[CPSA president Kevin Roddy estion of the Socialist…]

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CPSA president Kevin Roddy estion of the Socialist Caucus in the CPSA for a national meeting of regional and branch representatives in Birmingham to discuss how best to promote the dispute.

Two of the strike committee travelled to Birmingham last Thursday to seek support for such a Strikers at the Ravenshurst Street Office and members of the Regional Strike Committee all expressed support for the idea. They too agree on 1E-3pu0s the need for escalation.

... УНИИ ТИСИ maNT 11. /roDoRIs were 8I90 019cussed about joint Oxford/ Birmingham delegations to offices in Scotland and Wales.

• It was agreed that the Oxford representatives would return to Birmingham the next day to attend the Birmingham Strike Committee and the strikers' mass rally in Central Hall.

However, on the Friday those who had previously heen supportive now raised organisational objections as reasons to withdraw their support.

At the rally one branch secretary from Birmingham was persuaded to support - but on approaching the other Branch Secretaries they said they would oppose her if she proposed such a motion. Undaunted, one of the Oxford representatives moved the motion from the floor and in a second contribution asked that it be put to the rally to vote on.

Hurried consultation took place on the, platform. David Woods and Dai Havard, CPSA and SCPS full timers; opposed a national meeting, saying it would nse monev from tha strike fund.

Intention

This was never • : tne intention.

The chair put the motion to the vote without clarifying for the meeting what •OCDO Community Centre, 61B Mansfield Rd.

NORTH-WEST London Socialist Organiser group discussion meetings. every other Sunday, 8pm (for venue, see SO sellers).

in Poplar and Clay Cross Labour councils have defied they were voting on and so quickly wab a you onused you'd have missed it.

'It was defeated 2 to 1 but with easily half of those present not voting.

Despite this setback in attempts to provide a national forum to discuss escalating the action it was important for the Birmingham strikers to hear such ideas.

Escalate

They will, not hear them from their leadership. It is significant that two contributions from the floor at the Birmingham mass rally supported the Oxford proposal and wanted assurances from the top table that they would escalate the dispute.

One, speech from the platform did bring the rally to life and that was from SEC • member Stewart McLennan from Glasgow. He said a face to face confrontation, shutting down the whole department if necessary, was needed now. There was no other way to win.

This is the message that must be taken out from the offices on strike to other parts of the country.

The government won't be moved by how much money is collected - it is offices-out on strike that count.

The chance of joint Birmingham and Oxford delegations must not be lost and the links between NO PASS Laws conference. Sunday December 12, 10am, County Hall, London SEI. Details: 146 Kentish Town Road, London NW5.

ISLINGTON Labour Party Young Socialists meeting: Annajoy David (national ser retary, Youth CND) on 'Jobs not Bombs'. Tuesday December 16, 8pm at the Labour rooms, 295 Upper Street.

CAMPAIGN for the release of political prisoners in Sri Lanka. Public meeting, Friday November 26, 6.30, Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London NWI.

Party Democracy mittee conference: Saturday December ing delegates now: