Socialist Press no. 106

LEADERS WON'T

FIGHT CLOSURES

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League London docks, steel, Singers

UNION

While plans London docks, where were finalised last week for management are hoping to get the green light from the of 4,600 the axeing Lib-Lab government to shut jobs, leaders Upper Docks-the down the uttered no more than a India, Millwall and Royals, whimper of with feeble an immediate loss of 4,000 jobs and an estimated protest. loss further 20,000 OT 1,600 jobs are under the related jobs in the area.

at the Shelton steel- works in Stoke, Empty talk blast furnaces have been closed and the British Steel These closures and sack- Corporation are only ings have followed hard on waiting to conclude Coll shut down The nees or the pensation arrangements. of Leyland's 3,000-strong And plans were revealed Triumph plant at Speke on Merseyside for million ment backed investment And all this takes place Labour Singer at time when plan at giant Tne leaders are claiming that the sewing machine factory Clydebank-bringing a loss economic

CTISIS

3,000 jobs of the over! out present 5,000 workforce. In each case trade union Meanwhile in what could and their on within the shop stewards be the biggest blow of all an is expected movement have done announcement nothing more than head off this week on the proposals for rationalisation of any moves prepare a Len Murray: using 35 hr. week demand to divert from pay * No. 106 * 28 June, 1978 * 15p the serious fight against and talk emptily of their cern" at mounting levels of unemployment. At Shelton, steel union bureaucrats-themselves sucked into increasingly open collaboration with

BSC

management through 'participation'-left plant stewards alone to fight the closure threat. powerful they obtained-from nearly all the unions on the plant and dockers trom Immingham who voted for solidarity blacking action showed that if any national given, teac nas. seen major fight could have been taken up against BSC's savage rationalisation plans.

Bitter harvest At the Singer plant workers are reaping a bitter harvest from the misleader-

AUEW

ship given convenor John MacFadyen, who last year bemoaned the failure to invest company's in Clydebank. Now the real meaning of capitalist investment in this period of slump has been revealed £8 million 3,000 thas ill this hity 3,000 jobs this unemployment area. But neither MacFadyen Scottish AUEW nOT

BXCC

Gavin Laird utive member have taken steps to fight this cutback. Laird declared will that "The unions logically and not benave emotionally". Unfortunate "logic" Laird's ike thal of his fellow officials, is the piecemeal logic of seeking reforms from capitalism in crisis.

SAVE

SHOTTON

STEELWORKS

face a similar backerst yor London dockers, leadership in the struggle to Upper Docks. Rather than déclare that the TGWU will mobilise its 500,000 strong membership in the London Region and docks its entire national membership to defend these officials have already

OUS.

offered to make concessions demarcanon On dockers' hard won working conditions. No preparation Steelworkers everywhere, Singer workers and dock- workers must learn the bitter lesson of the Speke closure, where hot air and empty rhetoric on the evils of unemployment' and the need to fight the shutdown were used by officials and stewards for months on end.

They not the made for slightest preparation occupation of the plant or a fight to open the books of the employer to expose their for increased plans exploitation of the whole workforce in Leyland. As an international monopoly, Singers makes huge profits. The demand must be for work-sharing among the whole workforce at no loss of pay. Expropriation If the management choose to sack thousands of workers, the fight must be of for the expropriation that management, without compensation, under management of an elected workers' committee. this fight centre on occupation of the

IRELAND

TROOPS

OUT NOW

Back page EPLF interview .. .. p.3 Garners conference report .. p.11 Leyland round up.. .. p.4

SHOTTON:

SHOTTON

STEELWORKS

STEELWORKS OT

Steelworkers march against closure in 1975 Steel union leader Sirs: no fight Clydebank factory and the ing on international level: election of a committee to throughout Europe open Singers' books. being cut steel jobs are British Steel is supposed- back, bringing strikes in Belgium; ly a 'nationalised' company containerisation -but which the has brought wholesale olIc attack dock jobs; and on purse strings are in lact neia by privately owned everywhere new technology suppliers, the big manufac- is being used to replace jobs.

turers, and the banks. On the other hand there The fight to defend jobs is the growing bureaucratic

BSC

must set out talk of the 35-hour week as expose this hidden exploita- a "cure" to unemployment.

tion and establish the case For many TUC officials for complete nationalisation this is also seen of major industry and the alternative way of heading banks. off major wage claims after On the docks, too, the the expiry of Phase 3 of demand for wage control. LausaLon National of the Ports This is why so many year right wing advocates of Cole Walca netted a cool surplus of wage control have jumped £41 million must be into the 35-hour week band- central part of the fight to wagon-led by Jack Jones, defend jobs in London's Hugh Scanlon, David Upper Docks. Basnett, Tom Jackson and Geoffrey Drain. Yet same TUC these Confusion officials stand as the main obstacle struggles to But instead of putting defend jobs, wages and torward a programme to working conditions strike action and occupation attacks by the employers.

on and aemands Workers in all industries genuinely fight unemploy-

TUC

arises, must beware this fradulent spokesmen have thrown up use of the legitimate a barrage of confusion. hour week demand. On the one hand they The defence of jobs will through have called increasingly for not the come import controls to rhetoric and arm-waving of prevent "foreign" TUC officials but through goods made by sold workers being in action, occupation and the fight for nationalis- Britain and supposedly 'save ation.

ODS

This This calls for the building reactionary, nationalist policy, oi a revolutionary

WAICH

the illusion ship in the workers' move- creates that workers in this country have ment, prepared to challenge the bureaucracy 'common interest' with and fight the British capitalist class, for demands to defend the diversion independent interests of the COnSCIOUS from the against working class. employer to save jobs. The Workers Socialist fact In the capitalist League is fighting to build attacks on jobs are proceed- that leadership

NASTY SHOCK TO PERU

-INTERNATIONAL-

DICTATORS

Under conditions of massive repression the workers' against movement, the Peruvian "Constituent Assem- bly" finally elections after two took place the so-called People's Revol- repression and the electoral weeks' June delay on utionary Party-the remants law which barred all but the 18. the supporters officially literate-

FOCEP

Although the right wing "radical" years of the early 12% and is gained overall won military regime under the therefore the largest group- majority the Assembly, Velasco 1n deposed President ing apart from the two main draw is supposed to Alvarado. bourgeois parties. constitution for up This group of opportun- civilian return govern- ists (some of whose leaders Alliance results were ment, the were nonetheless arrested shock to Peru's milit- nasty the campaign) got The third, Popular ary dictators. will doubt what Action, boycotted the elec- consider a disappointing 7%.

Miscalculation tions. little more This was The FOCEP was an elec- than the other former alliance left _oi tar The elections begin to oldl of the Velasco supporter groups including two which massive miscal- look like a the Communist regime, to be Trotskyist-the claim culation on the part of the Party walch Workers

USFI

affiliated 5% despite significant its Socialist Party (PST), one of The two leading parties role in the main trade union whose leaders, Hugo Blanco, were the right wing nation- federation, the CGTP, and was last week released from alists

APRA

(led by the in the general strike in May.

bourgeois national- jail in Argentina and veteran de la Torre) and allowed to go ist Haya Restricted and the Marxist Revolution- the even further right Chris- tian Popular Party. striking Workers' Party (POMR), But most ary allied the and of the vote respectively They result was that achieved by

FOCEP

Workers, French

OCI,

whose secre- 36% (the Ricardo and of the 100 seats in the Students and tary general, Peasants, one of those People's Front). Napuri, assembly. bourgeois With its leaders deported arrested and deported to other Argentinian jails before the element in the assembly is and the vote restricted by Wave of pay strikes grips France with engineers working in the While the French govern- state sector in Paris. its troops to ment defend imperialist interests Wave of strikes force of the in Africa, the But this massive bourgeois state is now being action is part of an enormous wave only turned against the struggles StriKes wales. of workers within France improved conditions, and itself. defence of jobs. every fortnight strikes case workersart The Maritime the demanding far have erupted in the ironmines, mass entorcing bevond the limits of the Barre steelmills, textile meetings within the naval dock- many na ve yards, and imposing a lock out and Turniture Inausty. Many other sectors. in some dreas Renault action is threatened The 60.000 strikers in the and factories, the in the ano yards and munitions railways naval Moulinex (domestic appliances).

factories are demanding parity

COCKS

Economic and political crisis grows in Germany The hopes of Western Moabit remand prison, of Till Hamburg and Lower Saxony the imperialism that West

FDP

was virtualle SPi hin ted Meyer, by 5 commando women.

Now the FDP is internally Germany will provide a firm in the Tavour for the case, basis rectifying Tormer Tine solit over wittier To avan latter the CDU, the SPD, or not at all. international economic it offers no clear Part of the opposition came crisis of capitalism is starry- independent identity. so-called green Trom TABi least. eyed, say the logical parties of young radicals.

If it loses again at the forth.

are Some 25% coming elections in Hessen, the preparations now being made for the summit will groups abstained altogether.

Maihof, meeting on July 1o/1/, wnere «na resianation it is hoped, , Schmidt will agree

FDP

Interior Minister, on May thirds majority the upper expand German the publication chamber every decision by the 6th, following report of the Schlever Bundestag can be overturned in the German economy, Infla- kidnap, heightened the crisis of Amir secur threat to the tion has bee kept to 3%, but the

FDP

and of the the coalition. вСолом growth target of 3% is unlikely Federal Republic comes in the HAnsen TrOM to be achieved, especially in the both sides, from the left for his increasing strains in the cosy co- achieved wake of lost production due to for widening responsibility between operation the from union leaders and employers _The massive encincelle repression, and lockout in March and April.

failing to eradicate since the war. Even the dormant SPD 'lefts' Unemployment, wave earlier this ne strike for 4 years, is still years ago, lowest level were vorcoa, lwo year was a shock. bur the recent nearly 1 million.

DGB

conference (equivalent •rotest a the oractice or bordei And recent failures of police making a record of those body to the TUC) also left-wing lite- the SPD's coalition parties, the possession under a section on youth unem• no of liberal ployment, for a 35-hour throatens TaLuTe week continuance the Schmidt and for nationalisation of key more recentiv ne gas deer blamed spectacular industries. banks and insurance

V80JB.

"liberation' from the West Berlin recent companies. elections. remarkable success of the FOCEP-especially in the slums around the main cities-must be severe warning to the regime. Although the generals can do a political deal with majority the right parties in the assembly, cannot possibly control the of transfer to process civilian rule as it wanted to.

First it faces a difficult choice whether legal rights to the restore elected left candidates. Enhance prestige If it will does so, the enormously enhance prestige of leaders who have supported major and threat- ening mobilisations against the government. it will does not, reveal once and for all the farcical nature of its "demo- cratic" plans. Yet the regime's need to find some way of control-

RSENAT

BREST

But although the occupation at the Flins plant of Renault was ended by the riot police, in otner areas the state has nerd back from using its legal powers in this way. of besoite Ene demands the French govern- employers, "Nationalisation' is scan- dalous extreme term ir Germany. Consternation reigned and 48 hours later the offending overwhel. For over a year though, the action conference', 'concerted trade Mall employer consultation, has not met. Ultimate right Ts tower team sui brought by an employer against 'codeter- #casured mination, and asserts ine Uitt mate right of shareholders to dispose of their own

DGB

Tressaant refuses to resume the conf- until the suit erence With contract of the past year under pressure, these nego- increasily become the capitalist class. Ricardo Napuin ling or placating the mass has movemenl DeCl more urgent. the Finance Last week Minister announced that Peru's foreign debts had $8 billion and now isen lo he real admitted that income levels were iess [nal two-thirds of their level five years ago and that less than half the population were in "adequate employment". in these circumstances 11 unlikely that the Is very regime will do anything but to step its repression As part of this it will no doubt regard its unshapely the "Constituent Cicallull. 8,000 workers from the Brest arsenal march in protest ment clearly fears direct con- with the militant Trontation strength of working class that is being expressed in these actions.

CORRECTION

Alical error i hast weed week's graphical error in China causec once sarace er some confusion. The final para- graph should have read: "The Sino-Soviet split does major threat the pose struggle of the world working class Makes the task of the Trotskyist move- build a ment China and the readershit other degenerate workers' states for political overthrow of the reactionary Stalinist bureau- cracy ano ine cerence progressive nationalised prop. erty relations.

ERITREA

BECAUSE we have devoted the whole of oade 3 in this issue to the exclusive interview with

EPLF

and news • spokesman on develonments in Eritrea background series of articles on the history of that struggle wil continue next week. Also in next week's Socialist Press : France May-June 1968; French Popular Front (Part 2) Make sure of your copy! . Hugo Blanco Assembly", as easily expen- dable Peruvian workers "Ihe and peasants can expect further terror nothing but from this and government. They must prepare for a for real struggle renewed democratic rights and for the restoration and improve of their sub-human ment economic conditions. The election results show sizeable the section beginning to are anasser prepare for such a struggle And this now places a heavy responsibility on those they are looking to as new leaders Unless a decisive break is from the politics of made United' Secretariat of the Fourth International the and the OCRFI, the danger "Trotskyist" that the representatives now elected will opportunist manoeuvres in place of a consistent struggle of political independence the working class. -In brief Italy Italian and Yugoslav dockers have starter immelte indefinite of all ships flying the Chilean flag "in solidarity This was taken with hundreds of demo …The cratic Chileans who have been protest strike huntel the agains Pinochet and to have news o the thousands of prisoners who for some time have been missing hands of the political police". Palestine Baghdad il ag) section of attacked the on p the Baghdad policies" itulationist which, says, Aratat placed the movement iron grip of the Arab regimes" He said the first priority was in Palestine and then the "reac- regimes" in Syria, vordan, ano the Lebanon. Portugal Soares' Socialist Party and the Communist Party have last week passed by their joint vote, a Bill through Parliament which according "provides for prison terms from two eight years organisations promoting Cosmoi telene against democratic institutions or national unity" Angola ON WHAT the Portuguese regard as a historic occasion reconciliation has been pledged of Neto oerwedr Frasider Angola and President Eanes of Portugal at a meeting in Guinea Bissau on June 24/25 The meeting has been engin eered by / top level US interven tion in Luanda and Young hope influence in Angola where 20,000 Cuban troops are personnel now command

Cuban support continues for genocide plan "There is no sense in getting rid of one exploiting system to SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 June, 1978

-INTERNATIONAL-

The of number of the That was one Cuban troops in Asmara points made by Amdemicael Central, Commitre of the the member of the beseiged capital of Central Eritrea has risen trom Eritrean People's Liberation 2,500 4,000 since TO Front (EPLF) al February. conference in London last In spite of reports of a week. withdrawal The EPLF, he said, had from Cuban Ethiopian for the no evidence to contirm ine plans about recent statements genocide ot the Eritrean Cuban and South Yemeni Fidel Castro has withdrawals, continued make state- wnich appat- emanated from the which express his ently Front Liberation clear support for the

(ELF).

Ethiopian military dictator- Kahasai speculated that ship and his opposition the ELF may be involved in national rights of the Eritreans. behind-the-scenes Why was the EPLF formed? 1970 together ballic and phys- Teoression ical liquidation of the demo- the

ELF

cratic elements in escalated at the end ot 1969 was physically im doss- ible conduct the struggle and

ELF

the the And in June 1970 the first first concress -ine meeting the EPLF was held What today the main political differences between the Historically it is related to the development of the struggle, Amdemicael Kahasai nature the ine was composed evolution because new elements are joining the ELF-elements elements from the national to the reactionary line •ourceoise wn cien trave dry analysis of the Eritrean situation ot the ELr. and failed in the mobilisation of And lines and certain

ELF

theories of the are being and estimating level repeatedly consciousness of the masses ex oosed their economic they the Histcau and their leader- programme Eritrean people ana ine maintains that the ship using sheer violence line elements who tried petty bourgeoisie against Ine MOs in third world To correct tais he like you have a military political with the ELF workina class is weak and it today. But how do you charac. only the petty bourdeo sie tha lead This can theory is being exposed. The

ELF

IS In a pnase oT Bomb damage in Eritrean capital Asmara the manoeuvres will and Cubans making explain their unfounded statements-but he had no firm evidence of that. in general, at present, he the

EPLF

and the said, ELF were each allowed to operate reely in tne area controlled by the other. And recent joint military and propaganda agreements were, delay, WIth being put into operation.

Kahasai warned that an all-out Ethiopian attack was of thousands of They openly maintain that we are in a phase of nationa liberation struggle and you revol. social shouldn't conduct Ution Inis •nase LITt struggle. We maintain that we must with the liberation struggle.

Their land seizure and so on is a reformist one. tenure Thev Eritrea should be democratised out do not aovocate inat inere should be a fundamental change in the relations ot production of It's still onase The leadership is very elements dominated by who want the establishment of a bourgeois nationalist stage in Eritrea And vou oppose this! for us there is no sense i one exploiting getting create another system exo loiting system We maintain that we musi which create new peasants and workers along with other oppressed sections of our would society power i the economy should InIS majority. So in the creation of certain services like nospitals and so or one can see the difference.

What the matn changes liberated areas under EPLF control? From the cav otis celon

EPLF

mainly concen- trated its efforts in the mobilis.

ation oreanisation ation and arming of the masses and laying the basis for people's cemocratic swer in coed effort has been able to wipe out illiteracy 100% from within its own ranks, done lot literacy work quite within une masses It has conducted systematic political within the armed and unarmed masses and has brought about Tundamenta in the economy where to change the strives

ETIC

relations of productior Teveal in the Eritrean countryside.

Could you say more in detail about the about these cuanos, struggle against feudalism?

Eritrea more than 80% troops were massing on the borders. And the bombing raids against liberated four- had increased ai cas fold since the beginning of ane ved. Cuban soldiers and engin- eers are now engaged building new airfields. The Derg, he stated, had received $1,200 million military aid from the USSR in the last year. 60% the Ethiopian state budget went on finan- cing the war As part of the Eritrean Ethiopia was carrying war, out mass executions create another' of the people depend on agri- culture and so the main effort nas peen concentrated to change this. a te hare ini Erited, types of land tenure in eritrea, types teuda tenure. ine ettort or ine

EPLF

to create cells These cells village. and com posed or Ine middle peasants. Through there Celed have caucallult armed the most ConscIous elements out this and through this and the creation of people s assemblies villace. have brought about land are encourag- and we ing the creation cooper atives in the liberated villages.

cooperative Now various so save been created. portical field we have seen a big partic- ipation as well as the people's militia The the power hes now hands of the poor and middle peasants. For the first time in the Eritrean people ot the women are active y arcal the assemblies in and the people's militia The equality of women Rusher, ' 1 Eritrean youth: EPLF has wiped out illiteracy within its own ranks. Page 3 EPLE guerrillas and Ethiopia of assisting including once Eritrean between the again Libya which for men the Derg time supported ages of 16 and 40. The Eritrean when it claimed to be seek.

national peaceful , he said, was receiv- ing solution, struggle, After the press conter- and materia Ing pontica. from of ence. Amdemicael Kahasai support gave an exclusive interview sources Relations were good with to our Socialist Press Oman reporter which we reprint the Palestine below. liberation movements. Some Arab states were

EPLF

Spokesman not onv _ ouaranteed Ine peasant and worker origin programme of the EPLF but Within the

EPLF

at the they is this are actively participating in different levels there Teres allance which is dominating the production in the political and central committee itself.

Finally, what support for military work you What is the relationship between struggle do you look tor trom TOlE the workind cars movement f that of the working class in the Britain and Western Europe?

liberat course, the wo The

EPLF

identifies its course, the working class struggle as an integral, insepar able part of the world-wide role in the struggle, starting in revolutionary movement ot all in this • OUty struggle to help each oiner. rol 62) the dock workers in alliance us the best form of solidarity to with the petty bourgeoisie and Eritrean people is that the the stunts ane on played a workers ir the caoitalist coun major role should intensify the class The role peasants, struggle in their respective coun- tires que new ever or boca consciousness was very minimal But also we need political in the first stages of the struggle support to the Eritrean struggle -this also due to the negligence extend WUlK The Ine knowledge of the struce ane mobilising and raising their leve Suhatever material, simenitarike of politica I consciousness possible suppor Now the EPLF has been able medicines ano ciotnes Our arms mostly to mobilice the peasants in the national liberation from the Ethiopian struggle and captured the close alliance of colonialisls basis of serate ian ce but ethe workers and the peasants nas been created self-reliance but we do We cadre not minimise the role ot outsid Have EP1f support wIthIn fne Cane over 80% of those who partici- pate in this cadre school are 01

Joint committee set up to investigate' BL stewards

1976 - CALLS FOR AN

Page 4

FAR

reaching step been taken at the has British Leyland Longbridge complex which allows man- and trade union intensify militant their attack on shop stewards. A full meeting of shop stewards at the plant voted unanimously to Support a count union/ man- Cowley 9 -new bulletin The Cowley 9 Defence Campaign, fighting for the dropping of the disciplinary charges against nine TGWU militants in BL Cars Cowley Assembly Plant, this week issued its second Bulletin to supporters and sponsors. the Drawing attention of underestimating acute a bl Recional OTTICials ation to proceed the with Bulletin points out charges, the that the TGWU Region 5 Com.

mittee as one consicer Cowley 9 inquiry at its meeting on July recommendations of from the union and expulsion from are banning

OUT.

stewards could find themselves the victimised two days two weeks holiday shut- down". The Bulletin gives an up-to- date picture ot the attempts by AUEW member Jonn rower and ASTMS member Keith Dancey this interfere inquiry using positions as President and Secre- tary of Oxford Trades Council order raise comolaint. against some of the Cowley 9. It inquiry into the Even now, nine Cowley scene for a new round of agement those shop stewards stewards are under threat ot on expulsion and loss of office who fight from whom management stewards the withdrew recognition last through such an inquiry. defend independent interests of their members.

week Now management are to Their decision to set up in the The Longbridge stewards have such inquiry goes far running and in the outcome meeting "inquiries", beyond even the technique which management withdrew ot such TGWU bureaucrats have never been more than recognition from two shop Cowley stewards early last week kangaroo courts This means extending the The stewards represent- ations have been carried out by internal union inquiries.

principle the collabora- ing the engine testers on the oI Mini assembly track in CAB 'participation' com-

LONI

mittees with Leyland had been involved in strike in defence of of an LaK e

LI C

TOIC

militant shop victimising agreement. stewards. The testers returned to work and management with- Such a decision sets the The continued refusal of TGWU officials at Regional or national level to call an inquiry into admitted ballot-rigging by Regional officer Alan Law (see last week's Socialist Press'), has once again highlighted the complete contempt for democracy shown by the TGWU's army of well-heeled, appointed officials. From Socialist Press No. 27; There is only one conc- lusion that can be drawn from the manoeuvres of the Region 5 bureaucracy of the General Transport and Workers Union to block an enquiry into the December for and ballot regional national positions. This is that the non elected 167 out of 3,500 possible votes of full time union bureaucracy The 5/55 Branch cast none of The TU Treate demo its 1,500 votes (having decided cratic rights of members within not to participate in the ballot).

T&GWU

with complete the This Addams' contemot. It emerges, for instance, that the 6,500 members the within the T&GWU there is not Body Plant or Cowley from a since rule woe erovides los coventry. une orner Mallored disciplinary action of any kind covered by the election. to be a branch Continuous pressure officer who district or regional violates tne rules e elections •i All the available Coventry ros a union daliol votes can be seen to have been The sole action within union cast for Coventry candidates in ever rue. which coule

TIOW

while major TGWU Region 5 Secretary Brian Mathers Ene election. from conclusive proof of corr- branch in that area, the 0/920 uption and ballot rigging is that with 6,000 members, also did ine banicuar oranch resuit De not vote at all declared invalid! In other words, to amas 6,134 votes, Addams would Documented evidence have needed upwards of 5,000 Not onlv that. but there votes from Lowiey procedure whatever complaite Plant. But it can be shown conc.

by lusively that only a few hundred branches or individuals in rela- workers in the doov riant voted tion to ballots to be dealt with.

at all in the election! left This what has TRe And despite continuous Committee Region stewards, the and demands pressure

TOTT

ionore complaints Plant headersnio tne boov enquiry tor Trom oranche (5/60) Branch will not reveal representing over 5,000 figures that points out that: the voting from documented with togethel "The 'evidence'-two secret factory ballot. conc- evidence snow. written by the Trades letters lusively that anything Discrepancy publicly council nevci 5,000 votes the been seen by Trades Council The case is similar for the December announced Wallot delegates, let alone discussed!" other two positions, In whic can not be accounted Body Plant convenor Bill Roche And

INE

bulletin also includes evidence of the conniv- was elected to GEC with 11.442 Oxford Two of the between

TGWU

District votes, , and Assembly Plant con- cars branches, the alice Reg Parsons polled 6,700 venor Assembly Plant) Branch, secretary •ucKId anc coming second in the elec- Leyland martagement, who bre 3,500 and the 5/55 votes members submitted to Buckle tion TOr Nationai _committee 1 500 members Kranch witr dossier on elec- There discrepancy lodged demands for an enquiry each something Convenor into the election in which ted Deouty Alar 5,000-5,500 Thornett-who, as one ot the

VOLC

right wind extrene sidit Cowley with published results and possible supported by the Oxforc votes cast expulsion from the union District Committee And in each case the 5/60 Alan Briet accounts of the huge and completely unsubstan- Branch ballot-rigging affair and a Law Headersnie reTuse tiated votes Regional answer questions or give figures.

ot the ballot for General Executive near unanious And now the intervention vote Committee Regiona

COUNCI

Assembly Plant stewards recion • oureaucracy nas over and National Committee them full protection from any support the Cowley 9 highlight positions. further enquiry. the contemo shown ov heona Blatant Regional officials for the views ine manderwe was simole the Most blatant of these results The Regional Committee after democratic rights receiving the Branch complaints was the 6,134 votes claimed for membersnip And, calling a meeting of opened a "preliminary investiga Hack Accams the unknowi

TGWU

supporters for • the Oxford District tion". campaign right winger Regional This "'investigation" took vyeanesady JUlY

OUT

forward the Digbeth Institute, Committee the form of summonina the two automotive mingham, the Bulletin calls for group candidate. Addams comes scrutineers from the 5/60 factory Branch Regional Office intensification of the from the tiny campaign to force the dropping Abingdon, None of those who had lodger where Hes. the up charges than 100 T&GWU members. complaints was interviewed or Assembly opportunity to against the Cowley 9. the Cowley given Hats arcane wor only present turmer evictice drew recognition from them as shop stewards. No strike action has taken place in their defence.

Works and convenor Communist Party member Derek Robinson pressed for the grievance procedure to be used, and argued against a dispute. Stark warning the TGWU full time officials told the stewards that it is the only union who can take away the credentials of Cowley Body Plant:

INQUIRY

SUPPRESSED

Bill Roche As a result of their "investi gation" the Regional Committee decidea that a minor technica declared the read tell and declared results volo. ano carleo tor are un o1 the entire election. Having declared the results nuti and volonel ceared the way to destroying any remain ing evidence of the Body Plant votine neures What was the "minor tech. nical infringement"? the evidence! I1 destruction Turned •U1 Ine papers needed for the enquiry rad destroyed after been one three instead tne months asked for the Regional Committee circular. ever

THIS

infringement" means it would that the ballot appear were destrove• arter enquiry was lodged by the 5/55 complaint and demand for Branch! For question cy the the the unanswered question December Danot are now a thing of the past. They do not intend to start invest eat on raise serious questions as to the role of the extreme right wing SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 June, 1978 stewards. This is true. But there is no point in havin‹ don't recognise them and no action is organised to force recognition. It is a stark warning to Longbridge workers when a body as dangerous as a joint management/union into stewards endorsed shedards with no significant over opposition at all It rams home the point that if the offensive against the shop stewards move- ment in Leyland by both and trade management union bureaucrats is to be halted an alternative leader- ship must be built within which Longbridge prepared to fight both the full time union officials and the domination of the Com- munist Party exercised through Robinson. But this is not the first time that 'Socialist Press', almost alone among the papers of the left, has campaigned against ballot abuses within the TGWU. On February 11, 1976 we carried the following account of a ballot held in Leyland's 5/60 Branch leadership and serve to further discredit them in the town. But most workers in the Cowley are in Body Piant know only a handful voted in the last election, and why the ecoe snio retuse to decare me result the bureaucracy can evade enquiry ane exonerate branch leadership simply by and declaring a result invalid way rebaliotting, is there any forward? is a particularly sharp this issue wnen we rememoe. none of the full-time T&GWI District and Regional Officers is elected ane rone answerdoit tc anyone other than the General Secretary Jack Jones who in of the practice carries the power General Union's elected Executive land who himself, shall hold office once elected the auring breasure union") The biggest union in the country thus has a rule book which is wide open to the most of democratic flagrant breaches oroccure oy its omicals In instances where ballots workers must do take place, for the press every wdy election ot rank and file branct members as scrutineers. voting figures and procedures to be open for at any time to members of the branch New rules providing for the automatic removal from office of a scrutineer or branch honest election must be brought forward along with demands that all fuli time officials of the union be subject to regular elec tion and recall by the member- Jack Jones

'Labour cares' claims Callaghan LABOUB Private firms plunder SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 June, 1978 A new glimpse at the claim: Yes, Labour cares. bond -tnat by oreventing Labour does care". the socialisation of domestic cynical line to be followed abour ties them hand and foot aside the historic in the Labour leaders' elec- cut in workers vino stancares

LIC MUS

tion campaign was given in inflicted during ther last four And as the income to each a speech last weekend by years declines home relative to Prime Minister Callaghan.

"carina" ability, ang the mass unem oovi

COST

ano Ene social "the Attacking the Tories as services are cut back, forcing the burden of health care and promigate most party TrIS millions workers country has ever seen", balachan went launched Callaghan families,

INTO

boast of: individual Callaghan's cynically that detence or spending curs • Care and compassion speech gloats Then with calculated decep- for those in need • Une de Labour Dolley Is to tion he swung into breast-beat- bonds of family life, "strengthen the family as the of the qualities that are nearly always children learn ing glorification place where our geneTITs une the cually oractici consideration

TOI

ment has supposedly heaped on of integrity, service before self, their fellow human beings" "That is the sort of socialism housewives and fair play" pensioners, For millions of working I believe in, the sort of socialism "I believe we can justifiably women, "family life' is certainly that nas its base in indiviaua CHOIU: Mark Rusner Further evidence continues to emerge to the prove massive plunder of the nation- alised industries carried out by private suppliers.

Two weeks ago came the shamefaced announcement the Post Ottice that had been "overcharged" by zy mion on contacts tol telephone cables over an 11 year period But perhaps more inter- esting was the fact that the cable-making

TOUT

mono concerned-BICC polies Standard Pirelli General, Telephones and Cables, and Cables-were Telephone Thatcher-leading advocate of the values o.

finally forced to admit to

PRESS GANG

Faceless shadows The Tory Party have market, (which if adopted Judging from this article it looks as if Mr. Ward could Telegraph, would just recruited one says the 'embarr- have avoided the join the immortals. George Ward, managing Certainly the Telegraph assment of the Robert Relf of director little is anxious that those Case y film processing known rise to the top of the Tory The only other assess- ment so far has been of Sir business in North tree are given their true Keith Joseph who is said to place in history. their London, to Last week the have sustained the Tory paper approved list of possible Party's association of "intel- launched a new series assess- Parliamentary candi- Instality lectuality with ing the many statesmen in mental dates. the ranks of that great This possible with editorial future This Mr. Ward-who has party, which asked, rather chancellor is described thus: rudely, apparently gained some "He will treat the ques "Is Mrs. Thatcher's Shadow experience tioner-no matter how nihil- Cabinet a bunch of faceless handling trade unions-has, nonentities?" the Daily Telegraph, Istic, mean mmaca or unl says terested in genuine discus- Apparently the answer is all the necessary qualifica- sion he or she may be-as tions for the job, although no. "These pieces emphatic- after earnest seeker he is at present without a ally deny that Mrs. Thatcher truth, just like himself.

constituency. will Courteously, Fox, Tory vice encompassed by medi- Marcus ocrity" explain that capitalism is a , says the paper. chairman in charge of candi- The first to be assessed is necessary, but not dates, told ine paper. sufficient, condition of free- his a Sir Geoffrey Howe, who conveyed very to us dom. After which the world is said to resemble Baldwin beliefs in the things strong "modest reasonable- will go on his way with Conservatives in his the stand believing what for" ness". everyone He has apparently a repu- they did before. Mr Ward himself said: "l Ward is as Mogadon man this that some of my tallon benever certainly heading for because he puts people recent are experiences but, says the Tele- exalted We sleep company. relevant to finding a proper should surely give thanks to graph this is unfair relationship between the leaders He has in the past tried those trade union such good who allowed him to pick to introduce the rest of the nation" his valuable qualifica- Very Excellent: sound Tory measures good. up making racial discrimination tions. Just what the nation needs, a "proper relationship" legal in the private housing moral values. The sort of socialism that socialists believe in has its base in une neeration or workine men and women from the oppression inflicted them by crisis-ridden capitalism.

buT to do unIs class must first divert itself of reformist leaders reactionary like Callaghan and his coalition ist cabinet colleagues, and take steps to construct a revolution- dry warty base on dostanne demands that from today's struggle to the expropri- bourgeoisie, ot the duior machine on the caoitalist state and dictatorship of the proletariat. 'nationalised' industries the overcharging only after a Post Office commissioned of their mystigation accounts. Embargo At first the Companies refused the Post alow Office access to their books.

Office Post

LOOK

embargo on external cont- racts for cables to force them to change their minds and allow investigation of worth

COLLEACE

£450 million. turned out that not did the only cable-makers huge and (even by capitalist exces- sane doss sive profits from the nation- alised Post Office, but that they also operated an illegal price-fixing deal between them tc ensure that these were maintained. margins while Post Office

DUL

managers this instance sanctions force these firms to open their books, union leaders have such Lakel Nobody knows how many firms "over- other charging" Post Office. the Killing Meanwhile BL. Cars chairman Michael Edwardes continues to use the acute financial the with company as a level which he hopes to force through further speed-up under the guise of an 'incen- tives scheme, figures from the privately-owned indicate component firms they making are killing on the backs of Ley- land workers. A survey has shown that ten UK motor top component groups hit profit margin on avciate sales of 8.2% in the sales Some went as highs 12.2% Without the "state- owned" BL Cars these margins would be substan- tially hit. Manipulated And though some of the figures for foreign-based component firms appeared lower many instances these figures tax. As the Financial Times pointed out, (with frankness seen during Chrysler the rescue opera- tion three years ago): "The company might be levying hidden management charges off profits siphoning through its prices «supplies." In other words, unless the movement WOIKerS secures acdess to the hidden accounts of these and other monopolies, the behind the profit- scenes swindling, eering and exploitation inherent in capitalism will even the "nationalised" supposeury and state controlled indus- tries Lining wallets How many othet private suppliers are lining their walets through high-pricer Post Office, Health Service OI British Rail contracts? How "Rock around the clock-preferably with Tory" was the which message came the inaugural from of the Anti meeting Nazi League at Winsford last week. This pathetic 'solution' to deal with emerging fascism was supported by the Socialist Workers Party Communist Party and one

WRP

supporter who seconded the motion to set up the branch. Almost immediately the meeting started, SL mem- bers were accused by the SWP speaker of 'disruption foI bringing "politics into it" presumably thereby so wing seeds of discontent Indeed the SWP speaker thought this Bidwell Page 5

PARTY

growing fat on "fair" profit levels, while workers in the nationalised industries, like

OLIC

workers ning living standards under wage control, and the effects of public spending cuts? Open the books Is this kind of backstairs exploitation the reality behind the crisis of British Leyland Steel Corporation's alleged "losses" of £500 million? What • share of this creamed off by the banks?

The case for a fight by elected trade union commi- ttees to open the books of and nationalised industry and show the need nationalisation the private without sector, under compensation, workers' management inescapable. Only this way can steps taken towards a be planned socialist economy.

ANL-unity of the -graveyard- why the Nazis seized power in Germany: "The German people just couldn't agree" he said At the beginning of the meeting the chairman read out a letter from the local Conservative Party rejecting an invitation to join the

ANL

grounds that the Tories) they (the were of against the "curtailment the freedom" of the NF to speak and to organise them- selves-indeed had the Tories thought about it they might have reminded the • Stalinists that this was their joint position at the recent NUS conference. WSL members wanted to know why Sid Bidwell 'left' MP Labour and a leading the spokesman for

ANI

could equate being the racialism of the Ne and yet be a supporter of the Parliamentary Select Committee Report Race and Immigration which forced fellow evel Labour MPs to describe it as a "gift to the NF" The contradiction of Labour MPs having who voted Labour cabinet policies which produced the conditions for fascism to grow and yet could sign the founding

ANL

statement was not resolved. The

ANL

organisation whose lack of principled politics will cert- ainly lead them to a unity - a unity of the graveyard.

LESSONS FROM

POPULAR FRONT

In this first part of a series on the lessons of the Popular Front governments of the 1930s Pru Chamberlayne looks at the conditions which led to the establishment of the Popular Front government in France in 1936 1930's The an important extremely period for the workers' movement today to First the study. came defeat of the strongest section of the European working class by Hitler in Germany. This was at least in part caused by the 'third period' of Stalinist politics the which, from parties, 1934, refused to work with other workers' organi- sations against fascism. But then followed a new rignt wing form or bellayal.

social demo- whereby the cratic and Stalinist parties robbed the working class of its independence by forming Popular Fronts' with bourgeois parties, in 'democratic alliance' against fascism Historic betrayals The parallels with today are striking, not just in the 'historic compromise and the unity of the Ilaly left' France, but also in in the Popular Frontist of the Anti-Nazi approach League and the

IMG-

Committees initiated Racism and Against Fascism. The next few articles are designed to give readers some understanding of the historic betrayals in France 1930's, and Spain and also of the difficulties encountered Trotskyist sections swimming against the tide at that trving to chart out a revolutionary course and build inter- the Bolshevik national tradition. Demonstrations They also aim to show the background to Trotsky's important writings, Whither France, Crisis in the French Section and The Spanish Revolution. The articles on france deal first with the birth of Popular Front the from February 1934 to the elections in May 1936, and secondly with the period of Popular Front government from May 1936 until November 1938. The events of February great 1934 saw France classes poised In against each other. On February 6 a political organised jointly by coup Fascist, Bonapartist and

THE FRENCH

Stalin signs a death warrant during the Moscow Trials political rule issue, were firmly opposed Royalist forces overthrew Bourgeois to forming a united front.

Daladier, the centre-Radical was also in crisis. Stalinist Repeated scandals leader Thorez, President, replacing nim the writing in I. 'Humanite said with the right wing surrounded centre it would be a great error and government Doumergue, while fascists Radical Daladier, elected in 1932.

the "Leninist contrary to burned buses in celebration And since those elections view of social democracy as The working class had been the main moral support of responded with day fascist groups developing fast. the bourgeoisie. strikes and, despite a police Meanwhile fascist attacks ban, massive turnouts on United front continued and some leading demonstrations by called CP on February 9 and workers" the representatives On the other hand that were murdered. by the Socialists (SFIO) on very Germany Suddenly on May 31, the February 10. Fifteen decisively altered the politi- CP the thousand marched put cal situation in Europe.

SFIO

for Vincennes 100,000 joint action. Determined to fend off Marseilles. Within a month an agree. further such attacks, the ment for "organic unity' had French class been made and Thorez. Ominously similar Was demanding that previously sectarian and sations form a united front.

The preconditions for dogmatically ultra left, It had in any case respon- fascism looked make patriotic ominously began ded militantly to the similar to (ermanv. speeches. offensive of The employers economic crisis, Liquidation rationalisation and lock out, wnien naa set in later inan particularly huge in the other main imperialist Ine miners' and textile workers' Doriot, CP and which another countries, strikes in 1931. leading member even went reached its sharpest point in- 1932, reduced living stan- propose the Even in April 1934 the • <0 tar as to of the CP, 35% fusing the Socialisis and Cy liquidation leadership of both the main per ween 1938 1930-35. Even the •Dy

WOTKETS

. pallic. single United Prole- production levels were only Socialists and the CP, tarian Party. 15% of their 1929 levels.

although on the The perspective.of CP in the united front was not however gIve revolutionary lead in action that was necessary to defeat Rather-it was for mini- mal cem anu. grounds that situalon was non-revolutionary ana that 'extremism would frighten away large sections of the petty bourgeoisie Formal alliance But the betrayals of the united front were minor compared much greater ones of the Popular Front, actual tying the proletariat the policies of the bourgeoisie through formal alliances.

The Popular Front was formally declared on June 1935, accom danied massive demonstrations, which the 'Marseillaise alternated with the 'Inter- national'. But already in October 1934 the CP had begun making overtures Radical Socialists; bourgeois party And in municipal elections in May 1935. Socialists, Communists and Radicals, made an electoral pact, agreeing to stand down in the second round for each others best placed candidates. Comintern The decision make this fundamental turn to class collaboration a hun- dred and eighty degrees different from the 'social fascist pulase 34, from came not struggle in the French CP or trom local considerations but from the dictate of the Comintern Having allowed Hitler to come to power Stalin was now extremely concerned to defend the: USSR from fascist invasion. Rather than appealing to the European proletariat his make

SOLICI

alliances with the European bourgeoisie r's victor; In May 1935 the Stalin- Laval five year mutual assis- tance was announced paul Stalinists always argued, and continue to do that paci defend the necessary USSR against Hitler. Amenable illustrates well the counter-evolutolay effects of policy of "socialism in one country' For if the Stalin-Laval pact was to mean anything.

working the class frenci amenable to remain

HE USE

French • CP and the Laval must be seen to be ensuring that. And so throughout the pre-revolutionary summer and autumn of 1935 the CP mobilise the Telse d working class against Laval's hated 'decree-law" austerity measures, police repression, limitations on the freedom of the press, laws attacking workers defence organt sations, or to act against French militarism and savage colonial policies.

In August when violent mutinies strikes, riots broke out in Brest, Le Havre Toulon and Limoges in pro- another test against of public spending round CP, cuts, the naving insis ted on the 'non-revolution- ary' character of the period was acutely embarrassed. The strikes were so mili- tant that five workers were hundreds injured shot and be before they could brought to an end Dissolution In both Decembe Thorez and Blum openly supported • Laval's call for the dissolution of all armed groups, including the groups of armed workers who were the only force actively and courageously fighting fascists. Throughout the autumn was kept in power only by the of the vote with whom Kaaical rarty. the CP was in alliance. When Laval was finally forced to retire in January

n: 1933 changed the conditions for fighting fascism in trance of 1936 it spite rather than because of the Stalinists. "consequence of the Popular Front was the CP's the the petty bourgeoisie, Popular centred - "any • join repub- in oracl LO and lican peace". soon the to middle its own intellec- classes, tual: formal the appeal the was Catholics a reconcilia- of of tion Frar татас- teristics Pro- noi ist are this French particularly period useful, had ne both the 1905 the 1917 TeVe 1 uncle His most famous writings directed France were 01 against the betrayals of the Popular Front. He was in fact living in France HuzusL 1933 and his deportation in July 1934, and Whither and Again Once France were Whither 1934 written in November March 1935 and respectively. put forward the nev policies necessary to defeat the fascism, explain CP minimal programme would lead to the destruc- tion of the workers' the ment and content and consequences of the Popular Front. Urgency They are written with a great sense of urgency, a full recognition of the dangers the working surrounding class, but also of the revo- mood of workers autollary which is being diverted and thwarted. Trotsky assesses both the It was the responsibility of the revolutionary pally to provide a lead 'One should not that the radicalisation of the W1ll proceed by Illasses self, automatically The working class waits for the the part of its initiative on organisation'. Even over workers militias Trotsky said, 'There will be scorn-the first steps too will be inex- nerienced and maladroit But the initiative must necessarily come The and above. party can provide the initial cadres' Valuable lessons The French Trotskyist section, La Ligue Com- muniste (LC), was too small to influence the course events signiticantly. of Nevertheless a study their attempts to stand out against the great weighocial Social betrayal Democrats and Stalinists, to launch themselves into the struggles the working class rather than remaining an intellectual sect and the fight against centrism within their ranks valuable make for Trotskyists today. respects the objective economic tion and ine workers slate of consciousness in an oppo- way from the CP. Sitt He begins with the stark fact that the intensity of the crisis means that bourgeois democracy cannot continue, that there remain only two socialism or fascism. rodus. whereas the Stalinists And emphasised the fear' of the middle layers and O ne class, Trotsky both maintained that that the eager for action. period was pre-revolunion "as revolutionary dI y be, granted the non- Call revolutionary policies of the working class parties". the was precisely of the fascists that attracted the petty- bourgeoisie. Strategy for They were looking desperate solutions to their predicament and fast losing faith established democratic parties. would rapidly become demoralised by weak leadership. There two main di C pillars to the strategy he puts forward-the need for political offensive struggle for power)' and an ac ence ally (militias):* Echo A revolutionary offensive *the slogan unucl conquest of power, and the will of name sorldlisill. awaken an echo so powerful to exceed* the most optimistic expectations' Given the depth of the the employers could crisis, only be forced to concede problems remain the same.

anything if they were faced Numbering SIALy members the LC ran a regu- with the danger of losing lar La Verite, newspaper, everything. theoretical journal, But the Stalinists' insis- and a Lutte Des Classes. lance on minimal demands Throughout self fulfilling this period 1933-36 the LC called for prophecy: 'The masses make hardly direct united any response to appeals for against fascist attacks and centred on the need for strikes on economic of power. In 1933 wait he masses Secure or and demand other more they were calling workers' militias to efficacious methods'. formed by trade unionists, of members of co-ops and reformism, in an un sports clubs and youth, and in 1933 they Many its militant repeatedly urged workers to force the be seeking Socialists to tae power and called for a 'bloc against exploiters Bolshevism, They hammered home the parallels with Germany L 'Humanite and and attacked and Le Populaire, CP the and SFIO papers, for failing Naville 00 i thought to lead any action against be the fascist upsurge. nothing to out and Soviets The leaflets they handed in the February events out of 1934 called for workers rapidly to and militias and: the leave 'Instead of municipal retused build workers' councils soviets, instead the bourgeois parliament, build sharp "banne a workers' parliament'. unfurled'. In May put 1934 tney out '10 Commandments' which included calls agricultural urban and LC workers to organise, together, for no commer- joined the the as cial secrets', for worker and fact this peasant control over pro- duction, for workers to oppose their own commit parlia tees lo lne lotici ment and concluded 'all this Within their poses the necessity of taking to power, don't forget it! 300. The youth, the problem facing the Jeunesse Socialiste Revolu- I ne

(JSR)

with their Trotskyist movement at this tionnaire time was how to break out Revolution, made panel particularly big gains, of its small, mainly intellec especially in the area of the tual petty bourgeois base.

Seine Federation. The main orientation of Decomposition the ubt was lo lelt sections

SFIO

chiefly the and In Bataille Socialiste, lead Trotsky's proposal, made by Marcel Pivert, to whom in the summer of 1934, was should enter the proposed they forming that they SFIO. He argued that the committee for revolutionary socialist action. centrism of the SrIO, based This would united create people's put socialist branches action independent within militias. had been Servir (TPPS-Always siderable the CP and SP for Popular were should immediately but the following an 40 salary unemployment of the wealth of big Popular Front leaders in 1936 small businessmen, political rights soldiers, the

TOT

abolition of the two year military service, cutting of war budget: the arres of leaders, organi- fascIst of workers sation militias the and arming of proletariat. Continued next week

Page 8

IN REVIEW

Des Warren defends his real jailers PAT LALLY reviews SHREWSBURY, Whose Conspiracy? The need for an enquiry, a pamphlet by Des Warren. 10p.

Roy Jenkins were systemati- stables should be drawn to The jailing of Des the "provision of the law" cally ignored. Warren and other build- But. how was it that and further. action what Warren, imprisoned in the ing workers as a result could be taken "to defeat wake of of the 'Shrewsbury 23' such violence and intimida- such tion in industrial disputes" working for the victories trials in 1973 was part the 1972 miners' In January 1973 a whole class as of the all-round attack battery of charges, 214 in strike, the freeing by mas action of the Pentonville 5 trade union rights on all, were brought against 31 of the pickets. The six dockers in defiance of the which has marked the Industrial Relations Act and leaders faced a total of no present decade in this Heath's Mintrs in early 1974, was defeat 92 charges, pre- than ICoS country. dominantly unlawful assem- nevertheless forced to serve They were victims of a bly, afiray and conspiracy.

practically the whole of his carefully engineered and sentence? deliberately executed plan Upheld telling drawing then Tory Govern- Despite Dy lie Although found not repeated connections ment aimed at the right and centring on the guilty of the other offences, between the successive Tory picket and of the antiquated Labour governments use wnien anyway carnica Mast and of treacherous role of the Conspiracy Law. sentences the It was not until several months, the conspiracy leaders, them- Trace o end charges were upheld allow- months tollowing the selves moving to the right in of the 12-week strike, heavier harmony with the Labour ing massively sentences-Des Warren jailed which important aspect of is not only not the highly effective for 3 years, Eric Tomlinson but criticism taken of was use of flying pickets against •L years and others y and 6 them is contemptuously dis- scab labour, that moves months. missed as 'nonsense'. In jail, Warren were made to bring the ously fought against Foreshadowed the interim, Home corruption of and constant Carr had Secretary Robert and intimida- But if Warren's critical harrassment by the prison authori- told the Tory Party tion and perceptive gaze were to con- Appeals to newly elec- ties. record of the terence in uctober Inal tne ted Labour Home Secretary trade union bureaucracy he of Chief Con- Something of a record Winston Smart reviews the record "Lazy Fascist" by Phantom on the Cool Ghoul record label leaders who have It's not every day of punk and reggae bands-not union to mention Tom Robinson- created the material con- the week that we the growth has so far given us only a

•DOS

for receive records glimpse of the power that fascism. review at the Socialist the alternative-a such music has this And Press office. fight for socialist policies

SUTURYC

defence But the reason for this is and for workers Cool Ghoul So when squads to protect the immi- records sent us a copy of the taiure of such groups to realise that putting forward grant population and the their first single-an anti- labour against fascist reggae number called general movemenl the fascists has to be posed.

is, itself, not "Lazy Fascist" by "progres- In this in a popular adequate. To do Phantom-the sive" band punk form, freak inchel Socialist Press reggae Propaganda reggae music, soon had the record on the not beyond the capabilities turntable. of of the more many Musically the recordi The fight against racism the talented a fairly accurate recreation and fascism cannot be con- music scene today. sound by a ot the reggae Caree sorely evel pIc- And needn't involve The hook line at the level of white group. dominantly Socialist Press of the tune is pinched from argument and propaganda. articles workers self track Bob Marley gains a hearing by Fascism defence to music. called Crazy Baldhead on workers whose 'Rastaman Vibration' living sardars have jobs and Geriatric album. social services been But the importance Cool Lib-Lab by the attacked Certainly the excitement Ghoul claim for the record coalition. by the music of generated hearing uncompromisingly the New. and reggae 1TS wave sections of the the anti-fascist message. amongst bands opposed to petty bourgeoisie geriatric left-overs of the security of income is threat- Stones, Who, Powerful tool 1960s-the ened by the economic crisis ELP, Yes, ete-will ensure a of the capitalist system and audience amongst sheafs of Among the in which the big the way increasingly radicalised publicity material accom- monopolies are prepared to layers of youth. panying ine aisc-much ol 'small fry" to obstacle sacritice the main which devoted ine ensure their own survival groups preventing these hammering home the point from posing concretely the that record Real culprits remains the suppressed by the media- political confusion in the is the claim that "music can minds of the groups them- be a powerful tool for fight- In such a situation the ing racism and fascism". selves and this is nowhere finger has to be pointed at in the the real culprits-today the more obvious than This is undoubtedly the case and the work of various right wing Labour and trade Phantom record would see how the delibe- rate restriction to protest gestures of the campaign by the TUC for his release fore- shadowed their subsequent role in Grunwicks and their acceptance of scabbing by the government troops in breaking the firemen's strike. And, within that, he PHOTO: Andrew Wiard. Repor Not so lazy policemen arresting a black youth at an anti-fascist demonstration in Wolverhampton.

words "fascist" and The "racist" are used inter- changeably record which immediately obscures the real nature of fascism.

They even sing the line "If this offends you song a fascist too"! then you're They sound as if they throwing enjoy out the epithet fascist at anyone they take objection to so it term of becomes merev a abuse rather than a political characterisation. And why fascists should be described "lazy" hard to imagine Far stronger in terms of imnact is the other side of the record, an instrumental dub version "Lazy Fascist" which certain key phrases from the lyrics introduced with echo and reverb to great effect.

We are clearly in a period when an increasing number Mass demonstration during the 12-week builders strike of 1972 would do well to look at the played by his the Communist Party, in consis- tenly covering up lor these betrayals. Real conspiracy It may be, judging by his letter in a recent issue of the of records have a political content. At present the majority of these records, released by the commercial record tend to be companies, characterised by a confused political message often pessimistic character dwelling for example on the strength of reaction. "Lazy Fascist" • is the first overtly political record indepen- produced TO dently of the major record allowing greater companies, of freedom pollica. content. remains to be seen whether this development will lead to the recording of which the same time musically strong and Contall can develop message that struggles the youth oppression of against the capitalism. Morning Star, sharply class attacking terms that paper's shabby review of his pamphlet, that this may yet happen As this pamphlet makes clear, the real conspiracy was between the employers the police, judiciary and an assortment government OI ministers and state officials with the eager assistance of media and hysterical press campaign. Parliamentary forward putting, detailed linking material these forces, Warren power- fully • demonstrates that the trial was a frame-up from start to finish, the decision to prosecuțe a political deci- sion and so makes a strong case for a full enquiry into whole affair. But instead of demand- ing such an investigation be taken up independently within the labour movement by elected committees the from and file, the call is made for parliamentary enquiry. other words, by the same , 'left' and right, Labour MPs, who accepted his continued with hardly imprisonment a murmur. It is no wonder George Smith, extreme right-wing leader of UCATT, Warren's union, is quoted as being fully in support of such a demand Vivid picture Despite this crucial weak• ness, - "My picture of his struggle prison experiences have provided me with an insight into the real nature of capi- talism and some of its insti- tutions. It is two faced: I have experienced both. Its 'democratic' face public or and its private or dictatorial face The Shrewsbury frame- up was no more, nor less, than a demonstration of the fact that capitalism required, will unhesitatingly use ruthless methods of its protect future." Such sentiments deserve better conclusions.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 June, 1978 Hua One third of the world's population live in countries where capitalism has been des- troyed. Were the economic and

DO 111C81

resources Colecu- vely controlled by countries to be devoted to the assistance of socialist revolution on a world scale days of imperial- ism could be counted on the fingers of one hand. The parasitic bureaucrat- ic castes who rule the "soc- ¡alist"countries. However even when they were pollt- ically united in the monol- ith Stalin which erected, used the strength they con- trolled not to aid the revol- ution but enforce the bureaucratic counter revol- ution. Collaborated In place of a consistent attack imperia ism those bureaucracies have compromised and collabor- with ated imperialism, though there have been many disputes over how the world be divided between them To that reactionary colla- boration has been added a element-disputes and

NICW

competition between the burcaucracies or tne WOlK. ers' states which have had the function of further aid- ing imperialism. Most recent notabiy In years the Chinese Stalinist bureaucracy has developed based on a position that the foreign policy explicitly USSR in the main world domination. and alliances are to be cultivated will lne enemies of the Soviet Union, wher- ever they may be. In practice that has led to grotesque flattery of the most reactionary imperialist forces. Nixon was feted in Pek- ing, Thatcher Margaret praised for her cold war speeches. The European Economic Community was welcomed as a counterweight to Soviet ambitions in Europe, and so 'Social fascists' Just Stalin the "Third Period' years 1928-33 democrats branded social as 'social fascists', more dan- gerous than the real fascists, so the Chinese bureaucracy attacking

USSR

as 'social imperialist' have that thereby decided the actual move nansi are a lesser evil! towards In its policies the backward and semi- the countnes зитеанстас! 3592:8 = NAIL Lu Rifts between bureaucrats open doors to imperialists influence (for instance by Huang giving aid to the the Security Force" governments was olallicu meeling In cannel in emphasis has des- patch and ing up any regime or move Soviet Union and its allies, seems stage

ILS

regime or its relations with international Javolullay - d sland Backed junta scale the Soviet So, as in the 1960's and early 1970's, China backed This is reflec- the Pakistan military dictat- More against India. cently has backed the Chilean junta of Pinochet, espousa the of Staff,

UNITA

(also supported by Sir lan while he Africa US) south "Sino- of a the against

MILA

Western against and the corrupt, pro-imper- the has General Mobutu ialist Zaire. The Chinese diplomatic offensive in Africa has been than that of the

USSR,

made In lie imperialists; but it has still step up arms sales China

NATO

been very determined. from In 1974 the Chinese sign- including last week's effort ed co-operation agree- Dy ine british Detence Min- istry at Aldershot to flog ments with African govern- There 20 them some inflateable full- ments. were 1975, 29 in 1976 and 32 last models scue Russian tanks £3000 year. at During the recent upri- - for target practice. sing in Shaba provinces of These developments have Zaire, who should turn up produced very sharp in the midst of the crisis in ions in the Stalinist world. Kinshasa and Lumumbashi In its latest article on Foreign China Pravda the Soviet inan ine (ninese Ministe: Huang Hua. party drops al Besia gung moral and pretence of a willingness to THerE supporto Mobutu. negotiate differences, accu- Chinese soldiers inspect German tank Soviet government to reac- pro-imperialist reg- tionary imes around the world. Chinese role The sharpest part of the new Cuban attack mach and more detailed hercer than previous unc concerns the Chinese role in Vietnam. according The Chinese, during Granma, the to blockade of 1972, placed every possible obstacle to the movement of supplies to Page 9 Vietnam, North especially imperialism The Ceausescu leadership those from the Soviet Albania's neighbour Romania, itself moving rapidly towards separate were economic deal with imper- ialism and a complete separ- ation from Comecon, the economic treaty betweer East European workers He has protested against more power over the smaller states, Thus in all these ways, the potential of the planned economy is wasted not only throuch the internal bureau in the workers' Crane states but through the mut- ual hostility rival nat ional cliques of bureaucrats.

The squabbles Involving the USSR Romania, Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia, China

TA P

and Albania are not differ- ences of principle Opportunist They are the opportunist quarrels of bureaucracies, all of whom are counter-revol- utionary but each of whom deal with wishes to do a imperialism their 1n way. As Trotskyists we un- Marxist compromisingly detend al these states against imp erialism But we also recognise that the opportunesi their vales the strength of undermine the planned, the pos economy, weaken sibility of socialism and wIld strengthen tht COTCes and the confidence of imperial- ism The mobilisation of the power of the non-capitalist states in the , interests of the Political Bureau member, revolution will depend Hysui Kapo, the overthrow of these onD.

Chinese three worlds theory ortunist bureaucracies " in the service of imper- through pollica under the leadership of an ialism and modern revision- ism" (the Albanian authentically proletarian name of the the party

TOT

positions Soviet Union). Such a party must com- bine unconditional defence It is reported that part of of the progressive property the Chinese response to this diatribe relations in those countries withdraw with a programme of demo.

Chinese technical assistants cratic and transitional Albania trom leading break economic demands. contracts.

TO WANT

construction of the

WOTK

In a further pointed snub ers' councils independent of to Albania, Chairman Hua the Stalinist bureaucracy. has announced plans to visit Romania Yugoslavia and Leadership but not Albania in the autumn of this year, as part Through such workers of Peking's anti-Soviet the full strength councils strategy. of the working class in the Although Albania main- non-capitalist states can be tains its public hostility to mobilized under Trotskyist "modern Soviet revision- leadership for the political ism' hardly overthrow it car be an ol tne parasilic accident that it has chosen Stalinist bureaucracy. The establishment in this to join the swelling anti- of a regime dedicated Chinese chorus. way Albania's economic the Over. throw of capitalism is the links with China have been cut, then, as the most econ- only long-term guarantee of the security of the workers omically backward of the European workers' states, it states and progress towards will almost certainly, be see- aid from coollid make its

USSR

or to with own separate

1U1TSS

US troops retreat from South Vietnam-Cubans claim Chinese blocked supplies to North Vietnam.

HOSPITAL WORKERS HIT

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

FBU conference recalled Seeking a way out of the full operation of national agree- caused by their Disputes problems Wells. oe resorved at ocal level dilei last failure to press the exhaustion winter's firemen's strike to a shall successful conclusion, the the NJC and no local action will been be taken by either side, pending leaders the forced to eration' recall of its delegate confer- ence in a few week's time.

Block action Terry Parry and the Executive are acutely embarras- This would authorities' action by seo TITe local re sat to bacing leve and leave members at the mercy on plan! slash manning levels as part of Executive level negotiations agreed introduction level lancis from the rest the 4z-nour week by November.

Arbitration appliance The accident and Right wingers also failed to cuent duolances win a vote to go to arbitration rather than consult the member- risk lives to save cash. ship.

FBU

Management negotiators inese cemanos are rubbing the

FBU

have been full, and the the noses INtO introduced caused by their own refusal fight

TUC

betrayal of the ay Sllike They have declared that they will only withdraw plans for with the 42- three-shift system and allow a continu- nour week ation ot ine present all their other for cutbacks are demands conceded by ine rDu: These include: *Full acceptance of the job- evaluation

STOV

Contamed the National Joint Council deterioration Qualified Fire- booklet man's Job" This means incor- the by rash porating as regular duties many negotiated staged present ocally week: *The right of local author- work *The to introduce the "day ities manning" system-relying on week to firemen in tied housing next to Ine orivate sector fire stations-without any nego- This tiations with throughout the week. could mean a two-thirds cut in manning in some stations.

Cut costs At the Royal Free, *Variable manning and Loncon's management 'nucleus manningl are also effectiveness of proposed, cut costs and prevent the introduction of the hospital. nour WeeK Admissions jobs inerpace TiTe

HITE

service emercency be new Coser i casuaity inserted into the NJC grey book hospitals conditions service follows:

NJC

'Neither side of the to buu *All Six unlaterally continue any restrictions on the

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

5 issues I0 issues .. Lo issues › Issues . . . I would like to receive ... issues. I enclose the sum off. Name Address Send to: Socialist Press, 31, Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Subscribe!

NEWS

which any Joca be referred to outcome of national consid block local militant rbu areas, "A CUT In Ine made els first fire four on subse- members must ensure relected in 42-hour week The frustration and ander of hospital workers at the of their working conditions is shown of in hospitals this urmond street nosoital nave strike threatened action police searches Monday unless rule EETPU workers claiming £8.50 of staff. started recently atter a reach parity with series of thetts, are caned ouT The workers object to the acreee in of flagrantly behaviour 1972 has affected 100 hospitals the colice in many cine or and harrassing black workers A walk 60 cleaners out by Panic Hospital at west London their wage packets Channeen docked by 10% was supported one including ardest nosoitals. Ine workers panicked the boilermen. management and The had the action experiment conducted on mursday virtuary Cioseu lie abolisning соск n on.

NUPE

members were stopped reckonec the system to be operating theatres proved Ciosed ano necessary many patients moved to other he disoute oroke out wen reduce their numbers from s00 attempt management tried to restore it If the one remaining scab boiler man nac cone Thit hospital would have closed unions at Great

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

Summer School "The Reconstruction of the Fourth International" £1.10 July 23 to July 30, . £2.20 1978 . £5.50 £10.00 Open to WSL members and supporters For details write to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London

NW5 1HR

ENTERNASYONAL

Dartmouth Turkish language magazine published by the Workers Number 6. 20p plus 15p p&p

WSL,

Dartmouth From Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Nursery fight aims at labour movement decided to close the class After nearly six weeks and concentrate efforts on of occupation of the South the struggle Oxford nursery class, and a of and further seven weeks running a 'Nursery in Exile' Party. as a focus for the fight At a meeting last agreed was against the cuts, the Oxford continue the class, statted by Nursery Campaign has volunteer labour, would amount to doing the orderly by the Council The fight in Oxford has sharpened enormously action around also which occupations a rally cuts

WORKERS

LEA

& Stateltient clas. uation of the paign stresses the fa hatr key not just history of to centrality action strike nurseries the social services generally" demand To me ing of the books of the socia At the highpoint of the Oxford Nursery occupation committees,

BACK AT CUTS

to beat the paycode policy.

completely "In Greenwich tne strike Dy against the introduction hospital workers nurses of a new lower grade of nursing strike decisive statt nas continued The work to rule by elec- swiftly brought resulting from tricians has Healey cuts. OT new pay otter, or • the oast: which Peter Adams,

EETPU

national officer, has called 500 de ecate conterence shop stewards on Monday. disclosed what not the ПОТ surorisinely omers if rumours about it are true The These indicate that it will be control must 10% plus incentive scheme an which is already operating reverse the cuts. and some areas WIt certainly involve a loss of jobs.

The fact that many EETPU pital workers alread on une • Stren would not benefit at all would torcer to take make it highly divisive, and by the making stavine sately With! Hay guidelines it would do nothing difficult for them to avoid of the Transitional Programme.

Party in an unspoken coalition arrangement.

organise independently TO machinery and establish a socialist planned economy.

Only in this way standards, mass unemployment, oppression. For more details on the WSL and its work, fill in the form below.

Name Address Trade Union/Occupation SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 June, 1978 profiteering and waste involved in a state system serviced and companies musked by within the banks, and the that wil the Labour in the labour rammed nore campaign movendent cues ult week I1 that simply to

NAPO:

job which should be done and financed against the cuts Sellout been certainly by the the nursery, provided a national on pay focus tor discussion on the tight against Ine three weeks must be Action central issued the press announcing the closure fought and Tontine victory in cuts meetings of Branch token suboor campaign Associ the National the absolute of Probation ation and occupatior defence 0f Officers are to be asked schools, nosoilals dill in the next week or so message, linked to ratify an agreement the open on pay reached by the union's Joint Negotiat- services to elected trade union ing Committee and exoose management. NAPO was committed to seek a 14% rise-but as yet no details of the recommen- settiement aed released. seems certain that the deal will not exceed the Lib-Lab government's 10% pay limit However steps are to be abolish taken to the single salary scale-which in the has compelled NAPO Das members seeking improved to senior grades. of change policy bitterly opposed by rodulnes. was • to take actior elements in the right determination

NAPO

NEC and by chair- blow against man Maurice Brogden, but Ine rundown or Hospildl selvice.

carried at the union's recent the Callaghan- Annual General Meeting. So too were a series of These latest struggles indic- ate unmistakeably that it is im.

condemning the motions possible to defeat one aspect o' bureaucratic dictatorship by the attacks of the Lib-Lab gov.

Brogden NEC and and the ernment in isolation from the door to wider opening the discussion of trade union struggle against wage and political issues continue hand ir These moves by NAPO hand with the tight to stop an control members lO over their leaders must be followed by con- une Tunis th leaders histo a leadership struction leaders must prepared to struggle against U0. ane wniel control the pressure of their members is wart and more of pay and more improvement conditions. 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 internation ally and for the reconstruction of the Trotskyist Fourth International on the basis The WSL fights at every step against the existing leaders of the trade unions and the Labour Party-now firmly harnessed to the bourgeois politicians of the Liberal 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 repressive state destroy overthrow capitalism, its can workers resolve today's problems of tumbling living slashed social services, racial, national and sexual Send to: WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

Garners conference unites left and SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 June, 1978

INDUSTRIAL NEWS-

There be must constant struggle against the 'left' and right divis- ion of labour within the

TGWU

bureaucracy if the 21-week Garners strike for recognition is to be successful. That was the unmistake. able lesson from the 220 strong delegate conference the strike held last on Thursday ransport House. The conference itself Reconvened as a decision provided of the initial conference on an almost classic line-up of political tenden- April 13, where a succession of 'left'

TGWU

officials, workers' cies active in ine movement with the prominently Eric

MOST

Rechnits the Regional Stalinists of the Communist OI Party Committee Brian and •rommell anel usual role of shielding the Nicholson

TONI

Executive Council, right wing. 1120 themselves pledged to Conscious force fight to the finish, the meeting brought scenes of The conference also saw anti-bureaucratic feeling the growing emergence OI a Lilal or kowl force within the conscious to the TGWU leaders' shrine strike leadership fighting to in Smith Square. turn to the mobilsation the working class and not to Absent allow the bureaucrats for to get off the one minute With Rechnitz and hook by left phrases or Nicholson both eloquently which will promises not be carried out. to settle matters with all of statement from the June committee during chairman months have ensuing presented to the conference expected strikers Tne contained many important exist on a diet of rhetoric.

arising from the that category, experience of the strike and those who did turn up were the discussions of the com- left in doubt that the mittee but avoided centring far from finished

TGWU

SanKe Is leadership's despite their efforts. sabotage and put forward Garners pickets: Shorter argues one or two better than many T.U. fishall

YOUR MAN AT THE 1OP

right the committee strike policies only in a watered down form led funds, the the document called Regional on Committee to institute voluntary levy members in Region 1* Some big factories in Region like Fords and Vauxhalls had • already been but approached, similar should made in De branches, workplaces and other unions. The : report ended lamely call for day of action though only with a poster parade Those who were selected' 'randomly from the speakers slips in the first part of the meeting were of two types. Irrelevance Firstly the were There ultra-lefts including at least

WRP

two supporters, who called variously for general strike action to bring down the government, a national delegate conference to deal with all attacks on demo. and other demands of mindbogling Secondly there were some speakers who called in for the strike various ways to be stepped up. Thus Chris Wright of Westminster Trades Council wanted to build up the mass picket to 20,000 to block the West End. Richard Davis, also from that Trades Council and active on the support com- mittee, , spoke of the need to extend blacking. Previous strikes Frank Dowling of ASTMS Region 15 brought the conference alive for the first time by refering previous strikes in the cater- ing industry directed against rust Houses horte and in particular to the role of the TGWU leadership.

WHY O'FISHALL, YOU LOOK

VERY WORRIED- IS IT THE

GARNERS' CONFERENCE?

.00

... EACH ONE OF THEM MADE

DEMANDS ON US...

BLACKING

LEN

NOW!

Dromey Durkin This firm had been anyway pickets of one or blacked by his union better than with two could be difficulty. the of larger turn-outs! greatest discovered and then they This statement justifiably that the TGWU rest home at enraged many people in the Eastbourne was serviced by audience, of whom had been arrested in a l HF subsidiary! Dowling the fight doubted he back against said, the will of the TGWU management and police leaders to win this strike.

harrassment. As if to confirm this, the When Shorter went on to that he newly appointed Regiona sa v intended

TO T

Secretary of the

TGWU,

meet the pulice about the Les Shorter, then arrived to limit the aureenen LO to six' speak. there were pIcKel His speech which drew shouts from all sides that an angry response from the no agreement had been oi majority of delegates, should be made along these provided the turning point unes. of the conference. By this time when 'Judas' was of the 'Left' credentials milder being elders at Shorter, and Shorter began by trying full-time official with George Abrahams calling for to establish his 'left' creden- tials with a favourable refer- the meeting to be closed strike ence to the Morning Star.

committee chairman He went on to say that Habib Rahman was forced he didn't intend to criticise to Intervene in the meeting • defend Shorter and to the trade union leaders, but instead criticised say that he wanted to hear what the leaders would do members, whom he said he to help them. had been trying to get to picket with limited success.

Entirely consistent In his fellow Shorter. along with • his Regional officials has studiously Rahman's intervention, avoided any appeal to the though no doubt a surprise union's 500,000 London many who have membership. acclaimed him for his The scant TGWU dele- 'rousing' speeches at various gations conferences, gatherings over the last five picket lines and demonstra- months, was in fact entirely tions show that beyond any consistent with his role doubt. within the strike leadership.

if to justify his Together with other AS and. 'lefts' around the strike, he open defiance of the strike com- has continually covered up mittee's policies, he went on for the right wing though to say that it would be best public for the to avoid confrontations, and strike's militant face.

RIGHT! SOME BRIGHT SPARK IS

BOUND TO RAISE OUR RECORD OF

TRADE UNION RECOGNITION

DISPUTES

IF ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO BRING

THESE UP, WELL BE LEFT NAKED!

THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WHO

WILL DEFEND US!..

Page 11 On this occasion he was drawn out into the open for the first time though and diverting the success li growing hostility away from Shorter it was done only at the expense of showing his real position in relation to the right wing Manuel Blanco, another member of the strike com- mittee, spoke after Shorter and drew the warmest applause of the evening. In a strong contribution he sharply distanced him- self from t ahmet, at ine saying did not TGWU leaders doing were enough, and emphasised the strike committee policies of extended mass picketing blacking and a union organ- ised regional levy. He called for the day of action 22 July to be accompanied by mass picketing and strike action throughout the

IGWU

Region 1 hotel and catering membership Chairman Alviro Miranda would these proposals to be voted on in the conference Tom Durkin of the Brent Trades Council performed his usual role of trying to pull the conference dway from this by windy rhetoric his best In Grunwick tradition, he congratulated the strikers, called on them to be 'bold', and asked for money' and "bigger pickets' to win the strike.

Everyone .could agree with promises uke tnese which have been made and every day of this oroken 21 week strike. Durkin's colleague Jack Dromey also confined him- self to moral exhortations and to telling us that we can't write off the leaders of the trade ment', and then putting , forward nothing whateve to win the strike Dromey was in complete harmony Shorter in with ignoring the strike commit- tee's calls for mass picketing and the levy, taking away all the fire on the leaders ol the union and instead calling simply for effort from the strikers and their supporters Confirming the danger of Dromey's line, ASTMS dele.

gate Colin Kenny got up in dying minutes of the The conference to ask Shorter if he would fight the Regional Committee for levy. Appropriately, Shorter refused to commit himself even to argue in favour of it.

FOR EXAMPLE... 3 TRUST HOUSE FORTÉ

HOTELS, DESOUTTERS, CLARIDGES- AND

GRUNWICKS, OF COURSE...

HI, O'FISHALL! fIl

AH, JACK!

RIGHT ON TIME

AS USUAL!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

ZANU

refutes 'murder' smear The Zimbabwe African National Union, the organisation led by Robert Mugabe, and the organisation main continuing the guerrilla against lan Smith war his black stooges, and a statement has issued in relation to the massacre of the twelve British missionaries at Vumba, near Rhodesia's Mozambique border. They make it clear that they had nothing to do with the massacre and accuse the Selous Scouts

MOLOTOUS

of Smith's section Rhodesian army. They say this was done to divert attention from the Mozambique raid into by the Rhodesian last army which 17 black week 2 Belgians refugees and While both the Euro- for the UN Food working Commission for pean Organisa- Agriculture Human Rights and tion were killed. Amnesty International The statement went on that on an average to say have tound proved the civilians being allegations of were torture of every day killed the • by detainees in Northern Rhodesian army and in one Ireland, Labour Minister incident in Chanamora over Roy Mason has refused 100 were killed.

ZANU

say they have to shift from policies of maintained excellent work- barbaric repression to with the ing relations imperialist prop up missionaries. that interests. Considering every capitalist paper has not just Mason's contemptible

ZANU

but "self inflicted retort about presented the case as though injuries" mirrors the South it was admitted, it is no African of claim Donce wonder that the

ZANU

"suicide" by black detainees statement has gone unrepor- from the top of police ted. buildings. The murders hared and the that they been way Acquiescence reported capitalist press are quite clearly part Mason has had the full of an attempt to force the Labour acquiescence "internal so-called settle- Party the the Rhodesian ment Southern Ireland blacks and to isolate the bourgeoisie in organising the auerella movement. massive police state repres- Ulster: sion in totalitarian surveillance of all Catholic

FUND

homes: of suspects by plain-clothed at Castlereagh Interrogators

RUC

barracks; the physical Another good week for attacks legal Provisional Sinn Fein; and the Special Fund with collusion the closest £100.11 arriving including between roving bands of Winsford £10; Oxtord plain clothes SAS murderers £33.11; Liverpool £15; the Loyalist and para- Sheffield £15; Central military squads. London £5.00. 'The labour government Our total now stands at is responsible for the anti- £1729.51 and with a little class so-called of Terrorism" over a month to go to the 'Prevention Act, and for the repeal of end of the fund we must prisoner of war status from chance stand a good of detainees. going well over the top. But all these measures By how much we do so have not and will not break depends on you. the will of the anti-imperial- the All donations to ist movement. Fund should be sent to: On 27 this at 4 am, 50 individuals from April WSL Special Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill the Catholic by 300 London NW5 1HR were arrested heavily armed men Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Published by Printed by Anvil Printers (TU), London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office Labourites supervise Irish backed by a large force of British troops However, only three days later a demonstra of 10,000 tion marched through Andersonstown. "H' Block Long of Kesh concentration camp 330 republican and socialist demanding prisoners are political recognition by refusing wear prison uniforms which their "criminal" status

DISCIL

demands. being held her naked except for a blanket ("on the blanket") without heating, letters, visits reading matter; while their • women comrades at Armagh are held in solitary confine- ment for pressing the same demand. 80% of these prisoners held being the strength of statement without further evidence. extracted by torture, and sentenced wintent de course to a jury one Reality hidden Predictably, the servile bourgeois prevents any real reportage of such issues so that the capitalist repres- reality of sion is hidden from the working class who will face the same methods in the escalating struggle.

As Trotsky wrote in the Transitional Programme: "Democratic transitional demands and the problem of the socialist divided revolution are not separate into historical epochs in this struggle, but stem directly from another".

NOW!

torture-official! In Permanent Revolution he writes: "With regard to countries with a belated bourgeois development especially the and semi-colonial the theory of countries, revolution the permanent signifies that the complete and solution of genuine of and national democracy emancipation is conceivable only through the dictator- ship of the proletariat as the of leader the subjugated all of above its peasant masses" The Workers Socialist League recognises its clear revolutionary obligations to the national support struggle against while fighting imperialism, within it for the leading role ot the working class around a socialist pro- Leaflets burnt but ANL sticks to pacifist line As news emerged of yet another murder of a Bengali East white youth by London and the burning of the Anti Nazi League's London headquarters by National Front supporters, the bankruptcy of the ANL's pacifist campaign of pure propaganda has been • once more exposed. ANL leaders and sponsors- who range trom the seit-stylec of the Socialist Workers Party, througt actresses, nichone politicians and football to Labour and ‹ letts Wallas Bus now toe committeE concentrated "fighting" the NF leaflets, thugs through posters ana badges But the fascists have refused to be bound by such restrictions destroyed in the fire on Friday which did an estimated £20,00 Labour movement meetings been attacked-the have Party being Labour lalbol meeting in Ashton-under-Lyme, broken up NF thugs by ruddy In many other areas physica attacks by racists and fascists or black have Workers stepped up. Defence squads Yot the ANL, tailing its most

DOUT BOT

SU TOILETS

refuses to put out a call for the building defence an end to fascist squads to put violence. The only policy can defeat the latest NF attacks is a call to every workplace, factory, working case estate and immi community unite in Torming detence squads trainer to combat the fascists. any other would for fight organisatiol such a policy then the Worker!

Socialist League would fight alongside it Indeed, if Peter Hain and the rest were even once willing to use • their TV time to put out a gramme culminating in the call for • Or BroNC capitalism overthrow this would step Cougos and South and the forward establishment of a workers The Workers Socialist republic. League appeals to all inose wno support the policy of workers Imperialist oppression of defence squads to discuss with Ireland fought musi it inside thei all organisations ane to inside of organisations. The fight must The the labour movement. begin now! Prisoners' Aid Committee has called a national rally on Workers Socialist Sunday 9 July at 2.30pm at Speakers Corner, Hyde League Park. Public meeting The WSL urges all labour bodies to movement "Trade union demo- mobilise maximum support cracy and the fight around the this march for revolutionary demands: leadership *Prisoner of war status for Republican and socialist Sunday 2 July at 7.30 prisoners as guaranteed by the Geneva Convention! Wheatsheaf Hotel *Troops out now! Delamere St. *Self determination för Winsford the Irish people!

OUT NOW!

of The first edition Red Youth, the paper of the monthly Socialist Youth League (in political sympathy with the WL). Available from Dartmouth London, NW5 1HR for 5p p&p (for indiv. pius idual copies) or £1.44 for a year's subscription. (Regular Socialist Press subscribers need only send 60p). our front-page article on TGWU ballot rigging last

WOOH

we inadvertently referred National Committee and General Executive Council po itions as 'national officers' of troops in action the Union. They are of course lay, not full time positions.