Two thousand local gorernment, gas, electricity. university and other service workers packed Westminster Central Hall on Wednesday, 7 November, The rally was called by NALGO in support of the C400 London Weighting claim, It was designed to mobilise the membership behind the bureaucracy's strategy for winning the claim-a strategy of building an alliance with the employers to put pressure on the Tory This was exemplified by the presence on the platform of Illtyd Harrington, depuly leader of the Grealer London Council, The union buncancrats ane anxious to get the token invoivement of the membership in order to cement the alliance. So far the emplayers have been prepared to offer only E115-126. EXPECTATIONS But such contral rallics, and talk by the leadership of selective strikes and overtime hans, raise the expecta tioms of those who want a coal strugsle against the Pay Laws and the Tory Government Al the Contral Hall meeting, the buraucracy had prepared a "declarution" advocating support for the negatiutors. which they urged should be passed unanimousty. However, a speaker froe the floor triad to move ant amendment drawn up by the Nalgo Action Group. This sitauted the claim within the general surugek against Phase 3, calling for a nationsl pay ciaim of t500, links with other unions fighting the Pay Laws the creatlon or campala commmtees tn au ancas, dok planned strike action. The bureaucrats had carlier agreed to allow amendments, but now changed their minds. When the speaker received the support of a clear maiority on asking the meeting whether they wanted to vole on the amendment, the platform cut off the microphone.
NOT PREPARED The Nalgo Action Group, incuding its IMG memben bad not antisipated that the mood of the member. ship wauld be so high. It had therefore not propured for the NiG speaker to stay on the platform until a vote was taken. Inl such a situation the hurcaucrey would hame facod a difficult choice of cither taking the vote, or removing him bodily trom the plarform in front of the ruily. As it was, the buncaucracy were able, it only just, to repain control of the cally. The Central Hall rally showed that tho balance of fonces in the union is in favour of the lelt, it the left is willing to take the instiative. Tlus mast now be done by extonding cumpaign commitices all over London NALOO, and campaigning vigorously for a sational cisim ARTHUR BENNETT