The right in the national executive of NALGO (National and Local Government Officers" Association) have launched a vicious attack on militants within the union, in parti cular the Nalgo Action Group.
Late last week five members of the NEC, led by John Fraser of Leeds branch, issued a press statement claiming that the union was in danger of being taken over by extremists pointing the finger at NAG and the International Social ists in particular. •They are calling for a union enquiry into NAG'S activities, and have written to every district council repeating their warning It is quite clear why these right wingers have chosen this particular moment for their actions, They hope to inflict a poutical defcat on all militants in the union, following on the defeats suffered by the rank and file in the London Weighting and National Pay Claim struggles carlier this year, Certain aspects of the London Weighting campaign have scared NALGO's rather timid leadership; in partacular the way that certain sections of the union membership, most notably Islington branch. Harted lo organise and act indep endently of the 'official leadership. Such developments-which played an important part in bringing about the defeat of an NEC motion to call off the struggle at the union At 11 o'clock last Sunday night, conference in June-pose a real threat to the traditionally passive and paternalistic union bureaucracy.
It is significant that the five NEC members have chosen to wage their campaign through journals like the Local Government Chronicle, which caters for the middle and upper management grades of the state machinery. A large section of the NALGO leadership come from these grades, and see their interests as being very Closely tied to that machinery. development of struggles in the union thus not only poses a threat to their leadership' positions but also atlacks the "smooth functioning' in their eyes of the local government machinery It is not clear at the present time how far these scabs want to take their attacks. tainly a definite link belween their activities and the way in which management has used the same period of lull in Southwark to victimise two NALGO members in the Social Ser vices Department, Peter Cooper and John Pratt.
The most energetic and broadest based defence of these two militants show that the rank and file, far from being demoralised by the recent defeals, is ready and willing to organise to defeat these new attacks from the management and its allies in the union bureaucracy.
system, Fords went back on this agreement.
shift counterparts farod into the open now is that the last real advance in wages at However, there is cer meant a steady crosion in real carnings for the workers.
Government and the ending of Phase Three, there have been a whole series of sectional disputes.
Now there is the most serious one This is the best way lo of all the four week strike in the press shop.
Party leadership in the hody buildine plant began to foat the myste-