Council has been Labour Midlands County toothless. They have relied parliamentary lobbyists and the House of Lords. There has been mobilisation even of their workforce, let alone of wider sections of the labour movement. this became quite clear on the discussion over this year's rates precept. Firstly they are frightened just by the threat of court action; secondly they are get-
ing ready to climb aboard the join
oards to be set up aiter abolitior
We were told at the Labour Group meeting by Brian Smith, Finance and Secretary of the Labour Group that money would really be no problem this next year abolition! Many staff are leaving, services will be run down, balances and
aboard for the Joint Boards? reserves could be spent. Nevertheless he proposed a 5% increase in the bus fares to bring in f3.5 milliion in one year. The only reason he gave for this was that Solihull Tory District Council might take us to court for oversubsidis- the bus fares. ing Solihull just taken the teachers to court? Wear opoie od er Mets are planningno plan to scrap raise the bus fares and South after all - but this made no difference. The arguments and cover the would be the community - women, the low paid. also that our 1981 Manifesto Our Way" stated on the first page that there would be no fare increases in the could repre- lifetime of the Labour Council. To no avail. The threats were "Do you want to Cose by 25% when we loe the court be surcharged? Do you want the fares to case?" and any crease in bus fares will make it easier for the Joint Transport Board to operate Many next year. true. and as at the meeting arguing alter- responsible", that is doing exactly what the Tories posite of official Labou Party policy leaving Labour councillors off the Districts to take over next year. Many of these already District Councils as well as the County W.M. trary to more no real OWI The reason for Chair because
(BUS STOP lola who After all, haven't policy. the other Mets are planning to - and Merseyside Yorkshire are rate capped were used that we hitting the poorest sections of the unemployed, entitled ironically "Travel present But there is more to it of course. An in- were about want and exactly the op- fares. everything shipshape for Midlands rightwingers have got themselves seats on the cillors bus fares. Council and others plan to do so - con- County Labour Party -PrO Socialist Viewpoint, No. 4, March 1985. Page 16
DEPARTURES P.M THEAE'S ENOUGH ONLY oF you то макс A PREFITART 3 Chair of Transport, Phil Bateman, is now on Wolverhampton District, Chair of Fire I.T. Wilson is on Dudley District, Chair of Economic Development Geoff Edge is on Walsall District and there are at least 10 others of the 74 strong Labour Group.
On the Joint Boards of course they will not have the irritant of a Labour Group or CLPs to chivvy them and to be accountable to - perfect for right wing manoeuvring and patronage. They cannot stand opposition even within the prosup which witually nodded through overwhelmingly right Brain Smith's recommendations which were given verbally on the night not even in the normal form of a written resolution in advance). So much for consultation and democracy. "It's the same half a dozen complainers every year." muttered Chief Whip Len Clarke when several councillors asked questions or objected to raising the bus
The date for setting the rate is March 7 - supposedly a day of solidarity with
he rate capped Authorities. In the Wes
County Council the only solidarity will come from those coun-
voting against the increase in PROFITS
Apartheid rulers wrestle with mass movement of workers
THE heavy repression that has fallen upon the opponents of apartheid rule in South Africa since the end of 1984 is a response to a growing tide of militant and increasingly political opposition. 1984 brought the highest-ever total oi days lost through strike ac! tion in