Robinson successfully defended his school from closure, fought for the unification of the teaching unions, mentored future trade union leaders and transformed teaching at the Marx Memorial Library, writes JOHN FOSTER

THE people power that has brought an end to the Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV) has shown that surrender to the interests of multinational construction firms is not welcome by local residents and the many social movements that they are part of.
Councils in London are under great pressure to deal with the Tory-inspired housing crisis but, in boroughs neighbouring Haringey, Labour leaderships have responded innovatively but without capitulation to the corporations.
Camden, Islington and Enfield have all provided different models to deal with the crisis. The borough that is in cahoots with Haringey's chosen developer, Australian multinational Lendlease, is Southwark.

It is only trade union power at work that will materially improve the lot of working people as a class but without sector-wide collective bargaining and a right to take sympathetic strike action, we are hamstrung in the fight to tilt back the balance of power, argues ADRIAN WEIR


