Author: Radical Lambeth

Lambeth NALGO anti-cuts bulletins (1980-81)

During a particularly frantic period of anti cuts activity in the early 1980s, Lambeth NALGO produced a series of anti cuts bulletins to mobilise members for action against the Thatcher government’s austerity agenda in her first term. 

Continue reading “Lambeth NALGO anti-cuts bulletins (1980-81)”

Lambeth NALGO bulletin – the Cutlet (1981-82)

Collection of bulletins from Lambeth NALGO between 1981-82)

In the early 1980s Lambeth NALGO produced a regular bulletin for staff at Lambeth Council called the Cutlet (after ‘the Lamb’).

The Cutlet was edited by Jackie Lewis, a local trade union stalwart who as of 2018 is still active at the Council on behalf of Lambeth UNISON. Continue reading “Lambeth NALGO bulletin – the Cutlet (1981-82)”

The Long March – a play in solidarity with South African workers

The Long March is a play by the Sarmcol Workers’ Cooperative, performed in both Zulu and English, about the 970 striking workers in South Africa in 1985 who were all fired by BTR, a British multinational corporation. They worked at Sarmcol, a rubber company owned by BTR. The play is based on the experiences of the workers involved, forming a union, campaigning for their rights and what happened when they were all sacked 3 days into the strike.

The Long March toured Britain in 1987 and was performed to a packed crowd in Brixton on 1 November.

You can read more about the Sarmcol strike and the workers’ cooperative that was established during the dispute here http://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/the-great-sarmcol-strike

The dispute was finally settled in 1998 when Sarmcol/BTR agreed to pay R11,7m in compensation to the 970 workers they sacked in 1985.

You can read the very informative programme for the play here The Long March

The case for Lambeth Councillors (PDF)

A pamphlet fundraising for the surcharged Labour Councillors in 1986

A pamphlet produced by Lambeth Council in 1986 in defence of the 32 surcharged Labour councillors.

Featuring an introduction by David Blunkett, head of Sheffield Council. 

You can download the PDF below 
The case for Lambeth councillors

Booklet: He was only the District Auditor, but…

Booklet issued in 1986 for the fundraising drive

When they were surcharged in 1985 and forced to pay £126,947 between them the 31 Lambeth Councillors launched a huge fundraising campaign to cover both the surcharge and the court case for their appealed.

This pamphlet, with photos provided mainly by Lambeth NALGO member Dave Stewart, covers some of the key events, protests and personalities of the dispute.

Includes a foreword by Tony Benn MP; “The Lambeth Councillors have, of course,
committed no crime, unless it is a crime to look after the old and the sick, the disabled and the unemployed, the homeless and communities who are suffering so much under the Tories… We are all proud of them because they kept faith with their own people, with the party and with their principles and no-one can do more than that.”

To view the PDF click here