'New Deal picks up where Tory ISA left off from receiving payments for supplying youth to jobs through a network built up by ES: In Hackney, Reed have even taken over a Jobcentre. Every effort is being made by ES management to support such private sector initiatives. These developments are the tip of an iceberg. In Hackney, the PCSU, the new Civil Servants Union have generated a good publicity campaign against creeping privatisation and linked up with a growing network of unemployed activists in the area. Yet industrial action may. be the only way to stop Reed et al. Such action would be fought by the right wing national leadership of the PCSU, as they are tied to the coattails of New Labour. For years they have been telling civil servants privatisations would be reversed by a friendly Labour government, but it is clear Blair has no intention of keeping any such promises. There is little vocal opposition to New Deal amongst Labour able pay offer to members. Recently they have been reluctant to totally oppose New 1 Deal. The PCSU Broad ri Left must galvanise its support amongst ES workers to fight on such issues and reject leaders who see it purely as their electoral machine. In London the Socialist Caucus run PCSU Regional Executive has started a lively campaign picketing Jobcentres opening on Saturday. The threat posed of a six day week is real. A leaked memo from the Regional Director of ES to District Managers stated "I have been very pleased to see DM's have begun to experiment with extended opening hours over and above the 36 hour minimum. I think this is an important development and just the sort of thing we should be doing to improve customer service and PERFORMANCE... I would want you to continue with extended hours".
The public have so far given a thumbs down to this development - not a single person showed up when Poplar Jobcentre opened on Saturday. February 28. Nevertheless New Labour and ES Management will persist in their efforts to increase labour flexibility. Civil Servants and the unemployed must unite in their efforts to fight for permanent, well paid jobs for all. We have a common interest in fighting for a socialist alternative.
reinstate Haylett, but after some hesitation by management an independent three person tribunal has now been established to look at the issues. The strikers