sector moved a step closer as conferences of local health workers' COHSE joined mployees in NUPE to vote for merger. o to a ballmation will now The amals members in the The debate at NALCO conference was marked by the use of heavy-handed tactics by the union bureaucracy, stifling debate over the draft rules of the new union. This. combined with divisions on the left, do not bode well for the future.
But high points of the week included the Local Government Group's decision to call a special nationa. meeting around nighting privatisation.
aney are diso munchins d series of national and regional events in a campaign against compulsory competitive tendering.
Anti-union laws
And delegates also voted to affiliate to the 'Unshackle the ort those who challenge Tory Socialist Outlook supporters winning delegates' support Both decisions overturned recommendations from the union executive.
Pro-choice activists also had a high profile, with women successfully picketing and That scene will be repeated all over taking over anti-abortion meetings, collecting €300 for the National Abortion Campaign in the process.
But despite progressive policy decisions, the left was more divided than ever The SWP-controlled Broad Left was almost invisible, taking no part in the major debates, cluding the crucial discussion on merger.
withdrew a motion calling foraffiliation to the Anti debate on anti-racism a low key Though no clear contender emerged to organise the left, a number of initiatives showed promise. Islington NALGO are calling a conference privatisation and a number of ›ranch activists Metropolitan District are beginning to coordinate their any struggle against it.
There is a more specific reason too. It's part of a change in the role of Labour councils - • away from the politics of traditional municipal Labourism towards the poltics of the market.
Straw and Blunkett spell i out: Labour authorities should sell their services to all schools, not just opled out schools but private schools too. They reflect the interests of the naximising income for the council.
They are unencumbered by social priorities, concentrating on their busi less-orientated urban regeneration strategy. Birmingham, with its highcost prestige projects and its low spending on education, is a prime example.
Bad timing
Labour's opting-out of the struggle against opting out couldnt come at a more inappropriate time. The battle to lost. So far only 250 schools out of 25,000 have opted-out despite substantial bribes.
cut i* LIv Star NALGO left needs to get its act together to face UNISON challenge efforts.
Whether the Campaign for a Democratic and Public Services Union can provide a national focus will depend on whether it can take a clear position on the merger baues without tastenans® Newham The overriding priority for he left over the coming week to build support for the Newham branch The whole branch is balloting to take acHousing benefit sinkers. Thd strikers have been threatened with the sack if they don't return to work.
The NALGO executive has recognised that its strategy of using strikes by key workers on full pay is at stake. It is now offering the whole branch strike pay equivalent to full take-home pay.
This is a go-for-bust attempt, exposing the problems of rely. ing on a high level of strike isolating them by taking no regional or national action.