28.03.1996

Council workers must stand firm

The attempt by a London council to deny its workers union rights sets a precedent which the entire movement must resist

Brent council is under pressure. A vigorous campaign against its attempt to derecognise Unison, the main trade union, is already under way.

Using the excuse that one particular union official, regional officer Stuart Barber, is “the problem”, the Tory council is insisting that it will no longer deal with Unison unless he is replaced. But its real intention is to break up resistance to the attacks on jobs and conditions which are needed to force through yet more spending cuts.

The derecognition proposal will be put to the council’s policy and resources committee on April 1. It is now clear that the councillors are in for a rude shock when they see the size of the mass lobby which the local branch has organised to welcome them.

Last week 30 activists, representing all sections of the council workforce, attended the local mobilising meeting, alongside representatives of other Unison branches. There have been many offers of support and solidarity, and faxes have been pouring in to the branch office.

Workers are preparing to defend their union representatives and fight for their own jobs “with all guns blazing”, according to one union official. The branch’s position is that it supports Stuart Barber 100% and it sees no reason to compromise on that.

But workers must not be disarmed by rumours that the council may back down. The personnel sub-committee has made it clear that it intends to use state anti-union laws in the event of industrial action, so careful preparations must be made by the union. So far these have been good, combining the mobilisation of the Brent workforce itself with the need to broaden the support for action.

The branch is urging all members to attend the special union meeting on April 2 (details p3).

Peter Manson