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of the National Association of Local Government Officers had been solidly supported in the North, although less so in the South. A two-day strike was planned in the following week, with further escalation of the action possible thereafter. The dispute was between the local authorities and their employees, and Ministers had expressly been asked not to comment on it by local authority leaders, who were standing firm against the union's demands. However, the industrial action had led to a number of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, being deprived of local authority services on which ey relied, and it was right that this effect of the union's ction should be made more widely known. If the dispute calated, it could have particularly damaging effects on at supplies, although contingency arrangements were being laid against this and publicity for this potential effect of the dispute would not be helpful. Other current disputes involved steel erectors on major sites in Central London strike for three weeks already over a 36 per cent pay claim, a refle if the overheating in the construction industry and employes of North Sea contractors, where a pay dispute was being acted under guise of a campaign for improved safety level he wake of the Piper Alpha disaster.

b.

ONFIDENT

on

There was as ye no sign that the various disputes were co-ordinated, the doubt there was a tendency on the part of the various trade unions in dispute to take advantage of the disparon caused by the activities of the others. Effective ements for the co-ordination of different Departments erests in the disputes had been established.

C. The substantial pay rises averaging 27 per cent in the last financial year,

whic

enjoyed, had not helped the

industrial managers had gepent case in the various

disputes. It would not do anm for the Government to take the line that managers must learn to lead by example, not exhortation.

d.

The Government's case was strong andust be vigorously presented, although the reaction to the by the RSNT would need to be considered contact between the Ministers primarily inolved in the disputes and political journalists and leader writers was essential.

bending decision lly. Regular

e. Everything possible should be done to convince the travelling public of the Government's commitment interests. It should also be pointed out that he public was not only paying for the rail service through fare through subsidy.

its

If that subsidy and the value of asset

3

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