CAB128-94_A1b — Page 103

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In discussion, the following points were made:

a.

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The 9.25 per cent pay settlement for the police could have an adverse effect on other pay negotiations, although the job of the police was unique and was reflected in their special pay arrangements.

The consequence of any higher pay settlement for Zocal authority staff should be a reduction in the pabers of those staff. Revenue Support Grant would not be forthcoming simply to finance inflationary pay Bettlements.

be

C.

Any adverse effect which the industrial action by NALGO members might have on the introduction of the community Charge might well rebound on the local authorities themselves. If local authorities failed to register boogle for the charge, they would receive less grant. This aged to be brought to their attention.

d. NALGO was adopting a deliberate policy of targetting key, sensitive activities. It had

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accumulated a substantial strike fund - it was believed by mortgaging properties and was paying the strikers in key areas full pay that they lost nothing by their actions. The employers would need to see if there was any way in which this

e.

be countered.

There was no evidence so far that workplace ballots being conducted by NALGO were unlawful.

f. One way of countering NAIC actions might be for local authorities to put key work out to the private

sector.

g.

In spite of a vigorous campaign against payment from some quarters, payment of the community charge in Scotland was running ahead of the payment of rates for this point in the year.

Oates

us

THE PRIME MINISTER, summing up the discussion, said that if the industrial action by NALGO members were to have adverse effect on the introduction of the community change, then the chief victims would be the most vulnerable in society. The public should be constantly reminded of this fact. The Secretary of State for the Environment should consult the Secretary of State for Employment on line which the Government should take in relation to the talks between NALGO and the local authority employers due

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