS meet, for shop stewards' conferences, and structures whereby activists get We must continue within try Suructure and amend the constitution to accomodate the get their candidate selected for MP' Pollok have learned nothing from the national attack launchWhen the Right Wing n0k..ued Dt the dispute of the miners makes clear the only 'deal' seas is total capitulation to the Tory smash the labour movement. Those activists at the Dru conwho stayed to discuss a fighting strategy got it right.
In the months to come an all-out fight against the government onslaught is suraley which will turn the tide on jobs and spending cuts. The only 'deal' to do is stand up and fight.
aspirations of the shop stewards and convenors who want more democratic orientation one lad.
The difference between the GLC London boroughs is that the boroughs are shop steward convenor controlled while GLC predominantly Play official controlled. Understanding that, the Democracy for London campaign will continue because there is no alternative for fighting for to protect local governmen jobs and services.
ed on their own tendency • except perhaps how to use the same methods for their own witch-hunt when the time is right.