Yardley strikers' message comes across loud and clear.
and the double work day' are the norm amongst the dominantly female workforce. carACTION the right direction cesstul rignback. Discussion on 2 April will centre on the traditionally following policies:
Pay cola national minimum against low pay Opposition schemes that discriminate acci women Immediate investigations inwhen pay and back women bv the unions * Inclusion of equal pay, low pay and conditions of work in prefight for these the 19 April It will be points out for a suc- union conferences.
be in the around the cuts in like that of 11 May.
Now. for wage, TESSA VAN GELDEREN to all grading call issued Hence grading groups, and tion Council, ting the awade daims suomitted The Leyland Conference will policies.
Charter Campaian will be lobby of Parlia calling supporters to organise meetTrace And it will forefront Of actions taken in opposition to public spending ation, ESTerLon.
Lambeth • Red Weekly endorses the by the Campaign for Leyland Conferdelegates, other militants committed to a united fight against the Social Contract to support the 2 April meeting.
councii. Supporters of the Socialist Teachers Alliance scored a big victory as week wen mer moved a resolution through the inner London reachers AssOca' representing 14.000 teachers in the Inner London Education Authority, instrucofficers to ballot the membership on national no-cover If such a policy were operated it would mean that teachers would not cover for absent or non-ap pointed staff. Such a move could be a powerful lever to win jobs for 20,000 unemployed teachers and begin a national fight against The vote was carried by 37-35. The motion, which was moved by bernara Kegan, te nanonal con venor of the STA and President of ane cast cordon reacners Assock and seconded by General Secretary of NUT was vigorously opposed by leading • Communis Party teachers on the divisional BERNARD REGAN The Socialist Workers Party/ Rank and File members on the council supported the STA mem bers in their initiative but despite all their noise about fighting the cuts and operating a no-cover policy - they have never even attempted to move a motion on this topic at the divisional CONSISTENT Dave Picton, editor of Socialist eacher and bernare kegan bea ged themselves to fight for such a ballot of the membership when they stood in the recent ILLA elections. This success is a credit to the STA for its consistent activity.
The base which the STA had gained through their campaigning was also reflected in the voting figures for the TA elections which were the following;
1522 2094 For Treasurer Carter 1860 Picton (STA) 1150 Ransom (R&F) 601 For General Secretary.
Regan (STA)
Kacuaresor 2059 If the results of the East London -DOsta StEKe spoilt papers were allowed for, STA candidates would Have done Cven DCLEe!
INCAPABLE Whilst Rank and File/SWP correctly attacks the NUT bureaucracy for their refusal to fight the cuts and their betrayal of unem ployed teachers, they have proved themselves incapable of organising the opposition.
Contirmation of this was reflected in the victory of Pat Brown in the recent elections for General Secretary of the Easi London Teachers Association. Pat militant and STA active NUT memnoe received votes against Blair Peach of Rank and File who received 134.
The high poll in ELTA (42%) in a postal ballot confirms both the growth ol a strong opposition against the cuts and the social солгась апа the NU Executive but it is also rejection of SWP/Rank and File Lactics.
Of course no-one in the NUT sense of security over the ILTA council ballot decision. The Off icers will undoubtedly consult their mentors on mne execuave to sCr how they can render the decision meaningiess The task for NUT militants now is to begin to organise the mass of London teacners tot a powerfu "Yes' vote which can begin to tip the scales agamnst une rigat will NUT Executive.
time has come tor the SWP/R&F to break out of its sectarian politics, acknowledge the STA as a force with equal, if no greater influence both in London and nationally, and unite to win a massive vote in the ILTA ballot.
The STA has asked Rank and File for joint meetings at the Easter NUT Conference so far without success. Red Weekly supporters in the NUT hope that the SWP/R&F will change this decson omer to nave me max:
mum impact against the right in the NUT TONY GRAHAM ILTA Council delegate from East London NUT].
workers came out despite the SLL's opposition to it. And it was this action, not the call for a strike on 1 May in Workers Press the following day, that was the springboard for the May action.
CHANCE But these errors of the conference organisers are certainly not the most important thing about the conference. The important thing is that a chance for committed militants to meet and discuss the way forward in the current situIn this respect the invitation of the conference organisers for alternative resolutions and amendments to their own is especially commendable. That does make a break with the sectarian traditions of the ATUA and the LCDTU.
If the theme to emerge from the conference centres on the need to unite in action all those fighting Labour's policies, that would be one more significant step forward
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US NOW LORN TRINIGHT