In April, shortly before the G.L.C, elections, the Labour-controlled London Borough of Haringey announced rent increases, to come into effect on July 3rd, amounting in some cases to as much as 12s.6d. per week. This was probably one of the factors that led to this predominantly working-class borough falling to the Tories. Not that rent increases are anything new in Haringey. Some tenants who have been in Council property for four years have seen their rents doubled over that period. But this time, in the context of the wage-freeze and the crisis in the Labour Party, there has been an unprecedented wave of opposition to the proposed increases. The first shot was fired by a group of twenty-nine members of the three Labour Parties in the borough - most of them G.M.C. delegates, and many officers of words who issued a public statement to the three local papers, dissociating themselves from the rent. increases. Then, in early May, a meeting was called by some of these twenty-nine members, inviting other interested people. The result was the formation of the Haringey Action Committee of Tenants - an ad hoc, informal committee for the time being. Its activities have been: (a) to canvass council tenants with a petition demanding the rescinding of the increases (b) to coordinate the work of existing tenants' associations (c) to encourage the formation of new associations. The local Labour Parties, accustomed to regard Council tenants as safe voting-fodder while middle-class ratepayers need wooing, have been aghast at the open discussion of the issues. The Wood Green Party is holding a series of teach-ins on the problems of Council rents, though the value of these is diminished by the fact that they are confined to Labour Party members. So far, the Action Committee has had considerable success. Over 80% of tenants approached with the petition have signed. In April, there were only two tenants' associations in existence among Haringey's 11,000 council tenants, but several more have been formed. It is too early to make a definite judgment on the achievements of the Committee, but the following conclusions can be drawn from the work so far: 1) While it is mlikely that the present increases will be rescinded,
the Council will have to think very hard about the further increases
planned for January 1968, 2) This activity has provided a potential for practical cooperation
between Labour Party left-wingers, Communist Party members, and
other groups which may lay down the foundations for more extens-
ive political discussion.
3) There has been a clear differentiation i
in the Labour Parties betwe
genuine left-wingers end those who verbally express left opinions oa
but confine themselves. to manoeuvring behind closed doors. ‘
4) There is a vast potential for working-class militancy on such local
issues if & few people are prepared to do the hard work of encouraging,
coordinating and organising at grass-roots level.
ihe ee is the text of the Haringey Action Committee of Tenants!
eaflet:
RENTS UP - On July 3rd, Haringey Council tenants face rent increases
of up to 12/6 a week,
Tenants will pay another £117,000 to the Council.
Further increases will’ follow (one in January) to increase
the basic rent by 2/6 in the &.
A few tenants can get rent decreases if they don't mind a
MEANS TEST!!
Some tenants are already paying more than the so called
"economic" rent.