A rank and file conference to take forward the fight against privatisation Saturday 3rd November, 11.30-5.00pm, St Mary's Neighbourhood Centre, Upper Street/St. Mary's Path, London : (tube: Angel or Highbury & Islington) Speakers include: Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS, Maria Exall, WU National Exec Council, John : Leach, RMT National Exec, John Page, Branch Secretary, Hackney UNISON, John Hendy QC, United : Campaign for the Repeal of the Anti-Union Laws, Secretary, RMT National Train Crew Greg Tucker, i Conference, Shirley Winter, United Carpaign (all in personal capacity)
• For more details, or to add your name to the list of supporters, mail [email protected] or call the person they have come to visit and all visitors are electronically finger printed.
The Committee to Defend Asylum Seckers had begun discussions carlier in the summer about trying to take steps to strengthen co-ordination between the various campaigns that are working either locally or nationally around different aspects of these issues.
Following successful national meetings, three they expected the Following an outrageous piece councils agreed criteria, in parof bribery and gerrymandering. ticular financial viability, was in Glasgow City Council has place. The recommendation decided to proceed to a first was to reject the scheme and stage consultation on the pro- implicity the transfer. posed stock transfer of all suddenty the scotus Glasgow's housing stock. Executive was faced with its For months the proposed flagship housing policy going recipient of the stock, the pear shaped. A meeting was Glasgow Housing Association hold and the council told monhas been struggling to come up eys had been found. with a coherent business plan. The Scottish Executive went The right to buy potentially cap in hand to Gordon Brown takes any good houses and and demanded around C2 bilover a quarter of the stock is lon for Scotland. Faced with too run down to repair and this the Glasgow Council decided not to reject the cheteoromo Other social landlords are scheme but to allow more being given the right to cherry time. Meanwhile a pro-transfer pick good stock and the no document was (probably in guarantees from the govern- contradiction of the law) issued ment. Given all this why would to all tenants. Gnancial companies invest? To great acclaim the press GHA's solution was to demand money from the gor- Government in Westminster emment to make it work. was prepared to write off all They produced a draft report Glasgow E900 million debt (draft 67) which made it clear provided the transfer went ahead. Government to provide Next we hear that Right to money in hitherto undreamed Buy legislation has been of quantities to ensure this changed so that it doesn't carry if tenancy changes.
Within the Housing depart- We anticoate rule changes to ment of the council this plan limit right to buy to a maxiwas looked at as a pipe dream. mum discount of €25,00. A report was produced in ear Whilst agreeing with these August stating that none of the changes we fail to see wtry there was no discussion of these proposals during the year the Scotland Housing Act was debated in the Scottish Parliament.
Next the GHA announces it will only pay 225 milion not €100 milion for all Glasgows yu. houses. Incy wis diso obtain many businesses and land as part of the proposed deal. Rents for new tenants wil be raised above inflation -contrary to assurances. The Scottish Executive is expected to provide for the costs of demolitions.
Business plan
With all these changes announced, a new business plan (version 97) was produced. Unfortunately it still couldn't say if the plan was viable. It implicitly reduced the housing stock of the City to such a lovel that there was an anticipated 25,000 shortfall in required. No proposed lenders Faced with this on September 25 the Council was presented with a report rejecting the proposed scheme as unviable. This report was presented to the District Labour Party having been endorsed by Suddenly the minister Jackie Bailie finds more money. (450 million new money is to be given to build the 25,000 houses demolished. The coun oil is told to think again.
A new report is produced on september do the same as trie previous - except the condusions are changed from reject As no funders are even yet in place, the council has not fully endorsed it. The ballot date has been delayed to January or February from November. The council has been instructed to make it work. They are consid ering forcing council employ. ees - who could face redundancy if the scheme goes ahead - to go round the cools explaining to tenants how nice the scheme is.
Tenants and Unions remain opposed to the scheme. HE1.5 bilion is available if the scheme goes ahead surely it is available f it remains with the council fer costs, VAT, interest charges and osrupton wit be saved The repair work can be carried would be lower.
The STUC and unions will be running a campaign to cok to ants to reject the blackmail.
Outlook Is we go to press, the bombing of A Bush and Blair has started. On Sunday October 7, cruise missiles rained down on a the cities of Kabul, Kandahar and heavy bombers. On the morning of October 8, Home Secretary Jack Straw informed the of the ready to use the "alliance against terrorism" to push through a raft of reactionary policies greater determination. Attacks ing of immigrants are aspects of this offensive that we are grimiy familiar with here in Bruain.