cases. This is the most radical position on the anti-union laws adopted by any union.
The strength of radicalism in NALGO was also shown by the resolution passed on Palestine, calling for economic sanctions against Israel for ignoring UN resolutions on Palestinian Throughout the conTerence suons suboort was shown for the struggle of council workers in Liverpool and for workers like those in Oldham defying attacks on the NHS.
This summer NALGO faces a tough battle on local government pay. The employers have offered 6.1 per cent, way below the 12 per cent or £9333 minimum demanded by NALGO. Negotiations on 10 July are unlikely to see much movement from the employers. If national strike action on pay becomes necessary it will be a hard fight. The NEC will do everything they can to negotiate a compromise of about 7 per cent to head it off.
On many social and international issues NALGO is way to the left of other unions; and much of the union takes militant stand on issues of pay, NALGO ACTIVISTS' DIARY 5 JULY - day of action In support of sacked Oldham health SEPTEMBER: recall local government group on anti-cuts cuts and redundancies. But NALGO's powerful left has yet to translate this radicalism into an effective fight for leadership of the union, or into the kind of action which would really defends jobs and services.
For that, the left needs to build a fighting unity. Currently this is prevented by the frontist antics of the SWP which controls the laughably named 'Broad Left. The main Broad Left meeting of the conference was turned into a forum for denouncing people for being in the Labour Party. The SWP's November putsch to seize control of the Broad Left followed several years of battles with Militant, who also used it as a front organisation. It remains to be seen whether Militant have really learnt the lessons of this type of front politics NALGO needs a democratic fighting left which really organises against the right wing, and fights to win leadership. Strathclyde branch has called a national meeting of branches to debate a fightback against cuts, and this should be supported. But NALGO needs a more permanent democratic left organisation.
During the conference 100 copies of Socialist Outlook were sold and 70 people attended a fringe meeting organised by the paper. SO supporters helped to organise successful fringe meetings on the campaign against third world debt, and against anti-union laws.