from Alan Rooney
“he front page of the Public Employees Journal - N.U.P.E.'s newspaper contains an interesting article entitled: "Branches give thumbs up for E.C. policies." It reads: "Strong backing from union branches for the Executive Council's critical attitude towards the Government's pay freeze and economic squeeze is appar= ent in the preliminary agenda for N.U.P.E.'s National Conference scheduled to take place at Brighton in Mid-May. Nearly two hundred resolutions have been submitted by branches. Many of them call on the union to push ahead with efforts to secure higher wages, longer holidays, equal pay and improved conditions of service. One of the major debates of Conference will undoubtedly take place on a clutch of resolutions dealing with economic matters. The Government fails to find a single supporter among branches submitting these resolutions. "Most of them, however, back the line taken by the Executive Council. And a number specifically call for endorsement of the E.C. statement on the economic situation. Criticism of Government legislation to limit trade union activities in the field of collective bargaining features in a number of resolutions. Another aspect of Government policy singled out for criticism by branches is the high level of military expenditure. In the group of resolutions on wages the need for a positive incomes policy is frequently stated. The need for a minimum wage - stated by N.U.P.E.'s General Secretary Sydney Hill after the local authority manual workers! pay settlement last June - is one aspect of such a policy to receive support from the branchese The case for the lower paid workers, including local and health service employees, and for a redistribution of the nation's wealth is outlined in a number of resolutions on wages. "A group of 15 resolutions centres on holidays. Many of them urge that all local government and health service employees should receive a basic holiday of three weeks. Equal pay for women is the subject of six resolutions. Occupational problems of concern to particular groups of members are detailed under special headingse In this way all grades of local government and health services will-_have a chance to air their views at the conference"