Labour Council Attacks Trade Union Rights

THE MAYOR of Newham council, east London and the chair of
the London employers’ body Sir Robin Wales have launched a massive attack on
trade unions in the borough.

Bill Mullins

Many believe this is directly linked to the Newham council
trade unions’ success in mobilising for the London weighting campaign last
year.

Wales has told UNISON to vacate their council-owned offices
by 12 January. The council have also begun the process of making the three
UNISON branch officers compulsorily redundant, by putting them on the
redeployment register.

All facility time for the branch officials has also been
withdrawn, effectively withdrawing recognition from UNISON in all but name.

The branch officers will be on the redeployment register
for a maximum of three months, after which if they have no job offers from the
council they will be made redundant.

Michael Gavan, the chair of the UNISON branch said at a
meeting of 40 council shop stewards that the membership’s response to this
attack has been magnificent. "93% of the members have voted in a ballot to
back the union and we will go to a strike ballot unless the council withdraw
their threat."

At the meeting it was clear that plans were well in hand to
take the council on including lobbies, strike action and occupations if
necessary.

This New Labour council leadership is so arrogant that at
the same time they were doing this, according to Michael: "The council
cabinet increased their attendance allowance from £24,000 to £32,000 a year
for a maximum of two meetings a month." He went on to say that the council
leaders: "Had threatened to discipline any Labour councillor who opposed
the increase".

Mick, a manual workers’ shop steward, told the socialist
that the attack on the union can only be met with action. "If the
anti-union laws delay us then we should all walk out anyway from next
Monday".

A number of the shop stewards at the meeting made reference
to the unofficial strikes by postal workers and Heathrow workers.

It is clear there has been a major shift in the attitude of
many workers. They see unofficial action as the most effective way of defending
their interests.

UNISON members around the country are watching the
developments in Newham with great interest. As Mick also told me: "The
issue here is the most important battle we have had for years".