Anti-Poll Tax Unions

Anti-Poll Tax Unions (APTUs) were set up in local areas throughout Scotland, England and Wales to organise against the Community Charge ("poll tax") brought in by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1989 (Scotland) and 1990 (England and Wales).

The first anti-poll tax union was established in Govan, Scotland in 1988. [ [http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=6178 Fifteen years since the poll tax revolt] - Retrieved 22/08/07]

The Militant tendency set up a national All Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation ("the Fed") to co-ordinate the activities of the local unions.

The Anti-Poll Tax Unions played a major part in the legal actions in which around 20 million people were summoned for non-payment of the tax. [http://www.militant.org.uk/PollTax.html] Those jailed included Terry Fields, MP for Broadgreen.

References

External links

* [http://www.militant.org.uk/PollTax.html Miltant's role in defeating the poll tax]
* [http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/militant/mil2frame.htm?ch35.htm Peter Taffe "The Rise of Militant"]
* [http://www.akpress.org/1996/items/polltaxrebellion Danny Burns "Poll Tax Rebellion"]
** [http://libcom.org/library/poll-tax-rebellion-danny-burns-reviewed-wildcat-uk-1993 reviewed by Wildcat UK]
** [http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/ws94/ws42_poll.html reviewed in Workers Solidarity]