Coventry Strikers Stand Firm

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But it could improve: post free. That's £9.60 a lot more if some of for three months for the many readers who bundles of 5, and £18 like the paper, but only for bundles of 10. themselves began taking rates are £4 for three bundles. months, f7. for six We're offering months, and E12 for a bundles of 10 for £1.50 Organiser, 28 Middle SUBSCRIBE! MASS MEETINGS of the 4,000 NUPE strikers in Coventry have voted overwhelmingly to continue their three week old strike against the Labour council's proposed ten per cent in their living standards, which breaks all local agreements.

The strike involves caretakers, cleaners and dinner ladies in all Coventry's schools and colleges.

The Labour council have clearly been reading about BL, and trying to come the Michael Edwardes. Firstly they sent out letters to all workers.

Last weekend they booked two separate rooms on two separate floors of the Post House Hotel of BL fame for negotiations with the NUPE union officials. The strike committee, meanwhile, were left to play 30 games of pool until 5.30am, when they were brought in to be told the latest offer -a four per cent cut - and to reject it in three minutes flat.

Rag The Labour council then bought an advert for £500 in the local Tory rag, the Coyentry Evening Telegraph, explaining their latest offer.

At the mass meetings, Coventry Labour councillor Joan Ward, wife of the education committee chairperson Charlie Ward, gave out leaflets to the strikers explaining the offer. The strike committee provided a wire waste paper basket into which strikers deposited the leaflets as they went in to the ONCE MORE it's the sociable season - in which presents and. alcohol figure larger than usual in the thinking of normally It is clear that the Labour council. wants to break NUPE as an example to other unions in the local authority. Before the strike started, acting council leader Peter Lister said to a meeting of representatives of all the council unions, 'If you went on strike for two weeks, that would suit us fine. Our problems would be solved'.

Saved

Already the council has saved £360,000 in wages, not counting heating, lighting, meals, etc: in other words, they have saved a 10 per cent cut already. But Robert Aitken, Coventry director of education, said that what NUPE were demanding was 'not financially or politically acceptable'. In other words, they cannot be seen to back down, of otherwise they will not be able to implement the Heseltine cuts after Christmas.

So far, support from other unions has been appalling at official level, but building up at rank and file level through an active support committee. A Coventry NUT (National Union of Teachers) meeting backed a call for a day of action in support of NUPE, and a £1,000 donation. This was moved by Socialist Organiser supporter Ann Duggan.

Local NUT officials backed out of the day of action, and Coventry NALGO at a mass meeting voted against the day of action.

The TGWU, the original callers of the day of action, also backed out, no doubt under the influence of Bill Lapworth, senior TGWU full time official and chairperson of Coventry District Labour Crack Now NUPE has called for a rally outside the council house on Thursday December 3 at 12 u'clock, and invited support from other unions. This is something the support committee can mobilise for.

A recent by-election in the NUT for vice-president has shown a crack in the right wing domination of that union. John Hayward, a member of the Socialist Teachers' Group, defeated the right wing candidate by 69 votes. This is clearly a vote of no confidence in the local NUT officials.

The STG have put up a slate of 25 for the EC elections and are confidence of gaining some places.

Edwardes

Clearly more pressure has to be built up in the unions to fight the cuts. Most workers can now see that NUPE is fighting a first battle which is part of their own struggle. The NUPE strike must be won, and this means decisive support in the next week.

The Coventry Labour Council first gave us a miserable precedent of the referendum giving their policies some justification. Now they are tearing up locally negotiated agreements.

They may try a Michael Edwardes, but they don't get Sec PETE KEENLYSIDE from Manchester outlines some ideas on how to increase your local sales of Socialist Organiser. Socialist Organiser isn't difficult paper to sell, and if Socialist Organiser supporters follow a few obvious points it should be possible for almost everyone to boost their present sales.

The first point is so obvious it shouldn't really need stating, but it's surprisName.

Address...

From: Socialist Lane, London N8. Please make cheques payable to Socialist ing how many people dor follow it - always keep yo papers handy.

Without

No-one should turn up to their trade union or Labour Party branch meeting, or demonstrations and picket lines, without papers. But it's also worth taking some to the pub with you, because you can usually sell some to the paople you know there.

And if some comrades find it difficult to sell in meetings because somebody else always gets in first, then Over! = SO organise extra street, estate, or pub sales for them.

Workers won't usually buy a paper from someone who looks as if they don't really want to sell it. Don't wait for people to come up and buy one from you at meetings or demonstrations, but go up and ask them if they want one.

Street

On street or factory sales, make sure that there are at least three or four of you. It looks more impressive, and you'll find that you more than if there is just one solitary seller.

Don't stand around looking slum, even if it is ton degrees below freezing point. Shout slogans, be confident and aggressive without descanding into the harassment that some of the more bizarre sects of the movement practise.

Always be on the lookout for ways to increase your sales. Too many com. rades think they've done their bit when they've sold their minimum quota.

One good way to build up your sale is to get your regular buyers to take extra copies to sell. It's surprising how many are prepared to do this, if only someone would ask them.

Paper sales don't just happen. They have to be organised. The papers have to be collected from the station and distributed 40 supporters as quickly as possible - any time after Saturday is too late.

Someone has to maké sure that there are enough sallars to cover any big events in your area, that any now areas for sales are followed through, and, most important of all, that the money for sales is collected and sant in every wook.

The paper organisar's job is probably the most important in any Socialist Organisar. доир. the person sno doos i7 nEs to Do both competent and, above all / enthusiestie.

If your paper. organner must the mus who didn't.

Y to, then your group's are probably suffering as a result.

Our papor is our public face. It's averyone's job to mako sure that it is seen as • often as possible.

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ret or so sales us make our circulation JUMP! Take a bundle

of SO to sell! to Regular subscription