Socialist Press no. 103

What is this scene? And what is its connection to a twelve month struggle that ended last week in complete victory? For the full story of a unique struggle against victimisation by union officials and management, see Industrial News, page 11.

PRESS

PHOTO• Andrew Wiard. Repor Callaghan The turn by the US and administration towards

NATO

chiefs direct military interven- tion to safeguard imper- ialist interests in Africa is imposing severe strains on their collabor- ationist 'detente' policy with the Soviet Union. And it poses a threat to international whole the workers movement. Plans are now being dis- cussed by American, British, French, German and Belgian governments -LO policy on Africa, with the French energetically fight- ing for the establishment of pan-African permanent sunKe torce. Demonstration As these capitalist leaders met in Paris, the first major demonstration against French imperialism's role in Africa-called by the French but as a desperate gamble in Party-took Communist the hope OT place on Monday night economic

NATO

Workers in the crisis. countries must take up the fight not only to stop these of the but destroy plans, committee

NATO

ation for Economic Cooper- whole reactionary set-up which now raises the ation ane (OECD) exposed once again possibility of plunging the that even in the most deep- world into a new war. The capitalist politicians going crisis and their military the anarchy of the capitalist advisors have taken the decision to system at their use every planned meals repress economic approach by the disposal to the national liberation and anti- various governments. dictatorial struggles that are As stagnation, now convulsing crucial areas Assistance In doing so they have will decided that they also challenge the right of the Soviet bloc and Cuba to give and military material 210. assistance to such struggles.

Implicit in this challenge is the danger of direct con- frontation between imperialism and the workers StaLes The capitalist class has this not 200 CO Stance from a position of strength

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 103 * June 7, 1978 * 15p

FORCE NATO

TROOPS OUT

European workers must act now! inter-capitalist competition combine to create huge dis- location in the capitalist economy, the last thing the imperialist powers can afford is the possible loss of they the super-profits extract from the exploita- and colonial ot the semi-colonial of Stales Africa. Militant struggles Yet they see reactionary pro-imperialist regimes throughout the continent being rocked by the militant struggles of African workers and peasants, and forced to their control easing their reservE and through the vicious political most military repression. Tied to the purse strings Only last week a meeting economic policy of imperialist finance capital these have been, of the Organis- regimes unable to create any substantial popular base of Development support, and remain vulner- able revolutionary the war, struggle. Twice in fifteen months CIA-backed prevents any the COOl unified Mobutu regime in the vast of Zaire mineral-rich state has tottered on the verge of defeat in front of the merest inflation handful of rebels. unemployment and *

OF AFRICA!

Only the swift and brutal intervention of French and Belgian troops against the rebels last month saved Mobutu more-and brought to the forefront the issue of a long term imper- ialist force in Atrica Now US planes are ferry- ing 1,500 Morrocan regular troops as a first step in a long term plan to prop up Mobutu while imperialists

DUL

liberatomn struggles they ess concerned repress also perturbed at the way in involved

WATCH

almost such struggles turn automanıcally to une soviel Union and Cuba for assis- tance. Failure in the recent period. of True The Kremlin's Back confidence that it can any longer command the loyalty feeds off of the mass so-called "Euro- communist" parties of attempted Europe in a conflict with imperialism, and the abject independent failure of Soviet diplomacy by

SUCTIC

Middle East both the masses. seem to be factors that have the Stalinist political encouraged bureaucracy strategic areas more LO Centre pages Whose side is the WRP on? UGT conference report. • p.3 Gay rights....... • p.9 Convenor reinstated p.11 French President Giscard French troops in Kolwesi active involvement in Africa that will prove both of dependable opponents form, the independent working class Derg military the gains of the dictatorship Ethiopia, in October Revolution has not and the 'left' nationalist regimes Angola and any defend itself by encouraging Mozambique. But in order to establish revolutionary the African its anti-imperialist creden- tials in Africa the Stalinist bureaucracy has also given a Instead it has sought out relationships Continued on Page 2 with forces

Vorster's 'liberalisation' Force out NATO troops ... from front page

—INTERNATIONAL -

fraud The South African Despite fact that tne blacks be allowed last week government freedom from arrest for not bills published three carrying papers within a dis- which it is hoped will tance of 5km., the head off the struggle by penalty tor travel offence is increased the black masses against the racist state. The bills provide for 99- Limited year leases to be granted to qualified urban blacks who The lease-hold are living outside the tribal has been limited because the homelands; for the replace- South African government ment of pass Tne nated still maintains that full free- books by travel documents hold will issued by the homeland available future independent" black OnLY and

JOT

prise values among blacks replacement, by the word generally states. and achieve 'black', of the term Bantu in "relaxation purposetrols on But the greater stability in our all government legislation.

urban areas. ol controls on blacks is quite clear. As a New passports joint statement from the Cracking down The Urban Foundation travel docu- he w all pass employers' federation) and As the Teolace imperialist books will all the contain stranglehold over Southern Societies states: Africa begins delalls containea in the pass weaken, TO books but will be issued by it is a most signifi- Vorster's regime is cracking homeland cant step towards meaning- aown on any expression o of white civil instead ful home ownership which independent action by black stivalle would entrench tree enter WO.Kes. wile allne same the imperialists themselves as how best to cling on to control in Africa. The echo of the humil- iating defeat of US imperial- ism in Vietnam, and the consequent inability to send US troops fight to the MPLA in Angola still rings the many tal. bourgeois leaders. Even now in Chad beleagured French troops are suffering heavy losses at of the lightly

FROLINAT

armed lorces. while in the Sahara Polisario guerrillas continue to hold the Morrocan and Mauritanian armies at bay.

Collaboration With this in mind those like Callaghan who seek to attack the working class through class collaboration than class confron- Taller tation, have been urging a more subtle d ideal- through massive "aid" provide rather than overt

COLONC

military backing to dictators like Mobutu. Mobutu embraces French President Giscard That leaders the British Labour Party should certain amount of military conscious counter- and financial aid to national be actively assisting to plot revolutionary force liberation struggles-while be combatted moves to repress the pol- African highlights ensuring, masses in the case of itically at each point. the Patriotic Front guerrillas This is why in those areas the political problems anu Zimbabwe-that tasks faced by the working such where diplomatic class the assistance imperialist not on in manoeuvres by tne kreman sufficient a scale to enable a that they particularly those mean provide nanons in Europe. all-out struggle stillas open or tacit support take place. The international obliga reactionary regimes (as in Whatever their motives in tion of Ethiopia), such actions must European Lile doing as the workers is to be condemned by the whole Stalinists give material to stop these WUINCIS InOVelICIE support to these liberation mores dead in their tracks.

struggles the! are objective- No decision Yet not ire workers has headed cI- Despite the ferocity m talked such action. French and Belgian troops te: the mamen gunning their bureau- cratic methods and the in- Belated protest veen made to go lor a con- aucquacy or luell support.

frontation with the workers' Stalinism within the states. movement Only the French CP

WOLKES

Indeed retains there clearly Internallonally stung feeling lLo within their own movement character the considerable division among

HOSE

time encouraging the co-op- tion of the black petty- bourgeoisie By cracking down on the masses Vorster hopes to cut off the pressure being applied black collabor- on ators like Bhutelezi. A revolutionary leader- ship in South Africa will have to be built in conflict with those within the black population who prepared to collaborate with -has belatedly called protest demonstration "Giscardian against intervention" in Africa. We must support demon- strations whilst showing how the CP leadership making sure action limited only to protest. Strike action The French Communist Party controls the CGI trade union confeder ation: it is within its power to call strike action to force withdrawal of French sooner than give any lead to independent work- ing class action these Stalin- ists confine themselves to vague gestures. In Britain too the labour movement can and must be mobilised to protect ine world working class from a SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 May, 1978 A pass book the Vorster regime. The "reforms" are directed primarily towards those forces AMONG the squads of imper ialist troops dispatched to prop up the hated Mobutu regime Zaire trod an alien figure - Chin est roreign Minister Huang Hua who flew in especially to declare Peking support for the tottering aesoor further attack at the hands of our "Labour" politicians.

The fight must be taken up at once: *Remove the pro-imper- ialist Callaghan-Healey leadership *Withdraw Britain from NATO and all alliances with imperialist forces all British " witnaraw and troops from Ireland other countries. *The trade unions must black all supplies and arms shipments to these imperial- ist armies. *Unconditional defence of the workers states against imperialist attack *For strike action against intervention by NATO and Its stooges in Alrica * Build Trotskyist parties in every country to combat Stalinism and reformism! *Full labour movement support to those engaged in an imperalist struggles Africa. French- pay sit-ins A wave of unofficial pay strikes throughout the Renault combine in France has brought swift retaliatory lock- out action from management. The strikes-ranging from brief sectional stoppages to more widescale strikes and occupations the plants at Flins and at Cleon, near Rouen-are of pursuit demands well in excess of the laid policy by the government. Strikers are calling for a 3,000 wage francs (£360) per month; a 40-hour week; a fifth week's paid holiday, and retirement al ou Management have responded by breaking off officials and locking out all 16,000 workers at the Flins plant, 400 where shop workers have been on strike and sat in over the weekend.

And Renault have applied for court to force out occupying strikers The attitude of Stalinist union leaders has been con- sciously to refrain from call giving the tor ali-out strike action while remain- to move in and head off the struggles should they develop The Communist Party daily | Humanite, last week carried generally sympa- thetic interviews with strikers at Flins and Cleon, describing workers erecting tents on the grass of the factory and bringing in tele- visions to watch the World Cup during the occupation These struggles could give a lead to other sections of French workers who face a sharp new upward move in of government policies A concerted struggle on wages would forte the newly re-elected govern- ment under Prime Minister Barre to act in defence of its incomes policy if it is to succeed forcing the French• working class shoulder the burden of the crisis of French capitalism.

Workers march through the Renault factory at Flins

Jones supervises SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 June, 1978 UGT's passed the first legal congress since "reaffirms" that 1932 the 90-year-old trade union federation, whose history and present are bound up with closely Socialist Party the "of

(PSOE),

is the working class, revolu- tionary, dulonomous, democratic, free, uni- internationalist Laly, and in support of wor- kers' control." Nothing revolutionary, however, was visible in their lour-uay Come ence Barcelona, the town where was founded by The Vul Pablo Iglesias. And it was not much find anything Castl • LO democratic, unitary or inter- nationalist. In fact, despite an intent- ionally confusing tendency with like begin phrases "looking at unemployment Marxist viewpoint' irom a was nard to ina much difference in spirit between the Congress of the reborn UGT and the annual British TUC conference. Same techniques From Scarborough Brighton to Seville. from trade parcelona. union bureaucrats perion. their treacherous role with much the same techniques.

It was not at all incon- that the the fourth amate row was not a dream it was indeed the real Jack Jones.

Though more expensive- ly dressed than the majority Jones looked ot delegates very much at home. though He knew that. be the might lalicudee different, he was among Irends who took their task of holding back the strength of the working class as seri- ously as he did. Nicolas Redondo, who without was reelecicu opposition the serious UGIs General Secretary, Is stil nowever, unable lo del with quite Ine same arro as a Jack Jones even if he is learning fast. For Kedondo is a trage union leader in a movement whose structure is still in a state of rapid change. Massive growth Within Spain Franco's the was all but des troyed after the end of the civil war. until the not was 1960s that was serious growth of working class organisation this movement the increasingly Workers' Commis- Halcu sions were the most impor- tant organisations. Out of these the Spanish Gonzalez

INTERNATIONAL

Spanish = apprentices In place of 'Auld Lang Syne' -the Internationale Redondo start CP has been attempting to Commissions also build 'trade of looking more like trade unions of old which the type kind local new base though it has not yet got as bureaucrats would far as holding national con occasional themselves on mass meetings of all workers gresses. At the time of its illegal rather than face a constant but just tolerated Thirtieth with of a union Congress in membership 19/0 tne Url 15,000 which members would have claimed members same number as it had constitutional rights. 1899). has The UGT arrived late in oudy million (twice this development but its ex- over tremely rapid growth since many as it had in 1932) 1975 reflects not only the desire of workers to rebuild Manoeuvres of the historic unions one of the Spanish working class it these members expec- but also to Join a ted even some formal repre- union in which, at least in the

UGT

senlalon theory they had democrat- then of Congress, tels ic rights as members thousands were This desire is maniest disappointed. forcing the Workers The weeks before the Congress were marked by a series unscrupulous OI bureau- manoeuvres by the cracy to disenfranchise the "dissident sections of the union and prevent the grow- with the ing policies of the union leader- ship from coming to the sur- face in the form of a serious challenge at the Congress.

and most blatant scandalous case took place in the Basque province of Navarra There left wing militants in the UGT forward a pul

UGT

resolution for Congress demanding working class independence, social and with socialist governan socialist policies. On the spot report from Enrique Alvares The local bureaucracy was evident that once this resolution would get hypocritical support but only gain tot and massive witchaunt bureaucratic attack The attack was led by Isaias Herrero (later elected Organisation Secretary the No. at the

POSL

Jesus Mancho Congress) and Jose Maria Zufiaur -also members of the

UGT

National Executive Congress dissolved Jack Jones and the

TGWU

witch-hunting leadership would have been proud of them. In the first place they Pamplona local Congress in (which has 50% of the Navarra province member- ship) the pretext that all hac

HOL

m en Dels received a letter summoning them to the Congress. time 12 At the same members (including elected local Committee members) were expelled altogether.

When Pamplona the called members another congress, the bureaucracy summoned a provincial Congress at exactly the at a meeting time Salle place kept a secret from most of the membership. Other dissident union locals were prevented from voting by the device of the bureaucracy refusing to re- their subscriptions and so "invalidating their membership. As a result of this shame- the final ful procedure positions of the Navarra the UGT delegation national Congress welc 25% those who had a constitu- tional right to representa-

LONE

Prevented The one delegate who tried to raise the question on the floor of the Congress was bureaucratically preven- ted from doing so. certainly the was most flagrant instance of a method which is nonethe- less being increasingly prac- tised throughout Spain not only in the UGT but equally Page 3 in the PSOE and the Young incomes policy! Socialists. Redondo is on the PSOE It made the political out- Executive. got the i come of the Congress a cer- Congress to let him stay tainty. there. the Amendments Conditional Executive resolutions, social pacts But in referring to the were predictably wazes

PSOE

possibility rejected majority for government, Redondo said: the standard • Logically this should be to the Executive all Congress votes-about 87%.

the benefit of the working class. The signs of opposition But our support of a socialist government would to ine class collaborationisl policies of the UGT Jeader- be critical and conditional confi- ship, however continually support because our dence in the possibility of the surface before they could be bureaucratic- transtormatiot 30 Cal through future

PSOE

ally stifled. covernment does nor now Forced to agree the

UGT

ever. im ply would give a blank cheque to the policy of our brother And in order to hold this party. check the opposition 1r the end of the bureaucracy nonethe. Felipe Gonzalez congress less forced to agree to fresh from participating in number of policies which it of honour ceremonics whatever has no intention Spain's armed forces. and of carrying out. looking more than ever like For instance the resolu clothing advertisement tion passed on wages from a colour supplement.

includes: "an adjustment of replied to Redondo wages every three months in The UGT, he said, is and the increase in with Our line always been union." When there cost oi living index to be compiled under the control PSOE government he said of the trade unions. would néed the support On jobs the UGT is nom- of the UGT or it could not inally committed to: 'con- succeed trol by workers through the What he meant was that trade union branches of all he intended to take no res- redundancies related to the ponsibility for the failure of economic crisis such "Factories intending the needs of the allowel close response the working class should they CuSt i would, ne impued. be worthwhile for the interests the fault of the working of the community class itself. nationalised without com- Resentful pensation and come under the control of the INI (the Redondo was evidently Francoist version of the resentful of Gonzalez pro Board National Enterprise British the Detona

UGT

and ostentatiously "left" are NO| refrained from applauding policies. In some ways they during Gonzalez: speech are extremely right wing in- But this is the tension sofar as they involve streng- not of principle but of rival theming the Francoist

INI

bureaucrats; both made Industrial Insti- (National pertectly clear they tute). thought one of the main But the ideas of even a the Spanish

TASKS

sliding limited scale "Socialists" was to destroy based on price wages wing of both the tne leIt index under union control PSOE and the UGT or of any kind of nationali- As Gonzalez put it: sation compensa- *The PSOE could receive a wunoul tion are not ones which majority popular mandate would be voluntarily put which obliges it to assume about by the UGT leaders.

the tasks of government. What disturbs me for Buried when that occasion arises.

They are policies which is the maximalist positions will frighten the capitalist inside the PSOE and the UGT, which are often no class reason ana lor tnat more than excuses they will be buried by part of comrades who will Redondo and the obedient not admit that they Executive as soon as it is al t decent to do so. afraid of taking on that task."

UGT

also at the I ne Congress "reaffirmed" its Gonzalez has accumula- ted popular support in the rejection of the reactionary name of "socialism". He is Moncloa Pact signed by the CP. the

PSOE

the now giving warning that Prime when he capitalist parties last year.

becomes Minister he does not want Under this pact workers are forced to take real wage to be under any pressure to.

follow Socialist policies cuts and unlimited allo w "solve" In this he can expect all redundancies to possible help from Nicolas economic the crisis in Redondo and the leaders of exhange" 10 i promises by the Francoist

UGT

last week tne wno showed themselves to have government that it will end graduated enemployment 1n record time The UGT clandestine opponents however has trom of fascist to been and remains opposed open agents of the capitalist class to the Moncloa Pact in the sense that the TUC in the workers movement General Council "opposes"

STRIKES KEY TO CUTS

LABOUR MOVEMENT CAMPAIGN

NEEDED TO DEFEND ABC

Page 4 This week has seen an important development for City Nursery the •Oxford in its attempt to Campaign raise the question of strike against the cuts the local county branch of

NUPE.

The Executive that branch met to consider a resolu- tion from the Blackbird Leys schools staff of NUPE sectior that strike called force County Council South Oxford the reopen which mursery cass-ine class occupied by parents and for weeks before children bailiffs evicted by and police at the end or April.

The meeting agreed to ask county stewards across cal meetines or ten mennoels to discuss the cuts and take decisions on strike action.

Secretary to be inse meet nos addressed by either branch Eric Millar or Anne- secretary. Marie Sweeney of the Nursery Campaign who stanoine Vice Chairman of the branch in current elections. tue This is a bia step forward tor fight against cuts the Oxfordshire, since previously members many of these never informed even quarterly branch meetings.

WSL members of the Oxford City Nursery Camelon

TOOK

their perspective of strike action bv the public sector unions into the Fightback WorKsnoD hospital closures held Birmingham on Saturday This workshop was attended campaign The to defend journalists Cris- pin Aubrey and Duncan Campbell, former and soldier John Berry from charges under the Offi- cial Secrets Act now faces a crucial period. Last weekend saw some 350 demonstrators turn out on a 'picnic in Cheltenhem, which included a march to GCHQ-headquarters of Signals Intellig-

LOO

ence unit SIGINT. aside from highligh- ting the whereabouts of this building and naming 'Colonel hitherto unnamed A', the Campaign

ABL

leaders-predominantly pacifists and 'left' liberals- were unable any то опет from forward this way protest action. only now three months until the trial begins in London-and still clear call has come from the Campaign issue of the Official Secrets Act, and the threat of 14-year jail sentences that hangs over the heads of all Intee or its present victillis, should be taken more wid- ely into the labour move- nt Citil Letters We have heard that Nat- of Journalists General Secretary Ken Ashton has sent a letter to other union General Secre.

taries asking them to send asking for general support for the 30 hospital workers, coming from severa Birmingham toaether by the BACHCOS cuts campaign, trom Hun, shettierd and South Wales, as well as the _oncon noso ta campaiens. and Oxford. There reluctance by го clearly root Ine attacks on of the capitalist system responsibility clearly anu lu on tne Lio-ao covernment This resulted in many cam- paigns in a lack of class perspec- Live anoack or sonces SUCh strike action which will clear of the dominance avvay •ourceois torces such as nesota and local dignato- ries. The from Cardiff sota kers Trades Council who said that whilst they had fought off thev pessimistic CIosures were keeping anout the workers interested to fight the third, had an ideal opportunity to raise the •ontical nature or tne cuts ane the betrayal the Labour government with those workers -since the local MP is Callaghar himself! Cathy Ambrose of the Selly Oak mosoltal birminena. described the correct orientation of their campaign towards Trades Council support reported her and unar the maustrat unions can De

TERMS

Aubrey and Berry

ABC

but campaign, specific calls have been issued But such and vague delayed moves, restricted to the topmost levels of the bureaucracy, trade are completely the kind of prepare action-including strike action py journalists-inal will be necessary to defend Berry and Camp- Aubicy, bell. These three have been charged simply not under the general section 2 of the Official Secrets Act (which covers anything from details through to 'confidential' material at the highest level) but also the 'spying clause section i-though not the even alt of the alleging that any three are involved in spying!

The for reason this simple: the Lib-Lab gove- has already tabled

FIGHT!

counted on for protest strike action. The she claimed, problem, was the hospital workers them- se ves whe would not strike she admitted that since the

BACHSS

was set up some To montas ao no resol tion for strike action had been put through the branches.

correctly pointed out, As she since tne ‹ l cemonstration in November 1976, in NUPE, officials, particularly nave de to no The BACHSS campaign has role in certainly played a key

TRIS

birm nonam and InIs position must be reversed.

Candy Unwin from the EGA reported 1asl decisions by the 4 Tuesday's unions concerned. agreed I ne meetin support tneir calls tor action on July 19th and their conference on July 1st. mcene aso subported the stand taken by members of the Emergency Bed Service who suspended Have ween referring patients to the EGA, and will raise it in organisations particularly in branches of COHSE, the union to which the EGA workers belong. proposed by Communist Party member from the Birmingham Accident Hosp Hospital branch suggested that Fightback should

- OAKLEY

on the picnic last weekend proposals to amend section 2 of the Act-in such a way Aubrey/Berry/Camp- that bell could well slip through the net. But the top military and civil officials that servIce

COMETO

are determined to cling. on to every aspect of legislation that preserves their 'right' to continue clandestine opera- tions in defence of the Brit- ish capitalist class at home and abroad. Scapegoat Berry Aubrey, and Campbell are the scapegoats being 'prove' the used to the Act. The Labour manifesto at the last election included a pledge to repeal the Official replace it Secrets Act and with 'freedom of informa- tion legislation But once in the position SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 June, 1978 fIE FIGHT HI

FIGHT

THE CUTS

FIG

YI FIGHT?

FIGHT

FIGHT

THE CUTS

THE I

FIGHT

THE CUTS 41

THE CUTS

35

SAVE

SAVE

FIGI FIGHT OLiVOR

THE CUTS 11

JOBS

40%.

JOBS

GIVEE

SAVE E

THE I

THE CUTS

38g

JOBS

JOBS

SP

SAVE

OBS

80,000 marched in November 1976-but NOPE leaders have been let off the hook call a mass lobby of the 1978 Keen interest in

TUC

Conference calling commitment trom al atlated trade unions to support hospital workers fighting the cuts.

proposed wol member suppressed amendments which placed the responsibility the cuts LIO- La• •overnment which sought to place demands to-call strike on union Marxist text acton to stoo tie Culs A further amendment calling for the trade unions to set up trade There was a brisk res and The book deals with the other consumers health service role of Stalinism Socialist Press post-war ponse by spending was accepted by the readers to the cut-price pre- analysis the Transitional proposer

OUT

ne adamantiy publication offer on the rejected the others. Programme against those who 'Communists' book have thrown aside or attemptec amenoments received them in the light of support from half the meeting to revise Against Revolution-to be post-war events but, falling short of a majority, published by Folrose Books It makes widely available the Tell. on June 14. 1964 essar nitnerto suborese by Tim Wohlforth The • Theory Assimilation together with a critical analysis Adam vesto di develops supplements and corrects certain aspects YVOnITOrIA S WOTK these A campaign on issues-demanding the complete repeal of the Offi- cial Secrets Act as part of the tight to expose the role of the capitalist state and its plans for armed repression of the working class-must be taken up in the workers Hovelle The WSL and Socialist Press repeatedly Wohlforth suggested that the best fight venicie

SUCH

At a time when the sections would for the

ABC

be the "United of revisionist campaign to call a labour delegate conf- movement national are once more sinking erence on the issue timed to to new depths of accommoda coincide with the trial in tion to Stalinism (see page 9) London, and to call on all the publication of this materia and the stimulus it offers to a union branches and Labour Parties-not simply the NUJ 'Inorouer discussior Rees Stalinism is crucial to the fight -to participate for the continuity of actually adminstering this way 1n I rotsk vist orooramme British capitalism, the refo- groundwork can be laid for Copies 'Communists' immed- rmist implementation of solid- Against Revolution still porticians iately took over responsi- arity strike action by jour- available, and may be ordered bility for preserving and nalists and others to force through bookshoos or oirec from Folrose Books. strengthening its most reac- the dropping of the charges A full length review will legislation and Aubrey, Berry and tionary against week's 2008a nex institutions of class rule Campbell. Socialist Press.

MARXIST

Student bulletin Published or the

STUDENT

Workers Socialis volution June 15 Istr Two Essay 'Comm "Communists' Against " Post-man Re Revolution deals with the most important aspects of gainst the development of Stalin- ism on a world scale since LONDeN TON 1945.

S COORDINATINE

It brings together in one

LEIGHT THE CUTE

volume the until now un-

GAL LE

A SUPATION A

SPREAD

¡obtainable 1964 essay by Tim Wohlforth The Theory of Structural Assimilation with a critical commentary by Adam Westoby. Issue No. 6, May 1978, This 166 page book is vital reading for those who wish to defend the method and principles of Trotskyism against the Available from WSL, 31, Dart- ¡ varied revisionist currents that have challenged the very mouth Park London Lessence of the Transitional Programme. £1.75 plus 20p p&p NW5 1HR, Price 10p plus 9p postage. Order from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5

Labourites back racist Reformist party cannot be SOCIALIST PRESS helen:

LABOUR

PARTY

Prisoners fight back *POW status for Republican The Prisoners Aid Com- prisoners as guaranteed by the mittee has called a rally in Geneva Convention. London on July 9 to further the war their campaign against the liberation leading British withdrawal and an amnesty.

savage treatment meted out While these demands are not Republican to Irish pris- sufficient for a campaign on the oners in Northern Ireland whole, they Irish struggle and under the watchful eye of

MUST

supported, Labour Ministers. British labour movement moDI!- ised to support the July 9 rally, campaign is linked to to be held in Hyde Park at 2.30.

¡ne continuine struggle by over 300 Republican: prisoners Long Kesh and other jails who are stil retusine to wear orson clothing or do prison work.

new booklet The castle reagh File, detailing torture at interrogation Castlereagh centre in beltast also spells out the actions of the British imp- erialist torces against those sus- pected republican symp- 4/5/78 Dear Come de dith Socia- One recent victim trade Reading through McGuire, Briar union activist was murdered in his cell at Cas- list Press several May 10 after pro- points occurred to me. Firstly, I agree with your As this crime was revealed.

aim of turning unemployed 1,000 joined spontaneous towards the trade youth the Falls Road, march down unliulls. To lowed next action by 2,000 workers, who However it seems to me rally that the situation at present marched to is that a) some unions rule ransoort house confronted contes and police. hundreds allow the do not NOOKe unemployed to join Prisoners Aid Comm- remain members, and b) in ittee centres on two demands:

PRESS GANG

The BBC radio commen- has been everything that could tator settled himself in his have been predicted. seat and prepared for ninety 'one standard hard the by which the military junta slog on minutes Scotland/Peru match. His neind ability to provide the arena warming up patter bounced busi- off the sattelites and ness exercise, and to detend it thousands of radio sets. here was . more oress crit! E. Britain about the cism "The atmosphere in Cordoba Argentine regime two months is so relaxed, so calm. Even the duty when tne mair stadium soruiers grass was found to be scorched ground with TIxed Dav onets than if every look almost inconspicuous.'

Whether that statement lor opened with a duolic nancind and the half time entertainment the long ciose up v snots ol was provided by a firing squad.

General Videla at the opening of Cup 1978 World the starry ever soo rts such entertainment writers, Argentina) came InTO Ine would be part of the spectacle official BBC category of politi- difficult to reporting, it is ano „to would it would have Deer monitoring first football commentary to be vetted by the BBC hierar- ¡is reports does nowevel 1001- cate a determination that cny. journalist will carry the For all political take left in the Inreat от ine NUJ to turn the World Cup into about the regime Argentina an opportunity to expose the nave been OUt inTO special the BBC-with regime. status by The decision impose instruction that thev have ali to was exposed special censorship be "referred upwards" TOr approval. writer Peter Hillmore, early in May It says something both about There was a stunned the BBC and about British impe- BBC and rialism that tor a time from then a blank denial from the country about which reports die news and current automatically referred upwards airector is Norther n Ireland attairs at toe bou bick r'ancis that director general (lan The BBC's reporting is not in Trethowan) had ever issued such itselt in a special category. ine Press response to the World Cup an unsTruCTIon. The Greater London Council

INSE EU

policy of maintaining special blocks of flats, in the Tower Spitalfields area of for Bengalis only. Hamiets, will only oe movine Bengalis into them, and will be any ot the move present white tenants out.

The reason for this policy the Council's accordly Director or mousine is becaust of 'physical attacks on Bengalis East London away areas ot Trom •otaltieras. those whose books do allow unemployed those membership unem- ployed who attempt to join fobbed off or discour- are aged by local bureaucrats.

It appears to me that a Hillmore has exposed this lie in its turn. In his diary column of june L, he quotes affairs minutes curren of senior group executives the BBC of May / 16 that Francis instructed his staff himset nac reter Araentinian stories upwards so that their reports "unrestricted"! would remain The BBC has admitted these minutes genuine, COUl complained ably forgetting to ensure that referred were

THULES

upwards for approval first) Hillmore himself, despite exposed having censorshio svsten moose b

BBC,

refuses to draw any conclusions from "problems for the news only to media" and boon-boonina ans that the BBC might be non-journalistic doolyinu standards. If his conclusions were true published the would not be of any interest Not that it has proved of any interest to otner newsoaders. lo the BBC itself or to commercial The truth radio and television about censorshit has remained downpage, low-key sensation in one paper. Presumably the others "referred it upwards" and by advice journalisti standards, spiked it. It was after all just a professional foul "ghetto' policy to live i ne • backed i ne to obtain down from moving them mainly Bengali area because it would have need to The of their people can ust ine couce • то тогсе шем и gros provide.' and they couldn't be guaranteed protection by the police after- 'Realistic' waras Tony Judge, Chairman Housing Management This policy is backed as 'real- the also defended the istic by Committee the Labour leader the

ILEA

Sir Ashley Bramall decision, saying: 'Over the years these people housing development Labour 1 spokesman Ken vinestone na have beer growin how Bengali abuse persecution and had physically amounting to pretty widespread been stopped ence in other estates which were They have Te t unadie help and was mainly white. Birmingham march against racists reformed: Letter and reply useful step for ations being repeated inde- wowd be Socialist Press to publish the finitely? Thirdly, I am unclear as of those unions names the whose rule books do allow your for the unemployed to join, Labour Party. John Plan appears to think that buil plus, if space allowed quot- ding 'new leadership' in ing the relevant rule or Its Party both number in the rule book. the desirable and possible. This would then enable

WSL

supporters and others The implication is that Socialist Press agrees with to guide unemployed youth contacts towards those part- this. I would appreciate a furtner explanation of you In the, quite likely, event Labour attitude to of youth being Party. rentsed Yours fraternally, admission by local bureau- crats one could approach F. Davis. and branches of contacts that union in the area to We reply: mount a campaign on tne orientation Our question towards the unionisa- While of course being of of tion youth means the opinion trade that unionists should fight that in those cases their unions against bans on where youth have unemployed members, the or made trade are approach I have just put unemployed they forward appears to me to be should fight for admis- practical short approach to the question sion or retain member- While the result of this ship in the appropriate would that strategy be union. youth would unemployed Those youth who are concentrated in partic. be from school denied a ular unions, I would cons-

JOD

and have no trade should ider that a blow against fight for admission to the particular trade union bur- obvi- general unions - most eaucracy weakends the bur-

TGWU,

ously the eaucracy in general. recruitment of unemployed Another point that is provided for under rule caught my eye was in your The obstacles placed by article the Communist officials in the way of recr- Manitesto where unemployed-partic- 'the inevitability of the Alling ularly unemployed youth- proletariat's complete vict- ory' mean that the unionisation of youth must be approa- However, it is my view ched campaign that this is far from inevit- the support enlisting able. employed union members in To us looking back today the struggle against the is incredible that the German proletariat in the union bureaucracy. leadership 1930's did not take Trot- conscious developed in such struggles sky's advice on fighting is the only way the power but the fact lascism. of the officials can effect- they didn't. that ively be challenged. And the What is to stop such situ- getting worried creasingly groups to defen themselves. This last sentence says it all. Reiectina anv call on the laboul and trade union movement to organise workers defence squads Lab- role black workers our counciliors join nands witr •Tories in conceding to the racialists. Unemployment implemented the Having policies of mass unemployment, Housine tion controls that have fuelled the racialists, these reactionary counciors nave racist bar • OT excucino daci workers from 'white' estates and driving them into ghettoes. i mis secrecation is now orff cial council policy! But playing up to the racia-

LIST

WOnT solve because, encouraged by this and fascists success, the racists will coon to cura tner golc into one of wholesale pogroms against new ghetto nere must be a mont i ini labour movement to oppose the out those • labou lors wno support it At the same time, workers through defence squads, set up fought for to protect the immi- grant community. fight for a Trotskyist party as the organisation for such a leadership is the only way the historic crisis of working leadership be Cass hall resolved. When our article stated that the proletariat's victory inevitable it was based on our firm conviction that Culist ull Trotskyist revolutionary parties to lead the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism. the task the his Workers Socialist League has undertaken. We do not believe that ' the Labour Party or any social demo- cratic party can be trans formed into a revolutionary party through a change of its leadership But we do believe that a fight waged for a consistent socialist programme within the ranks of the Labour Party can expose the treá- chery of the right wing and the spineless inadequacy of the left' talkers, and in this way demonstrate to the best layers of workers in the Party Labour that they must break from reformism and build a revolutionary party Such a fight sometimes proposing new nails leaders, on a programme which can sharpen the fight with the official leadership.

know that the Labour Party as a reformist party can never solve the problems of the working class. task -carried Our through by our propaganda and agitation within the of the mass organisations labour movement-is prove this in practice to the of vast number militants who do not yet agree with

IS THE W.R.P.

WHOSE SIDE

ON? Public' meetings held The use of terms such as Stalinists" by the Workers Revol- "agents of the imperialists, the utionary Party are Zionists, the police, unusual occasions. "provocateurs" or if all Guards on the doors else fails- - "unqualified sup: rigorously vet those wishing of the Callaghan

DOTICS

attend to government" has certainly political opponents-and become a hallmark of the members palliculal oI ine hollow polemical articles Workers Socialist League from the WRP in recent are excluded. yeals At meetings, Newsline photographers Continuity have been stationed outside, But that is simply one taking pictures anlvore We must side of the WRP. turned away at the door. remember that the The WRP has not dis-

WRP

closed its purpose in taking leadership who ones such stage photographs, fought for the continuity of could in certain instances be Trotskyist the used if they movement, fell into the and at a later point made hands of employers, union the first serious turn by the bureaucrals, immigration Trotskyist DOSL-War authorities or the police.

ment into the British work- ing class Open letter This history means that this leadership and its appar- atus-however its squalla Three years ago, shortly theory and practice today- after the formation of the can still serve as a pole of Workers Socialist League, attraction for certain layers we had occasion to issue an of youth, workers and petty letter une bourgeois forces. complaining about the pub- Few of these people are lication of pictures of WSL told anything of the history members whom they knew of the WRP- -and fewer still to be liable to attack from are told the truth. And to such quarters. ensure that those who are in But in months 1 colle to explain the

WRP

photographers have degeneration of the

WRP

boasted their willingness to are kept from this away repeat the same behaviour.

leaderershi have the

WRP

All this has not leadership from the unnoticed-and at one WRP outset whipped up a frenzy meeting during the Lambeth of lies and distortions about by-election two peopie the. Workers Socialist meeting asked unle League. why the WRP re used discuss questions raised by Principles the WSL and a third asked everybody was being wav The WSL traces its roots photographed. back to a group of WRP members around Alan Opportunist Thornett who in 1974 took up a fight to turn the WRP Why indeed? The reason lies in the inability of the back to the principles and the method of the Trotsky- WRP leadership to defend Transitional Programme. their opportunist political This brought the full positions, or their abysmal weight of record in the few areas of bureaucratic practical repression down upon the which

WORK

they involved in the opposition. are Thornett and 200 others labour movement. When expelled from the we have devoted were WRP in December 1974 by space in out own press to General Secretary analysing Gerry the revisions Healy. Marxist principle and And to cover up this Trotskyist under- taken by the WRP leaders, suppression of democratic there have been some who centralism they were accused of "capitulating to criticised us. Social Democracy' They argued that the WRP is a spent force, incap- Bureaucracy able of further intervention in the workers' movement, Thornett particular and able deal with was said to be on his way _LO opponents only by the most into the bureaucracy of the gross and incredible lies and

TGWU.

slanders. In spite ot continued unprecedented attacks Thornett over the past 3½ years both British Leyland's NEB-controlled management and the TGWU officials led by Jack Jones, Healy has doggedly main- tained this position Now with the recent bureaucratic attempts to Thornett expel from the TGWU and victimise eight other Cowley stewards along with him, Healy has been forced to try to answer this contradiction. This contortion takes the form of a two-page article in the WRP daily paper, Newsline (May 13). Healy Healy advances the notion that Thornett is not being attacked for what he has done over the past 3½ because DUl manage- ment are still bitter over the defeat inflicted them on ago yeurs when Thornett's shop steward's card was success- fully defended the under leadership of the WRP! This ridiculous analysis could be treated with the contempt it deserves, were it not for the fact that the goes on, using the argument to argue tnat tne victimisation is all a plot by Leyland get na ole Transport drivers lobbying the TGWU inquiry on the Cowley 9 WRP in Cowley hardly exists anyway). and develops much more sinister line. The WRP article actually gives direct support to the

TGWU

officials and ine management in their attacks Alan Thornett, by lyingly him of accusine indiscipline, and adventur- ism' in the struggle Healy's on a guill issues fits in exactly with the line of argument of the TGWU officials. Dossier also coincides with management's line of attack in the shape of an 18-page dossier Thornett, on designed as the basis for a witch-hunt lullne. should months ago when Newsline there be in his some of defence. Cowley "grotesque The Newsline puts it this adventurers who way: 'They opened to the [management une door attacks of the bureaucracy.

sought clear out political opposition and to No evidence use adventurism and indiscipline of the Thornett Since there was and is no group not only to strike at evidence back up the the revisionist organisation allegation of "adventurism' they founded-the and 'provocations by but to clear out all WRP Thornett Workers the influence trom Cowley as Socialist the WRP League, well" attempt to use distortion to "Adventurism" and create "indiscipline impression of are the wild, individual activities prense chornes laid against Newsline readers are told Thornett and the that last October convenor Cowley

TGWU

by Parsons decided to exclude officials and by British "Thornett and

WRP

Leyland management. members" from plant-wide TGWU stewards' meetings. Conclusion But WRP member Tom White was not excluded by The conclusion of the 18 parsons who sees nim as dossier puts this threat Thornett alone "Once was excluded. And such a again must move has to be fought. emphasise the serious nature of this matter and I trust Thornett's section of will investigate the transport drivers stopped whole issue on work, and 100 of them urgent basis and inform us of your marched on the stewards demanding organisation's intent enforce discipline into your reversal of Parson's position: organisation on this plant" "Group" Healy's allegation puts the WRP back on the reac- Newsline would have us tionary course adopted two believe that "Thornett and group" his

WSL?)

"gate-crashed the

TRANSPORT

Parsons The meetings phrase carefully chosen to minim-

OXFORD DIS

ise the massive support for the action and the impact that it had But the falsification does not stop here. Newsline is determined to make it seem as if Thornett's actions were responsible for 'opening the door' to the TGWU witch- hunt. The WRP article there- fore gives details of the management's instructions to TGWU District Secretary Buckle to 'enforce discipline into your organisation. And it goes on "The blackmail worked North had his wish granted Following series 'unauthorised (read 'management provoked") stoppages and

Leyland's story echoed by Newsline slanders SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 June, 1978 "It is clear from this that difference the between Jones and Thornett is marginal and that both work on the same as- sumption that Labour the government can be forced by pressure to out far- carry reaching and progressive re- forms. Mike Banda, in Whither Thornett May 1975. "Dear The you exp Union. Brian 1978. organised by Thornett in retaliation against the com- him senior recorde steward, the union acted.

In November The WRP is caught here with its fingers in the till while short-changing its The senior steward elec- tions that Thornett sd W elected as deputy convenor did place until December! How, then, could stoppages have any been held to force his recog- Unsupported But the essence of the case for the WRP is to prove that the

TGWU.

lation "provoked' by Thornett. This is why they include the unsupported manage- ment the stoppages and meetings "organised by were Thornett" TGWU Region 5 Secretary Brian Mathers "prove their to that organised these meetings, Leyland management aboriously produced an 18- page dossier. Now they and the TGWU officials can simply produce he Newsline article- roduced without a shred of first-hand vidence or any nowledge-to corroborate heir story! disgraceful that a One of the letters from the dossier compiled by British Leyland management to back their case for refusing recognítion to Alan Thornett as Deputy Convenor in the Cowley Assembly Plant.

Mr. D. J. Buckle not requested for the Tuesday at 0220 toor doom ection 2 • On Tuesday 25 October District Secretary 11.20 minutes.

TGWU

should Transport House and that Senior am-vessrs. irineel Blakely,

T&GWU

Stewards Steward was made prior to the 43, cowley noad, Oxford. stoppage occurring which is part of our code of conduct for the The avoidance disputes. allow Mr. attend sto goade involved l/ men.ihe once again, T&GWU Steward for the section and Super- is Mr. • Simpkins. vision by Messrs • Bouties rainin ane crock the matter two ford

(AUEW)

identified the stoppage The

AUEW

stoppage as a protest against the can Torecas that disbanding of the 7.30 Steward The issue meeting without conclusions 01 be which falls its business. A return to work am-vr. of the stoppage IR was achieved when Mr. Paintin and ment relayed

•TOMIS

The series Parsons to see all Maxi Stewards during Parsons could his 7.30 after the lunch break. tane ane nant. 25 October Mr. chitt meeting. Stoppage of Production on Transport and caln COnTrO Dav shitt Brief facts are: Stoppage Dayshift. 2,23 pm for minutes. shoul be noted Your Steward, Mr. meeting "call for a am ¿ransoort The ing Thornett men. The South Canteen but closed is Mr. Hartord 8.20 b) Deputies • Mr members exclude Mr.

(AUEW)

were sent the i norner ano stopoace out arriva work Buckingham recommenced. they blakev requested and photo. informed that DBeT Mr. Parsons reconvene the • nornett exciusion writing. The 8.30 am. Stewards before the 8.25 am-MI Two Two Stoppages in Transport on Nightshift. provided with 2.15pm on 24 October onlet tacts are a) 8.00pm-a group of 22 trans- Stoppage Maxi Produc- ree unrec job as. the had been the IR slaker marched informed That release was Department to see Mr. Parsons oilet tons are so-called Trotskyist organisalon can lay Itsel

BUT SPAOL SITEARI THAT 19S

a tool by use as management and the labour bureaucracy. sext posters, The transport drivers in the heat otto la and are man an the mos a 1a) dianese march on Parson's October stewards meeting took place not betore but five days after TGWU bureau- crats had taken the decision prepare the victimisation as that hire The arrival of 100 the stewards' meeting-as decisive, in exposing Parsons 1n the 01 palet sorr ensuring his what Wok taylor December attrication fores election. Had that election, the would have been carried inrough before Christmas.

Courageous Replannas, the rar from exposing Cowley 9 to victimisation, the courageous action of the the Transport drivers White's name on Parson's approved list for the December biggest single factor the Cowley defending 1975 Deputy Convenor elections.

.9 -

WRP

among whom member Tom White! The Newsline Healy and the WRP of chose to publish sections from the lengthy course wist lo minimise lne COMMUSSOn inflicted Leyland dossier -which at important defeat that time on the IGWU bureaucracy was still contid. ential. This adventure led to by the left in the Cowley few inga

TGWU

plant-the dominant force all vestedlon officials soon after the WRP in which is the WL: its forces In their anxiety to do so article appeared-in an effort to implicate convenor they in fact carried out the "adventure" Bob Fryer in the leak. only Another that has arises when the taken place in this struggle.

article Popular vote correctly Charges ds. For Trotskyists to be elected by popular vote deliberately Distribution of internal years unprece- duel union information is one of dented witch-hunting sanctified Industry charges raised against vindicates the fight for the Wedge- the Cowley 9. Fortunately wood programme pursuca In the documents became Cowley plant by the WSL 1976, enabled the widely circulated before this and puts the squalid record

WRP

investigation got under way.

of the shame unions Leyland Blakely's day shift. Tante Thornett was WOrk worl Parsons Stewards ation drivers meeting 10.35pm. to the meeting Wished continue Transpor left and present. The clear stewares not accept the fundamental or Unions and which the • way a party procedures and the subject stal 110 industrial or other coercive action by factory cannot emphasise too strongly that these sivare. indicate since industrial divisive to themselves all allocale of powers. has given them a vested interest containing militancy on the shop floors. But Healy and WRP leaders well know that Tom White-their only on the plant at the time participation was when introduced, went on to the particpation committee until he found it too unpop ular to continue! That early betrayal by White was an accurate fore- taste of his complete refusal to give a lead in any of the that have struggles taken place the plant in the past four years. Why doesn't the WRP try accounting for White's record the struggle for the Transitional Programme? Defence campaign Why are the WRP leaders unable to • cite anv struggle which

WRP

members for trans- itional demands? And, most obvious of all, Page 7 that they attend meeting VIr. the future Mr. Parsons continues his

OOHC

because be granting facilities our lint Tartner would lead and tenced The limitation on plant-wide meetinos assurance stewards and conduct them memoers selves in manner and of conduct basic jointly between the Trade British dura British Leyland emphasise the gate issue urgent basis •US intent WoUl enforce into your Yours sincerely W.D. North Cowley Assembly Plant. Pant rector 27 October 1977 Tom White where does the WRP stand the Cowley defence which has calden attracted support from hun militants and stewards right across the

TGWU?

Why was it that the WRP opposed this campaign and national conference it called, while proposing no alternative form of action to defend the Cowley 9? Slanders is their inability to answer such questions honestly in front of their members and the working class that forces the WRF to its campaigns of slander and . lie! the workers movemen further article next week will look at the WRP's opportunist policy on inter- national questions-in particular Palestine and the Middle East.

The Vorster government

CAPITALISM

KILLED BIKO

The 1976 events in soweto Steve Biko was the 46th censorsnio laws where the school students were The authorities were able to person known to have died the Black People's the for another use Insoired mysteriously in the hands of Convention (the was organised ex puroose nowavel. of Black Conscious- method of putting Steve Biko the South African security pression ness) to refuse to go to schools and Black Consciousness police since detention movement, of which he was the where they were taught in the without trial was legalised in their oppressors, founder and spiritual leader, on language 1963. brouaht the force of the state trial. of all the . violence of All the other deaths the benefit Ine ГОГ institutionalised racism, down which it proved detention inciucine lwo conservative whites, and occurred since the Security Police

BIKO S

ine upon inem happened quietly, with. Any peaceful death orotest South Africa is immediately met oniv the shontest mention of the state, either the south atrican the violence European capitalist press.

and the teachina поп- violence'. can only be utopian.

death reverber- Biko's TeL ated througnout Ine press, with calls for an inquiry Dangers coming even from an outraged The South Loncon times PHOTO. PHOTO. Mike Kahn, IFL Atrican realit The South recognised dangers to Atrican author. decided to hold very ities the posed "inquest" the People's Convention, and there- DUDlIC circumstances surrounding fore took steps to get rid of its Biko's death. most prominent leader The inquiry was covered by Biko had been "banned" la the world and domestic press.

arrest where the form of house This prisoner is unable to speak or be contrasts "explanations" quoted publicly or to meet with some OT Ine given for the deaths more than one person at a time) since February 1973. earlier prisoners. Undisclosed prevent him from becoming an internation- ally respected figure No. + details of Bike other s As Bernstein points out in a list of details of the other 46, dead prisoners. "non-violence on v intor. /VO.

• MIS

Donald Woods on No. . 13 (given to the helped him to get the support of mation well South African parliament on 28 judicial white liberals svster were deal with equipped this support that January 1969) was inat on wa "terrorists" like Biko. undisclosed date: made Biko's deatn ditterent to death the police that of other murdered unidentified man died at Atter nIS produced documents Which known an undisclose• time or an unals prisoners-ne wa: "proved" that he had been closed cause at an undisclosed throughout the world incitina crowds to violence. and The Biko inquest raises inter- place advocating acts terrorism "slipped role estina questions about the others whites-allegations on a piece of soap and fatally of the judiciary in a capitalist "slipped just that of injured which ther nad been state-not South unable even to try and substan- down the stairs" Africa, liberal demo tiate during his life-time The decision to hold such a cracies as well. the image of Biko as public hearing in the case South Africa represents in Tacl Biko was partly an attempt by "terrorist" could not be furthe of capitalism, stripped of form from the truth Police and of bourgeois Kruger, Minister of ine upera Tacaut Black The Consciousness his accomplices democracy, sence where suggestions at home and abroad movement had been tounded on institutions are clearly seen t twin principles; firstly an asser white African justice that the South of black national identity tion system wasn t an inal It could Cao Ta se. tribal transcended be. divisions and excluded whites; The inquest failed Account doctrine of and secondly, pathetically the to „ convince even derived the capitalist press that the non-violent resistance It is obvious from reading from the movements of Gandhi iudicial process was tair or the of and Martin Luther King. Bernstein's account Security Police numane (which is largely com inquest, These positions, however, as gentle. posed of actual transcripts) that events have shown, are contra- had forcibly Aruger the whole charade. Was d licalls dictory. silence domestic critics, nirst Dy legitimising Security makes the point the expelling Biko's friend, Bernstein Police. newspaper editor Donald Woods that any assertion or black prat like Britain, or amongst blacks In a country and bv closina down the black renowned for its equitable legal against violently paper The World and then by to hit system the class nature new introducing, stringent The institutions ol apartnetu SA No. Crowds at Biko's funeral "justice" obscured by the of equalicy before the law" Hilda Bernstein does not wider investigate significance of the Biko inquest in this way. aimed Her account towards those liberals in Britain will be morally outraged South African legal Lildl sustem is not like the good old British one. Above the law The most shocking aspect of for Bernstein both Ine neury and the bike Tamil lawyer Sidney Kentridge the Colonel Goosen, admission by that Security Police are The cross exam. above ne lav ination went like this: right did "Kentridge: you have keep a man in 48 hours? chains for Goosen: I have the full power to do it." Prisoners could attempi suicide or escape have an honest Aentrace. Let: answer-where did you get you!

IN REVIEW

46-Steve Biko by Hilda Bernstein, published by International Defence anc Aid Fund at £1.50. Reviewed by Ann Evans power? Goosen: It is my power. Are people above the law? Goosen: | have full. powers to ensure a man's safety I am asking for the Kentridge: statute. Goosen: We don't work under statutes This admission, of something obvious already, was that Bernstein's much Naut conclusions, sne analyses the role of the South African courts in controlling the police.

She points out with surprise that the legal system in soutr Africa is completely enmeshed apparatus of In lit repressin the regime: "The courts in South Africa are a part of that closed circuit supremacy". However, even while seeing this, she stiassumes judiciary" • failing to realise that

DOSSIDHILY

any unciary is not indebenaell but just one aspect of the insti- tution of class rule She defines an "independent judiciary" as: one that functions where the rule of law exists and protects numan rights essential This misses the is necessary point that where it infring capitalist tor rUSt human rights the judiciary will simply collaborate introduction in Britail Atta Preene prosecution so prosecution Aubrey, Berry and Campell anc the of that Colonel 1 "B" all shov actually that court: used to violate civil libertie! and are in no sense independent Defficiencies No. 46-Steve Biko is fascin atina readino desoile is punitio deficiencies. reveal methods of the Security Police as Biko's story begins to unfold in the answers—or non answers- to the lawyers' questions It is also tull of small point.

that reveal the caliousness of the and determined police violence such as one Freudiar slip where Goosen refers to his "my interrogation team assaulting team' may not essenti have a for alin you think the Soul Aircan recit that bad" then refer them to this book.

'TROTSKYISTS' GREET

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 June, 1978 The Barcelona bull ring was overflowing on May 29 as over 25,000 people, mostly supporters of the Spanish Communist Party and its Catalonian the Spanish Civil War. subsidiary the

PSUC,

attended a celebration over of "Eurocommunism". class collaboration, A part from the leaders of the

PSUC

(including ition" to Franco Gregorio Lopez Raimundo) with the Francoists platform included Union of the enemy No. 1 of Leninism Centre in their new Santiago Carrillo, Dolores cratic" disguise. Ibarruri (President of the Every Spanish CP) and the General confrontations Secretary of the Italian CP, developed Enrico Berlinguer. militant and Record Cass capitalism the francoist It would be hard to find in half a dozen people such concended recora and counter -revolton treachery towards the work- ing class. to capitalist rule. Lopez Namunao Ibarrur (La Passionaria" and Carrillo were all leading members Spanish O1 The Communist Partv when. in purpose conjunction with the Soviet secret waged. ponce, ing or tne campaign of extermination against Trotskyists dilu against the POUM during more Gay rights and political revolution Dear SP, On Wednesday 10 May, press. The same also goes for Canada. newspaper had

VOUL

article Our policies for gay Socialist Societies rights', which detailed the not even allowed to exist.

oppressive backlash towards Russia, gay rights in capitalist coun- tries. davocaling gay rights would However, it forgot Cuba, Castro mention that in the

USA,

enforcing the we are allowed to fight back Anita Bryant the against oppressive taken against Bryant. alludes ol Anita still this country, despite bullshit attacks and restrictions, Marxist state in which it has can still fight Mary White- rid itself house and the national capitalist disease known as homosexually. so lust Cull Your article is just a devious means of using gay rights to attack-quite political fascism in capitalist But countries the sexual fascism practised in the socialist have named? When are write an article totally non-existent rights in Cuba, Russia China? As a member of the gay community I would like the whole selections to hide the back- handed callic countries have also played.

(We appologise the handwriting proved JeLLer decipher.)

SPANISH STALINIST

RALLY

In recent years they have Spanish CP's policy of systematic at first with the bourgeois "oppos- and now ot the Democratic "demo- time that major have between the Spanish working forces of represented by these leaders and their associates usual, could do their best to have been in the vanguard show that all their collabor- of efforts to demobilise the ation in the end was part of struggie Delore there was a strategy to build socialism any real danger or a threat Nothing they said was even if it is ally. surpase always a shock to hear such Faithful naked justifications of class reachery Irom those who profess to lead the working the Barcelona rally was a gather- class. "turocommun- Berlinguer lamented the ist" faithful at which Berlin- death italian capitalist guer, dolefully, and Carrillo, politician Moro and justified aggressively than his party's Letter and reply Socialist Press replies; Before taking up the main point of this letter, we But in so-called Marxist/ have to clear up the areas of confusion which its writer has created. anybody Our article was not in any sense a devious means' put in a mental ward. In attacking fascism'. In "straight- actual forward' way, the article set measures like out our policy on how to WOld gays. China fight for gay rights. importantly fight the old left-wing More of being a perfect from placing this solely the 1n oi the decadent fascism, we concentrated on the struggle for gay rights bourgeois ott it! democracies. Fascist regimes have undertaken what has been the most prODadIy vicious the most ruthless persecution of wnal aboul homosexuality recent countries I cludes. you going Not fascist gay the article and these showed, tendencies have been strongly present most • even 'democratic' of bourgeois states, and are undoubtedly not convenient on the increase at present.

For all their violently Socialist positions, neither Mary Whitehouse Yours sincerely not Anita Bryant is a fascist Norton Evans This not just verbal for all y quibble-if we do not transcription, but correctly analyse the forces of this fighting, then our difficult own sirengin is weakened In the same way, we international. Each had furrow. "own" bourgeoisie. participated homage Francoist Francoist armed forces) he that the 'army should be as close as are "our fathers" Carrillo Red Brigades with fascism have crisis if the been followed

PSOE

The only unemployment was a policy of "consensus" But the CP Carrillo agree to extend the Moncloa strong state measures agreements against "terrorism" in Italy.

year. What was needed was expressed pride in a serious, agreed, economic having become part of the plan for three years. recognised parliamentary And 10: majority. required, said Carrillo, what.

Catalonia Supported embryo, "democratic concentration And he made it clear that Carrillo's he supported which for him of "Eurocommun- the hard concept line Popular Alliance. ism "Eurocommunism", The said Carrillo, was definitely not democracy' reduced to a tiny handful.

all tempı to lorm a new Stalin reversed Bolshevik measures to legalise reject the description of the preceded it, cannot be seen oppression of homosexual- in isolation ity in Cuba, China and the They Soviet Union as 'sexual Stalin's moves fascism'. family, Before we can Trotsky take up analysed the fight against this oppres Revolution Betrayed was an sion, we need to understand essential area of the bureau.

is imposed by the cracy's strategy. Stalinist bureaucracies family the deformed workers' acted as the states. in the oppression of women.

It also served to provide the Abolished subjection In presenting the faithfully skeleton of such an analysis, image of we have to begin in Decem- society. 1917, when the In these, and many other Bolsheviks abolished those ways, the family could assist sections of the Tsarist penal Stalin to destroy code dealing with homo. democracy In sexuality, along with all Union. other legal restrictions on The progressive free and sexual cula tion of the October Revol- relations. ution was erne But this advance was in a reactionary reversed, or negated altogether. Since along with many other secondary gains of the that period, the oppression October Revolution, as the of women and gay men has been continued with varying Stalinist bureaucracy con solidated its hold. intensity March 1934, a new Union In and deformed federal was intro- workers duced against homosexual- which were ity, now characterised as an Especially aspect of the 'degeneracy of attacks on gays have certain- the fascist bourgeoisie' the Tivater The penalities of this law committed by the fascist were far more severe than dictatorships. those of the Tsarist It is clearly possible that e01. lation, and the fight as crime for homosexuality could become a significant was now placed on a level previously part of the struggle against reserved major the bureaucratic of socialist revolution. against the state This attack, and the mass But the specific form of arrests of this gays which fight Page 9 The "Eurocom- great Communist Party munist" rally of Barcelona plough therefore had an unambig- its own uously and predictably reac Carrillo himself had just tionary objective. come from one of his most Sister to IMG shameful efforts to date to cement his alliance with his That, however, was not the The previous day he had analysis of Spanish "Trotskyists" the the annual Revolutionary Communist the flag (the League (LCR). monarchist flag) sister of the and the armed forces (the party British International Marxist Group the

LCR

justified by probably saying that it was important the largest national people and the oi the

OCCLICH

"United" Secretariat of the Fourth possible because the army International and certainly and its two sons our most important sections in Europe. Dead Tory The : LCR's attitude to the rally was a continuation lamentation for dead Tory joined of the slavish adaptation to Carrillo which it demon- Aldo Moro and equated the strated in its message to and comments on the recent CP He justified the Moncloa Congress (See Socialist Press pact which, he said, would 100). solved the economic These "Trotskyists" did agreements had not denounce the politically by the reactionary nature of the and by the rally. Message way of OuL They sent a message of would not • support was ironic ally announced by Gregorio for Lopez Raimundo a turther , an active member in the 1930s of the which eagerly and bloodily those seculed Spain Trotskyists whom the LCR regards as its predecessors.

already had Such an action the LCR's can do nothing but of bring comtor to the extends to Stalinist leaders. Francoist From Enrique Alvares enemies of in Barcelona had been conditioned by the major direction of political formed a part of struggle in these countries to restore The task of revolution- and this, aries in as the deformed The in workers' states is the fight to develop a political revol- ution to overthrow the para- sitic bureaucracy not only This task is very differ.

agent in content from the struggle for social revolution capitalist states, of youth, and which means that the fight preserved the gay rights will TOt not hierarchical follow an identical pattern in Britain and China But gays are not faced with the of either workers' democratic rights in bour- the Soviet geois society, or repressiot in the deformed workers states. legisla- Although concessions can be 'revised' wrung from the bourgeoisie, and need to be direction, fought capitalism for, congenitally incapable of ending sexual oppression The family can abolished and replaced only the Soviet in the course of the develop the other ment towards socialism, and states the material basis for that to develop. historic in Cuba advance can be achieved only by the revol- utionary atrocities ove unans capitalist property relations The Workers Socialist League gives its full support gay rights to the fight for gay rights as an integral component the proletariat's struggle for betrayals socialist both revolution against imperialism and the Stalinist bureaucracies. will be

INDUSTRIAL

The debacle of the was peddled bv June 2nd NALGO spe- speakers from the cial pay conference points up not only the of bankruptcy the benefit of Ine present leadership but the also the complete inabi- lity of the opposition groupings (dominated The coup by Stalinists and the -prepared by SWP) to Camden branch. mount any serious challenge to them. on Following a meeting in London February, which launched the that so branches sent hul diall for the special comerence. Thus in itselt shows that the determination NALGO members to defend living slanualls ilas faded away. Ths resolution on which the campaign. was based was by the CP-domi- drawn up nated branches in mid-Scot- land. No clear demand While correctly opposing Garners control in the public pay cash limits and direct intervention, and no rejecting Basnett 81S01 determined plans for permanent trade collaboration with Morale pay imits. failed to put forward a clear remains high, and demand of its own as to the potential level of claim that should be made. In Droved. for instead Calcul

NALGO

negotiators ignore the 10% rule. not less than the enters its 20th week. current rate of increase in the private sector. Pay by compar- bv endent action are of course see a recall one of the main strands of discuss the Basnett plan. An even more significant -to which weakness in the main reso- movement organisations are lution invited to send 3 delegates.

failure to was its demand industrial action to by sponsored achieve its oblectives.

TUC,

Weakness Association Councils, Committee, and the Garners General Secretary Drain and the rest of the NEC Strike Committee, and will held were not slow to seize on Transport this weakness, claiming that the movers believed, as he Square. But the did, that members

TAP

would not be willing to take crats have shown no enthu- action over pay. siasm for mobilising delega- tions to attend This line of argument in fact hits the Stalinists at ference, which their weakest point. They of could provide a basis to ex- dedicated tend the fight course are to holding back exactly the commutee demanas of sec- kind of action necessary to ondary blacking smash wage control. suppliers, and £36 per week They could not therefore strike pay. argue that the membership Sabotage would fight, they on to explain why well Region they had not called for that who have spent the 8 weeks fight to be organised. since the first conference on Even if there were to be Garners industrial action, said Bill evading these demands are be won. ulll, It could not not keen to be called upon He to account for their actions.

firemen, teachers and others for taking or threat- the WSL says it is essential ening industrial for the strike committee to allion 'against the public'. demand that these "leaders The downward trajectory -National Executive Todd, was to continue. A particu-

NEWS

NALGO pay- debacle larly cynical rationalisation from the audience moved the question be put and the right wing floor, to NEC's wrecking amendment was carried by 350,000 to ions in living standards for 188,000. British workers had been to Indignity was heaped on workers

NEC

de- when the "third world' and should molished a call that would be supported bv true socia- bind them not to settle for less than 10% and consoli- dation. de grace was After making the usual Mike Blick of plea of the bankrupt bur- eaucrat ('we must have lee- He argued that it would negotiate ), Jack have no ettect to pass reso- Bradburn, the chairman of pay claims Local Government Comm- because the union's nego- ittee assured the conference tiators could deliver nothing that he would only accept a the employers would reasonable offer. The main lesson to be As it on cue, a stooge learned is that the kind of Garners' - put officials on the spot! During one four hour Catering Brian Nicholson. spell of the picketing on Officer George Abraham Haymarket Region and SE

TUC

Jack Dromey restaurant last weekend, suitcal y appear on the platform to than

LWU

of their criticism answer scabs conduct in the dispute. crossed the line to go in.

The strike committee strikers the res- by customers has • win aevastaling impact on Garners finances and the pay packets of the

STILL AVAILABLE

scab workforce, as the strike

"TROTSKYISM TODAY"

Quarterly theoretical Conference journal of the Workers Socialist League. Thursday June 22nd will Issue No. 2 includes conference to article on the history of the supporting action for the recognition struggle Fourth International. labour Amilable froar Wil, Dartmouth Park London NW5 1HR the conterence nas been SE Region the Greater London Price 50p plus 12p p&p of Trades TGWU Region 1 7.30 pm

SOCIALIST

House, Smith union bureau-

PRESS *

the they know for strike 5 issues 10 issues . of Garners 25 issues . ot t... bureaucrats Name Address sabotaging and Send to: Socialist Press, is tor this reason that Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Organiser Ron Most union conferences are noted for their clarion avvdy swimming calls for a better life and study meals good things for all. filled with good intent. The

NATHE

Few conterence further and resolutions teachers vert higher demands on ecucatIon Bournemouth was no exception.

action. NALGO leader Drain 'broad left' opposition built by the Stalinists is incapable leading the members 50 sponsorilg against the bureaucracy. Revolutionaries and mili- gthening the tants in NALGO must reco- by

HOH

amendments. gnise that the joint opposi- built since the Hamil- The task ton House conference last independent February has opposition on a alluall, headed them off from imp- lanting a clear programme.

not be put off any longer.

must ensure the most repre- sentative the and substantial strike. circulate turn-out-and all implement TGWU branches calling on blacking has dispute them to send delegates. Those who argue against such a course do no more than protect the bureau-

TROTSKYISM

TODAY

Labour dently . £1.10 .£2.20 I would like to receive ... issues. I enclose the sum Name. Address 31, Dartmouth Subscribe!

NATFHE NO TO 10%

Delegates dragged themselves Yet in the salarv debate thi the beach Executive received some rebuff hole 5-course and a commitment was made to allo an order-paper Conference had again rejec- however ted incomes policy, which was which sate enough: it had done so ye the union to take water settlement otyo was comfortably within govern- expense of the principaliy

THOSE

bottom of the salary scales with the same "much this regretted sent out Conference resolved that year an should submitted (thus the breaking 12-month rule). Amendments accept incomes policv and productiviti were overwhelmingly dealing Executive were ПОТ happy with this and were less happy with calling for passel action to back up the demand for a merger of pay scales The passed on main motion wages demanded a return to rea levels of income as of 1975 Nobody made the point that oniy by a sliding scale of wage keeping pace with real inflation would this be achieved The The final demonstration resorution rom oute London was couched of this is the way that the obscurely and made branches Tererence to ine need for wades were prohibited from stren- to be permanently compensated against i inflation • as determined main resolu- ana nousewives committees The second issue of building an Conference was the anti-racialist proletarian main motion tron Trotskyist East Anglia, Western and Outer programme in NALGO can London called for a campaigr auGinsi systems for overseas students, immigration controls and the us a criede premises ov racial• ist organisations. Amendments the National executive and others focussing always on the use Cut le fascis by "Strengthening activity 1976 race relations rather than for the union itself to act! crats whose stranglehold on and Only policies tackling the full secondary cabitaitst crisis _Drovict the breeding ground of fascism the alowed working class to drag on for 19 coupied detence goains

TASCIST

strengthen the working class and TUt Life slate The Workers Socialist League The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation fighting to construct a principled revolutionary leadership in the working class in Britain and internationally and for the recon struction of the Trotskyist Fourth Internation- al on the basis of the Transitional Programme The WSL fights at every the step against existing leaders of the trade unions and the Party-now firmly harnessed to the bourgeois politicians of the Liberal Party in an unspoken coalition arrangement.

Against their policies of class collaboration we put forward instead a programme which points to the independent class interests of the working class, its need to organise indepen overthrow capitalism, destroy its repressive state machinery and establish a socialist planned economy.

Only in this way can workers resolve today's problems of tumbling living standards, mass unemployment, slashed social services, racial, national and sexual oppression For more details on the WSL and its work, fill in the form below. Trade Union/Occupation Send to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS 1HR

Convenor reinstated SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 May, 1978 Part of the huge stockpile of vehicles at Oakley airfield A union written by Oxford car delivery drivers. After being sacked for a year (31 May 1977-31 May 1978) their convenor, Brian Preston, returned to work last Monday fully reinstated following an unprecedented settlement. settlement terms include full reinstatement as convenor, a year's back pay, his £297 solicitor's bill paid of

TGWU

vention acting the management, three Bill Dy Region Secretary weeks paid holiday for the Lapworth who intervened year he was sacked and £25 the of strikers ICu.ol out of pocket expenses for because of the unflinchingly things such telephone position piv llalaccmncnl calls he has had to make in

TGWU

the inaintalncu D V connection with his sacking.

local District witch-hunter, Secretary, David Buckle. Three week strike Lapworth persuaded the drivers at a meeting lil dos The settlement resulted return

WUIK

anlu from the three week strike accept giving al olttn last month of al . Jou impression that Toe Uxtord area car transporter reinstatement would be drivers. near certainty from the arbi- strike had brougnt lauon process Leyland's Cowley Complex In fact arbitration never to the brink of closure and took place. caused stockpiling of the 30,000 airfields Wrangling over the form cars UIl around Oxtordshire

SHOUIG

lake resuleu in It ended with the inter- the possibility of the.resum- т.u. of shall

YOUR MAN AT THE TOP

one year later ption of the strike, and following allegations that he management hastily settled defrauded Cartransport direct with the union. management of a day's pay With 30,000 cars still on whilst conducting the airtields tolo wing wage negotiations trans- strike (the available _LOnCOn capable After with porter tleet is only meeting Cowley's 5,000 management oi cedmy

DUCKIC

per week production, and is claimec Preston had that unable to clear the backlog) received money from both Leyland if a the effects on the and the further strike had occurred TGWU for that day would been In fact the total money nave catastrophic. he received was less than he In many ways the course would have for calcu of the strike over the past normal day's work. year has been as unique as The first strike in his taking more defence, by Cartransport Ils conclusion, the form of a battle against workers, only lasted 10 days Buckle in May 1977. lnan a lgnl Cartransport against Buckle then obtained the management. decision to iclurn lo work Preston was victimised by means of a secret ballot having at first lost the vote on a show of hands. When the full branch (which covers workers from 12 Oxford car delivery companies) Buckle met successfully headed off calls tor strike action. Instead, the meeting the Company's accepted threat to prosecute Preston, acciaring inal l ine prose- cution was unsuccessful, the branch would take action.

Buckle; who is not just a JP but also chairman of the local M auslaies vultsed this decision to the full.

No prosecution ever took place; but with alllabllig regularity a letter suggesting a date for a court hearing would arrive from manage- ment (via Buckle) each time the branch met to consider further action in defence of Preston. Thus on June 16, 1977 (just as a meeting was taking management sent a place) letter saying the following:

THE C.P. ARE EASY ENOUGH TO HANDLE... JUST LOOK

AI INE LASI DIECIAL TAI CONTERENC..

LIKE THIS!

BUT DARE YOU CALL

STRIKE ACTION?

-INDUSTRIAL NEWS-

Buckle "Although we have so far not taken court proceedings Mr: Preston axalllst we are advised that we have firm take such

TOURON

action" On June 28 -again pressure was mounting from the drivers-a further letter: ,felt I should advise you that a "cuscuueict of the branch decision dism issal of regaralig Mr. Preston we have today commenced legal proceed- ings against employee" On July 14: "I regret to inform you that fact writ for prosecution has been issued". And on July 28, as the Cartransport drivers were to meet to discuss further strike action anolner lele arrived!: "We have now instituted legal proceedings" Each of these letters was They were simply lalse designed to cash in to the full on the decision of the branch. а.к.

LET THEM BRING IT.

BAck Nex! TIMC. Page 11 At the end of September again the branc was considering was acuion, police allilo urce! lilal investigation would be undertaken by the CID During this investigation, two of the managers who sacked Preston were them- selves dismissed when squad investigation was instituted into discrep- ancies involving f2 million!

Now the possibility of a prosecution by Cartransport had evaporated the argu- ment Buckle used when the branch pressed for action had "don't swi caeu take action whilst a police investigation is in progress".

The "police

H VOSLIZ

tion" actually lasted for months-into sever supposed fraud involving at

MOSI LX 4U

The investigation eventually concluded on April 18, 1978 (presumably it could not go on forever).

The resul1 "no was proceedings would Istilulca The response of the branch was to call a mass meeting which decided to take indefinite strike action until Preston was reinstated and fully reim bursed Buckle turned up at the meeting four secunu mass Buckle told the meeting that in his opinion the decision not to prosecule did not necessarily mean that Preston was innocent!

"It could be that they had insufficient evidence to proceed" , said this chairman of Oxford magistrates. also told the DuCK e he could not acctll support the strike because Preston "was not hiv-white in the matter" The however, Icets flatly rejected his pleading lo relum lo work ana votea to continue the action These statements, and 12 the previous months history led to Buckle com- pletely losing control of the This is hes ss mclg what led to the intervention of

TGWU

Regional the officials The CSLALCnCN sackéd convenor is difficult conditions, best under un e but lo acnieve it atter a vear on the stones is rare indeed.

The victory is a tribute to the magnificent strength of the taN DOLC. the wilo rerused • passage time and the treachery of Buckle to wear down their determination to support Preston. And in striking a blow in defence of trade unionism in the car transport inaustry in Oxford they have struck a sat oou against ine reactionary witch-hunting officials in the

TGWU

District Office, which can only strengthen the fight by LI dut uluises Cowley.

MIKE-MOP IT UP...

SOCIALIST

PRESS

STEP UP FIGHT TO

OUST LABOUR'S

TORIES

Every opportunist, every defender of this govern- education cuts, record of strike- ment's huge unemployment figures, breaking, wage-cutting and fanaouls lo rivale Cataliss social service wrecking will historic cuts TNe in workers living standards, the attempt the increased Labour vote in the sion of the Irish working class Hamilton by-election all obstacles to for their reactionary Labour victory. VOla policies. But. they will be Ine Caradhan leadership that has imposed drastically and dangerously the these policies on labour wrong. movement must be driven trom The office. We call on all readers and support for Labour came in spite of and in no way supporters to join with us in the because or Labour s recore in Laut unionorancies attacking the working class.

and lanour lives to take steos It came as a class response ensure that the Labour *Party conference recalled by workers, seeking to defend their rights and living standards General Election. • To ine through their traditional organ- and the Callaghan Healey coalition cabinet removed.

Isa liolis And it highlights the necess- ity to step up the fight in every Demand area to arive out inose sections of the Labour leadership that defend the anti-socialist Lib-Lab To any 'lefts' that show the slightest sign of such a fight we aligned with the interests of the extens born catical suooolt dna employers and British imperial demand that they further and fight for a socialist against the requirements of the working class. the programme Mastu Abstentions Unless this fight is taken up, thousands of workers who have been driven into demoralisation ot lOUT vals Labour betrayals will abstain at the next General Election- Ford from stewards opening the door tor a turther throughout the combine reactionary Lib-Lab coalition, met on Sunday 4 June or a Tory victory. There is no doubt that a firm and formulated a claim fiaht taken up now within the be put to to union trade union and Labour move- ment for • a socialist programme officials for their which fight TeAL October review. election would attract ine desi Last year's and most class conscious Cale was sections of workers. used by Moss Evans to get The swing from the Scottish the hook on wage control, and it is clear that •Vationalists to i abour at Hami- ton marks an increasing aware- this year's claim is also of ness within the working class of the same nature. the danger of the return of a Tory government with policies even the riont Inose pursued by the hated Heath Cabinet. Ally with Tories The scottisn ivationalists who held a party convention during actual campaign the Tarnation spokesman Margo MacDonald was the candidate) were clearly identified party workers capitalist which would ally with allacks on oos, vine slandards.

social services and the nationalised industries. But questions while Evans are easily understood, the task remains of establishing an alter- Last Moss Evans year the capitalist policies native to declared that he was going successive Labour oursued ov to break the 10% limit at governments. However Fords. much workers hate When the stewards ano desome marcher, ine bitter memories of Labour's military formulated inadequate Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Printed by Anvil Printers (TU) London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

Healey controls wate restoration of all cuts in social Mikardo spending, service crash programme of public works to create new jobs, and nationalis- the banks and major Hustles In this way we can demon- strate that Ine eTIS are incapable of seriously challenging the right wing solvine in rammamentary lasmon the problems faced by the The Socialist Workers working class. fights within the Party have launched yet Inese mass organisations the another right work class important steps working march which started in the con can be taken Lovarus struction the revo utionary Liverpool on 30 May party that alone can and is due to arrive in problems of working Ine the class through the overthrow ol London on 13 June. capitalism and the establishment It is clear that yet again of a planned, socialist economy.

Ford pay fraud 15% fringe their wages. claim with So this benefits, Evans was able to year's claim "left' by should have central to preserve getting marginally catching up demands and a above the 10% norm (12%) cost of living clause based and saying at the same time on inflation figures worked he had got near the original elected committee. of workers and housewives.

claim. year's claim The claim should restore

LOSI

contained a cost of living what Ford have workers lost since 1974 and nothing.

clause, stewards

OUT

no fight for it- less-with took up additional allowing Evans to drop it demand of a 35-hour week.

the company offered when

SAVE

cost ol living Casues I exchange pay reviews TOr only every two years. This year the stewards

HOSTEL

are putting forward a claim of £20 and a 35-hour week.

course if this were

ST. MONICA'S

Hostel for would smash won it. any homeless women government policy for phase has been occupied since 1 May the four, but once again to prèvent its closure. stewards are making the The occupation is demand- of linking their mistake ing that the hostel is taken over claim Fords gigantic by the Housing Department Tol profits. the use hones megand children; staffing Membership are increased ano that NALGU rates are paid; an end to the The financial state of the of forcing policy homeless company must play no part let" Into " naro housing, i.e. slums. in tormulating workers pav In order to win the demands claims; the financial of this occupation it is vital to state the membership extend the fight into the trade that matters. union movement Labour A 12% deal last year still Party to force a commitment te left Ford workers far behind defend the occupation. against their 1974 levels in all the manoeuvrings of the city pay terms of the real value of council. The fight to save the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital is beginning to gain in the trade Impetus union movement while the dangers to the threatened hospital become more acute. Last week team of plain-clothes policemen looking round seen were hospital, inspecting Tne exits and windows, perhaps preparation for another 1n Hounslow-type raid lead the fight

CIOSUTE

DeNT given by EGA workers and stewards themselves In a meeting last Wed- members of NUPE, nesday

ASTMS

and

NALGO

the hospital pledged to stop the re- moval patients and equipment. The determination the workers fight EGA was reflected at a con- ference. of all NUPE branch secretaries and chairmen in the London Division Monday evening The resolution proposed Council by the Divisional and adopted by the confer- included the call for cucu day strike rolling through action London boroughs in defence of the Another SWP march it will be dominated by the SWP's reformist 35-hour week and for bans overtime-policies long ago verbally adopted by the TUC leaders. The whole tocus of the march will be diverted away from the actual struggle for leadership that actually the trade going It was the SWP who gave most credibility to the speech of Communist Party and member Longbridge convenor Derek Robinson at the Speke mass meeting that prepared the sell-out of the struggle to save jobs in the Leyland factory there way did the SWP In no warn of the dangers in the Speke stewards' refusal to put resolutions for occupa- tion. The

SWP

themselves back advocating occupation. easy for various It is trade bodies

VIUE

support the SWP call for the "right to work" while at the same time continuing to sell out the struggle to defend jobs London

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

A Public Meeting to launch the book 'Communists' Against Revolutior Speakers include Adam Westoby and Socialist Press editor John Lister. Thursday 15 June Earl Russell Pancras Road, Kings X 7.30pm

ONLY STRIKES

CAN SAVE EGA!

EGA

However, many speakers from the floor including representatives threatened St. Nicholas Hos- pital, St. Bartholomew's Hospital and the Divisional inadeqi itself spoke of tae inadequacy one-day strikes and argued for indef- the inite strike as achon only way to save the EGA.

Despite the militancy shown from the floor member of the NUPE NEC calmly announced from the platform that it: was "very unlikely" that the EC would support to strike give actuals The strongest attack on scandalous | betrayal TAls Arthur came from Çhurchley, an EGA steward, who stated that now he was expected to go back to his members and inform them EC not that the was prepared to support strike If this truly the was of

NEC.

he the showed went on, then that their opinion of the by

EGA

struggle y wai workers was that it was a complete waste of time. An exemplary stand

ČOHSE

has been taken by members the London 11 Emergency Bed Service. the that dar Ennals announced the July

EBS

closure date, the were instructed not to refer the patients to any the huge EGA-despite of available shortage hospital beds Despite the pressure of threatened disciplinary and with Charges from support wilatsoever the COHSE leadership, the EBS branch have defiantly refer patients continued to to tne CuA

COHSE

branches must resolutions supporting pass and call on the uns actor leadership to give full back- ing to these members

EGA

On June stewards have called a con- of stewards in the London Health Service, sup- CLASH (Confer- ported by ence of London Area Stew- ards in the Health Service).

At this conference decisive call must be put out for strike action in London hospitals in defence of the EGA and this call should be clear linked to that Union demands the leadership takes the leading role in this action, so that strength of the Trade tne Union Movement is fully mobilised in defence of the EGA and the Health Service generally.

FUND -

A much better week for Special Fund the with total of £101.03 collected asi week This brings us over the £1,000 a present total of £1062.20 towards our target of £2,000 We have only seven weeks to raise the outstand- ing £950 so not a moment should be lost in redeeming pledges made and in organ- ising fund raising activities to ensure that we reach our target by the last week in July. All donations should be sent to: Socialist Press Special Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR