trying to tread.
It is clear that few believe goverment claims that the average poll tax will be £347. Not only the Labour ALA but the Tory controlled Association of District Councils and the As sociation of County Councils all predict that the average will be around £340.
The Tory argument is that if poll tax levels are above their estimates, it will be as a result of over-spending councils. But their figures are based not only on a calculation that the rate of inflation will be 4%, but also on their assumption that pressure against high spending" councils will force them to make further cuts in order to keep the poll tax low. Such arguments cut little ice either amongst the electorate or amongst politicians.
While rescheduling of debts by some inner-city authorities may have some impact on the level of the tax, few can seriously argue that there is a single council now that is anywhere near meeting the most basic needs of the people in its area. Many Tory authorities complain that the level of poll tax they are expected to set will not meet even their assessment of local needs.
Nor is there any indication that poll tax activists would be bought off by any local councils who attempt to make further cuts to keep the tax levels relatively low. Rather this would fuel further opposition, particular amongst the council trade unions.
The chaos of the Tory line over the poll tax is also compounded by the overall political situation: the rise of wage militancy and in particular the huge public support for the ambulance workers" claim. This gives further confidence to poll tax activists as they see workers Page 2
UPDATE Poll Tax Who are they trying to fool? moving into action on these other fronts.
The poll tax movement itself remains strong after the launch of the all-Britain federation from the successful conference in Manchester on November 25. Despite the fact that there were real problems in the way the day itself was structured, leaving inadequate time for exchange of experiences and open political debate, the fact that the conference passed overwhelmingly a statement setting up the federation on the basis of non-co-operation with the tax shows how far the movement has developed over the last year. The first meeting of the new steering committee, which took place on January 13th was generally positive, with the three 3D supporters being elected to prominent positions on the committee.
The key task of the federation is now to organise a massive demonstration in London on March 31st, for which support must be mobilised in every locality and at every level of the labour movement. Building this demonstration must be seen as a key task for every labour movement activist.
The Independent Advisory
Committee (LAC), es-
tablished by Kenneth Baker,
to impose pay awards on
teachers as a result of the
abolition of their negotiating
rights in 1986, announces its
recommendations at the end
of January.
These are likely to be un
surprising - the Tories have set a
£600 million limit for the
1990/91 pay increase which
would work out as a 7 per cent
Beyond that, there are undoubtedly more difficult tasks. The movement in Scotland has been consistent in mobilising successfully against every single altempted poinding. but as authorities now attempt warrant sales against the vast numbers of non-payers, there is a deal of work to do to keep up the pressure.
Fighting for industrial action against the tax must be a key priority not only amongst groups of workers who have a specific role in terms of implementation but more generally. Activists should be exploring the pos sibility of one day actions around April 1. It was unfortunate that the otherwise very positive NALGO Against The Poll Tax conference in Birmingham on January 20 felt unable to commit itself to such a target, but nevertheless possibilities should be explored wherever practicable. Pay, conditions, class sizes: fight! increase if the money was distributed evenly to all teachers -and will be met with anger in the staffrooms.
Since 1986, teachers have seen their standard of living fall continuously. In addition, the huge increase in workloads that have resulted from the Tories" Education Reform Act have scen more teachers than ever leave in search of other employment, and potential new entrants reconsider.
In some areas, particularly
At the same time, it is also becoming increasingly urgent that Labour Party members both make clear their own commitment to non-implementation and defend those being witch-hunted for this stand. As the upheavals continue over Frank Field's deselection, this becomes an even more urgent task than previously.
Building a genuine mass anti-poll tax movement, attempting to involve as large a proportion of those opposed to the tax, in particular those in Scotland not paying, and those in Wales and England committed not to pay. must be the goal before us.
Terry Conway. London, where according to one survey 1000 vacancies existed in the ILEA, children have been regularly excluded or prevented from starting school. The situation remains desperate in the primary sector and there are also serious shortages in science, maths and technology areas in secondary schools.
The Tories are not prepared to spend the necessary resources to finance their own reactionary programme. They will attempt to deal with the teacher shortage by SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 20, Dec-Jan 1989-90