Socialist Press no. 124

FOR A WORKERS AND PEASANTS GOVERNMENT IN IRAN

IRANIAN STRIKERS

SHAKE WORLD

Black all arms to the Shah!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 124 * 8 November 1978 * 15p The Shah of Iran and his imperialist backers, reeling under the grow- ing insurrection against the tyranny, are attempting to unleash all-out the war on

HARROCO

decisive change last week converted long political crisis into an uprising was the spread of strikes by the political series OI

WOIKCIS,

aLCW massive demonstrations and the obvious sympathy for the strikers and many of the strators trom soldiers. Panic reforms such as the political release of many prisoners did not pacity but the intensified for the Shah's agitation In his broadcast oll November the dictator said that he "heard the material interests revolutionary message people" and imperialism-especially. the the Iranian of promised free elections atter Iranian major imperialist companies all-military govern- uC W (under General led by BP-but ment alSO had "restored political stability of a region Azhari) order". where the masses are strain- This amounts to a last ing to free themselves trom imperialist desperate attempt to avert and tyranny his downfall. domination. That would imply more This is why the bloody than the fall of one king.

of the "King of regime Kings" among its

COLNES

Licensed agent strongest supporters imper- Jimmy tyrannical ialist chief The and his lapdogs such and reactionary regime has Secretary the chief British Foreign been tor David Owen. licensed agent of British and Callaghan, Owen and imperialism American Minister Mulley strategically crucial Defence that that unrepentently admit region. 1953 the Shah's they collaborate the In Since Shah's murders military strength has been lass built up by the imperialists "Western order protect interests" through arms sales, military assistance and the formation Weakest link the anti-communist

CENTO

(Central Treaty over the last two But Organisation). weeks the one-time strong the It was only when man ally of world capitalism Shah's army was believed to has become its weakest link.

be strong enough to police And this change has been especially the the region, the brought about by oil-rich Gulf States, that the leading role in the uprising Wilson government staged increasingly assumed by the with- partial military working class. drawal from east of Suez.

This latest wave in the The Shah's tyranny has tidal surge against the Shah since then served its imper- began on Friday 27 October ialist masters taithruly. mis with huge demonstrations in army has fought the libera- ten towns across Iran. tion fighters the feudal of In Qom, Leus sheikdom of Oman. thousands marched with Trodden down cemanes tor tne overtow of the regime, and set public And with British, French buildings and offices blazing. and American supplied arms At the end of the day brutally trodden had down the of the eight demonstrators rights 100 and been killed and some Iranian

WOTKETS

wounded. peasants. the Shah In this way Over the next two days demonstrations defends only the further

CAPITALISM

marched in 32 towns. By 1 November, 100,000 demon- marching

WELC

through Tehran in militant protest But this pattern of events transformed was crucially the similar develop- from of recent months.

INCILLS

the first time,

HOT

organised strength of the class was a central, working determining and in tact lactor. Civil servants from the Economic Ministy Affairs and Finance went on strike on 27 October, raising a series of demands to break Iran's economic dependence on imperialism. was only a This group small section of the growing strike movement, which has Free Noel and Marie Murray!

CENTRE PAGES

Spread the strikes . Back page Reply to IMG ... ....Page 8 One of the huge demonstrations through Tehran in recent weeks also closed down the state- There has been sporadic owned bank Melli, the state and localised action in the airline and the major ol-llelas lor many monts but this has crystallised into the National complex Company, Petrochemical a general strike over the last three weeks.

WALL SI

telecommunicauons of this The first phase workers the latest to bring action ended fortnight their industry to a halt.

the workers' But these major ago, demands have all been wage actions WelC awarica in importance oy Continued on page 2 the strike of oil workers.

IRANIAN STRIKERS from p.1 Page 2

-INTERNATIONAL-

Giscard faces strike wave And there is even talk of An injunction was served The French ruling on the picket and the judge the Navy being brought in class is now trying to limited the number •of ship scab supplies to contain the struggles of workers on the picket to ten Corsica which has been par- the French workers. any one time and the hit by •the ticularly entrance factory dispute. Tne Last week saw the army must be kept clear at al being used all over Paris to times to allow the scabs to Post Office scab walk in and out freely. The over strike. strike Police have been The strikes over manning manning and also evers levels and wages at the PTT active in moves to break the victimisation militant two week-old national strike (Post Office) workers. Ugine-Kulmann by seamen. the time being but prospects in Pierre-Benite, shop The seamen are demand- steward has been accused by ing wage increases, much present. of stealing oved manning levels, and an Strikes and demonstra- management tions are also being planned end to the use of non-union chemicals proaucea Dy tne workers with firm. This was a deliberate toreign labour. by education the support of students and attack by management Police have been used to break lines militant picket parents associations. background manager was saying that he Marseilles in order to allow Against this ships to be unload- of militancy from the work- udly ing class the CGT is prepar- get rid of. conceded the govern- DV Although Carter's Consistently outpaced by ment. post was heavily defended, struggles, the recent the But only a few days later troops made no attempt to National Front leadership the strike resumed. this time British intervene the for denied a platiorm. on an openly political basis.

embassy was set on fire. its political positions by the The development of the ine workers de demarume 10lg an end to martial law and struggles in Iran has made it September. the release of all pollical absolutely clear that the Far from looking to such prisoners. have been for guidance, opportunists Troops have been sent in engaged in some reactionary workers have instead fields, but to work the oil 'religious' movement. the increasingly taken production has already been leaders organisation of the struggles The religious reduced to under one-third within the country became of normal, before the strike The Communist Party of their spread to other oil fields 'followers' weeks ago, when Iran-the Tudeh Party-has beyond the and retinenies not of course been involved they attempted calm starting point of Khuzestan down the earlier violence of province. the opposition Against this background, 'Broad-based' Ayatollah Now the mass movement swept retains his Khomeini forward Sunday The emphasis of prestige, by of the virtue Ilall November virtual

JILLU

the Stalinists has been on consistently anti-govern- of insurrection, ment propaganda he has the centred on Tehran. based' all-class alliance to broadcast from exile. of leadership replace the Shah's dictator- Burned down A vacuum ship peacefully with demo- Islamic emerged which the of leaders hoped to fill. cratic' government. Thousands youth stormed the centre of the Their ambitions met very Ducn a lonorn alempl al little serious challenge from counter-revolutionary city, attacking and occupy- buildings, either the bourgeois oppos- strategy has directly served ing government of the Stalinist ition or from the Stalinists.

the and burning down major needs The bourgeois National leadership in the neighbour- symbols of imperialist ing Soviet Union. domination of Iran. Front is the remnant of the the of Only last Friday, Pravda Alongside blazing party prime minister hotels and banks, the British Mossadegh, whose govern- came out with an attack on the opponents of the Shah • and US was overthrown by em bassics major target for the revol- the CIA-organised coup and declared that Khomeini could of which brought the Shah to expect support utionary 11v power in 1953. from the Soviet Union. Alasses

END

END

ARTIAL!

MARTIAL LAW

4. IRA! MART

IN IRAN!

IN British Chieftain tanks are now the main prop of this bloody dictator.

ing its annual congress and the leadership is under a lot of pressure from the militants more democracy and also explan- ations of tactics used during workers struggles They also want to know of the three million members has still not been reached. On top of this the Com- munist Party-dominated Kremlin (and also Peking) the threat of a revolutionary overthrow COll the • Shah terrifying prospect-one which they are, for their different pur- as eager to avoid as US imperialists and the British Labour leaders. The oppressed masses of have in the last few Iran weeks shown their courage, confidence, growing consciousness of their own needs, and rejection opportunist would-be "leaders But this vast, largely struggle has spontaneous not yet built the tions and leadership which are necessary avert its the defeat long run. 1n Workers have in some occupied already Cases factories during their strikes and set up forms of factory committees. will need to be These and linked extended • into Soviets of workers students peasants, and soldier representatives. Workers militia As the state forces con- tinue to gun down unarmed demonstrators and use mil- itary force against strikers, one of the foremost tasks of such bodies must be to organise armed workers and peasants' militia, drawn from the factories and o1l installations, from working class communities, from the land, and workers on lne from the universities. Only when the rank and fle of the army sees that the class is ser- the organising

TOSS

struggle for power will the necessary desertions mass and mutinies take place, and create the conditions to topple the hated dictator- ship once and for all. Independent As the power of the Shah collapses the oppressed classes must substitute their organs • of power to

OWIL

advance their independent interests. At the same time as these organs of revolutionary CGT is losing members to other FO umulls and CFDT Under • these attacks the CGT leadership has refused nominations for the Executive of eight known militants. The prospects for France look very bleak indeed with inflation going up again and budget deficit spending of 30 billion francs -it could be as high as power are being built it is necessary for the mass movement to , bring to the forefront basic democratic demands. The self-appointed "democratic" leaders will, of cout theset not heșitate to sell out demands if they see a way to compro mise themselves into a share of power. Constituent assembly The most important of these demands are for free elections on universal suffrage to constituent assembly, the release of all political ending of martial law and self-determination the national minorities such as Kurds-who the demonstra- already in tions of the past month shown their strong desire for national rights. But • issue at stake now in Iran is state power. be

THO

that issue to resolved in the interests of of the masses capitalism and its bloody building agents, the revolutionary party is neces- sary to lead the Iranian path of the lasses permanent revolution now the pressing it 15 duty of the workers move- ment throughout the world possible to give every material and political assis- tance to the Iranian masses in defending the gains they make. Black supplies Britain in particular In this means stepping up the campaign to throw out the government leaders who back the Shah's up crumbling authority. It also means mounting an urgent campaign to black needed by the Shah. The TGWU and other unions in transport and the docks must organise the blacking identification and of cargoes, especially arms and cargoes, bound for Iran. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8 November 1978 French troops scab on dustmen's strike billion. working class will under increasingly come bitter attack

ITON

the employers trying to lower working class living Sides m an alter l solve the crisis. The first section to come under attack has been the Civil Servants who have • generou 1.5% increase by the govern- ment! Baghdad dead-end The complete inability of the bourgeois and feudal Arab leaders to offer any way forward in the struggles of the Palestinian and Arab masses was clearly demon- strated this weekend at the summit Baghdad on the Camp David sell-out agree- ment-attended every Arab state except Egypt. If the mildness of the fina communique was insufficient proof of this impotence, Egyp- President Tar instant refusal meet •a delegatior from the should have contrmed "Arab unity' are no way to fight Sadat's grovelling US Zionist imperialism and the State …The • so caler nare line of Iraq I and Syria hid leaders of behind the feudal leaders Jordai •aud and the summit, throughout that even the token Arab _cesturi movine League headquarters from Cairo was not carried out. Te enor wores ana cas talk "action fund concealed any secret agreement such as povcolts or omer actiol against Egypt, we can be certain that it will not be anything that would involve a break with the Im deraist dowers indl bro us the Zionist regime Jail for defence leader We have received news that Marie McMahon, of the leading supporter Murrays Defence Commit- tee in the Irish Republic has lost her appeal against a in connection conviction with her defence activities Murrays while the were under sentence of death. She will now have to serve a seven-day sentence received al We LIE Marie has been sudecred ti endless harassment for her efforts defence of Noel in are ano orners. She has only recently been acquitted after hert for boy •etenco or oroscures sio ecre to police harassment.

Stalinists save Italy's The Chilean junta has confirmed the growing strength of working class opposition to it by taking ban emergency moves trade unions. In the last week of October, federations- six trade construction, textiles, engineer- ing, mineworkers two peasants' unions--were outlawed tor seino too lett wind. Demonstrations against this numerous move resulted arrests This new crackdown comes growing strikes after workers autolis over the last tew weeks Since August the mining area of-Chuquicamata, for example, SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8 November 1978

INTERNATIONAL

Tories When is a government 'crisis' not a crisis? In Italy when it results from parliamentary shadow-boxing in the coalition between Chris- Democrats and tian Party Communist chiefs. Andreotti's Christian Democratic cabinet last in Parlia- week got a vote ment for its wace-culls seriously policies, threatened by the strike of hospital workers in the 'independent' unions. The Communist Party voted for to Illal

... AND THE REST OF THE

postponemen of negotiations to the

HOSPITALS, BERLINGUER!!

of the year-a proposal that While Zimbabwean refugees guerrillas and were once again suffer- ing attack from an Smith's (largely British) air force, David Owen in Parliament last week was reassuring the Tories that British arms would not be used in their defence. carefully Despite the illusions Curavated Dele sown Owen by ano the sent tan Zambia arms beins sent are not primarily for Zambian defence against Rhodesia.

It clear that now Callaghan and Owen-even before the Rhodesian raids- agreed to a major re-supply of arms to Zambia. raids simply provided them with a useful pretext for announcing the deal, which is aimed on the hand at strengthening even Kaunda's Chile junta outlaws unions which have has been the scene of much unrest. even against the take "unions set up by the regime itself and Workers have boycotted the led by its scab supporters canteen and nela wilegai mass The the meetings aesoeration dictatorship over how And they have booed and military to stamp out growing eeree men leaders tor inaction shown Workers' wives responded to Writ appeal from the panic resorted after the new ban was imposed.

their husbands back They four gave days notice staging normal working demonstration" of national "union" elections.

No-one who had ever before conscious ironic imitation of the been union official anti- over UniTy cemonstra. Wak tions of six years ago. permite• to stand The regime seems unable to And the votes-500,000 of find them regime claims- way such events apart from increased its of all own agents. Other organisations. reports suggest. that nas ween aooled not the votino was verv low ane una only against the relatively more workers treated independent organisations elections with the derision they tottering CP leader Berlinguer breaking through and round the bureaucrats' .control of the three main trade union even the small Republican federations. Party refused to support as parliamentary being 'too evasive'. 'debate' unfolded last week 30,000 workers from Reliance Calabria in the deep south, of Rome The cynical reliance acmolstialcu the ruling class on the against unemployment. "reluctant" And militant struggle in expressed the hospitals many support was and head of the other sectors is now led by the national 'autonomous', often locally Democratic council, Flaminio Piccoli, at based trade union organisa- have broken the climax of the parliamen- tions which tary crisis: "I am pessimistic from bureaucratised . Tne official unions. confident" he said. but "The Communists are not But the greatest problem break facing the Italian working (LO wiltal of been built up with so much class remains that trouble.' destroying the political grip What break this Socialist can Stalinist and Communist Party-Tory con- Party chiefs, now being used against workers and spiracy to bludgeon anv section oi their living standards are the into workers mass struggles, struggle.

NO W

ARMS AID TO

PROP UP KAUNDA

dependence on imperialism; right This has meant adopting and on the other at bolster- Kapwepwe's plans of much ing his image inside Zambia international states- closer economic co-opera- tion with South Africa and man, defender of his people.

Kaunda little Rhodesia, through the rail has intention of using these link between the countries After having just publicly arms against Smith as he did of using all his other heavy re-opened border with nIs Rhodesia in order to obtain anoenaust wedoonry has now become obsolete. immediate supplies of fertiliser from South Africa.

the massive Tace OT unemployment, food short- Kaunda hardly in any ages and soaring inflation, position to run the rsk oi Rhodesia cutting off those opposition amongst workers and peasants and sections of supplies. But while Kaunda's petty-bourgeoisie collaboration Kaunda's makes rule has been Zambia difficult for him mounting inside elemen Zambians and itself to defend In the absence of Zimbabweans against Smith, progressive alternative, he has shown no reluctance much of this opposition has using his imperialist rallied around Sim on It 40 Kapwepwe, Vice opposition inside Zam bia.

one-time President and now right As Socialist Press has wing opponent of Kaunda reported, series of 'anti- An aspect of Kaunda's raids' has crime beel to this internal Zambian launched Dy lne opposition has been police and army to terrorise move more and more to the workers-migrant workers in particular-and the for the pretext Kaunda's opponents In these raids and others against internal opposition, Kaunda's police and army have not lacked for weapons deserve. from the imperialist All this goes to illustrate that colmimes after Kaunda is now fully TIVe years oruta set tyranny the Pinochet regime has on a course of frantic zig- less of a social base than ever.

zags to retain his hold on life policies have made power-all the while periods ano materially nare to becoming increasingly theng orke to make class-but without being safe dependant imperialist capital, 'aid' particulal petty He rushes from meetings benetitting Ine which had bourgeoisie with the World Bank and clamoured for the military IMF (where he has agreed seize September dower betore of the on ways making 1973 Zambian masses pay for his Last week ironically one of crisis-stricken economy) the groups which stopped work in protest against the economic public rallies where he of the junta postures as the liberator of lorry owners whose the people olave such a crucia role in the He rushes from meetings lead-up to the military with inperialists throw of Allende. Page Vietnam captiveto Moscow policies Vietnamese Chinese and clashed the troops the two border countries last week, leaving several dead. incident-contimes oi statements from both sides each accusing the most serious doc ressIon-s since thE •ino-vietnames: conflict came into the open last Accordino The nano government Chinese troops, part of several thousand deployed The trontier in caolane orovince occupied a pass and surrounded a Vietnamese patrol. shooting resultne several Vietnamese were killed and injured The frictions on the frontier reflect the fact that the Stalinis government in Vietnam, what its i wishes • has found itself ever rival political up in the and military oolicies Soviet Union and China In South-east Asia. With cutting Chinese aid (worth an estimated $10 billion) earlier this vear. anc the continuing frontier war with Cambodia (politically and milit- China) subsortee Vietnam has found itself forced deaper economic and military-and therefore political Soviet Union. and Comecon The ceremonious arrival ir of Hanoi's Moscow las Woes

TWO

TOr uan general secretary of the Com- Party munist and prime Pham Var Dong- ministe merely confirms this depen. dency. Vietnam's it is above all economic vulnerability that has put paid rhetoric of balone weependence which the liberation war was fought political tribute The ramanced return for economic aid is not pacifist simply but directly ties Hano ourases 'understandings' with the reactionary dictatorships South-east Asia the underlines impossibility of the Indochinese revolution's developing on the countries'. connive a betrayal of the Zimbabwean Harasses press conferences at which he hollowly threatens to call for Cuban aid. The labour movement must couple tnel sondanty with the Zambian and Zimbabwean masses in the face of Smith's attacks with for the Zambian their struggle against Kaunda. Kaunda

SDLP careerists pose as anti-imperialists Page 4 Behind an elaborate smokescreen of anti- imperialist rhetoric, the Democratic Social Labour Party has been holding its conference in the North of Ireland. Jockeying But the thin veneer of hostility to British imperial- ism is not enough to conceal the fact that these dyed-in- the-wool middle concerned careerists are jockeying, for cmely influential more

JUSILOS

for themselves and shield- ing themselves from the hos- $500,000,000,000! That is the number of dollars outside the. borders of the USA. That astronomic sum is a measure of the scope of American imperialism of its crisis. It US because

CAISLO

capitalists have for decades invested billions of dollars a year around the world. As well breeding profits power, this investment has also spawned a vast liquid dollar reserve in the form

WOTO

This sum has been augmented because the What is it that Margaret Thatcher acclaimed as "triumph for press free- dom" and James Callaghan sent good wishes for? "left of What is it that is and wants CeNTre' Ford workers back to work"? What that has been with lowest launced ThA manning levels and running competition 'smash Jim Callahan's 5% Dav without feeling policy guilty" It's the Daily Star; and in less than a Inat's what. week it is already threatening to find a place in the gutter all its The Star by launcher Express Newspapers compete WIth the and "Britain's itself first nais national news- 75 vears" waver lol It is designed to ensure the eventual collapse of one of the national gutter press and to set 10 99 81 0 09 StaTT. tility of the Catholic embarassment of the SDLP they claim to their Second International population represent. "comrades' in the Labour resentment of the leadership have ensured that I ne SDLP at the British Labour "repression has been almost leaders' failure provide as ruthless at any other them with comfortable jobs period in the history of this in the of power structure the was expressed Friday Struggles on by party chairman Dennis Haughey: Does this mean that the "One might have

SDLP

will support the expected that socialist struggles of those forces government could have fighting British with, or least imperialism, and mobilise modified, the traditional seriousiy to force British colonialist of the stance troops out of Ireland? British government. That Not if Haughey has his has not been the case." Class action for him supplanted Indeed much to the must be by Behind the latest dollar slide its currency at the beginning gigantic overseas costs of of October, this grew into a policing world for fever of speculation capitalism add to a vast and billion growing balance Thus the $500 consequence of US imperial- payments deficit. This -35 billion ism again threatened the year dollars ($35,000,000,000) economy which spawned it.

$500,000,- will be added to became existing overseas dollars. 000,000 not of imperialist The decline strength but of weakness.

Not surprisingly none of investment in the capitalist has Carter's economic measures made more and more of these dollars -even his proposed control of wanted. im pact wages-lau ally Their exchange for more the speculation except desirable currencies led to a to make it worse. steady two year long decline No wonder Carter and in the dollar's value. the US Federal Reserve When the Carter admins- (Central Bank) made it clear tration virtually disowned they only woula not

PRESS GANG

Son of Sun The first issue competition And so on. On the day blurb ran: the following Ford strikers 'The Star cares for people.

out the received three lines coverage.

Know Ther wverade were £78.10 a week. We know a lot This sexist anti• less-and earn know more, the capitalists' earl S11l тее. Tine weabor pinch. "We're told for Mr Healey rank akin in the tells us so) that onces are doing caoitalist class intendeo assauits workers' consciousness the and of the week when you the The : counting pennies to Citizen launched in south Atrica with state funds puny number a break *so And 'created' by launching of on nauseating style. The lucky winner will win this will massively the number of jobs OTTset ov But not the car workers. The massacred its manning only coverage of the Ford strike standards spread papers, and its philosophy "Housewife Sue Charlton hit applied sectors out striking industry You're crazy. Launch the dar conc Use your common sense."" by the Communist Party to be And a little lower down: aimed at confusing workers who Now Si-year Do cue wad want to buy the morning star!

organised anti-strike wives is in itself an eloquent demon.

the company's outside stration of the need for worker: meeting want InE ores. 'nag-em work' interests of the working class.

campaign" SDLP MP Fitt "pressure" "The activities this party the immediate In future must be directed to the British into changing. In doing so, it will bring the necessary falling the dollar with other currencies but because could do not they do not hold the foreign currency Carter's neglect of the dollar's slide was, therefore, a aramatic symptom of the economic weakness of US capitalism But the neglect was probably exaggerated as tactic with which pressurise the financially stronger capitalist countries (especially Japan, West and Switzerland) Germanv to come to the dollar's aid.

This in the end they did, last The week. filassive inflow of dollar reserves to these countries threatened, through expanding the supply, to provoke new inflation in their own cconomies But it took an agreement with these to countries mobilise $30,000,000-worth of the surplus deutschmarks and francs) to buy dollars before the slide could be reversed.

But for how long? This massive and unprecedented sum is still a mere 6% of the dollars in the world which SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8 November 1978

IRELAND

TROOPS OUT

NOW!

British government more All emergency resolution and more before the bar of tabled at the conference international opinion endorses the SDLP's stated expose the blatant colonial- position that the republican ism of its policies and to prisoners' two-year struggle enlist the aid of anti-colon- prisoner of war status at ial opinion throughout the 'H' Block in the Long Kesh recognised international concentration camp has channels." caused the infringement of Whatever the "recognised their basic human rights.

international channels" And it goes on to call fo might be, there should he an "enquiry" into 'H no illusions that the SDLP Block. has moved support of But at the same time the _to anti-imperialist

SDLP

calls struggles the actually taking place. republicans to call off their campaign, and demands not prisoner of war status but "emergency status" for the heroic fighters of Long Kesh who have endured indescrib- of able horror Dunsull their basic rights. Having administered this kick in the teeth to the anti- imperialist forces, the SDLP seeks to Cover ul demanding the withdrawa of the British SAS murder squads. Zimbabwe-style The nearest to troops out' demand comes from Coalisland, in a resolu- tion calling for what sounds could in principle be put on like Zimbabwe-style sale in the next speculative "political solution" maelstrom organised through a quadri- And the conference which last week's rescue composed of British and money papers over-the US Irish governments and repre deficit, the menacing imbal- sentatives Loyalist and ance of the imperialist econ- Catholic communities omies which it reilects designed delt protect most basically of all, capital- capitalist interests inability produce Wit h miserable SuCh and realise adequate surplus reformist and careerist petty no signs value non bourgeois leaders' masquer- Closing. ading as spokesmen ot the They will again tear apart oppressed Catholic minority the international the North, In the crist • 0| leadership confronting the Irish workers movement is shown up for all to see. But the British working class has an obligation play a role in the struggle for Irish liberation-through fighting through every labour movement body for the removal of the reaction.

Callaghan-Healey Labour leadership, including Irish butcher Roy Mason. Repression Completely at the service of imperialism, these clas traitors combine attacks on working class with savage repression in Ireland. Trade union branches and Labour Parties have the opportunity to express their hostility to this treachery, contingents on the Day ot contingents on the Day Solidarity with Irish Carter Prisoners of War in London truce that last week gave the on November 26. dollar a respite. The march, organised by The situation, therefore, the Prisoners Aid Commit- remains one of latent insta- Hyde Park leaves bility which threatens 2.30pm and called al time around the slogans: any to lead to *Solidarity massive intensification of - Irish witn trade war leading to slump POWs

*POW

and unemplovment status and Only socialist policies to for all amnesty Irish defend jobs and wages to political prisoners. the *Brits out of Ireland! point of expropriation of the capitalist class can Further details from and

PAC,

avert this threat all support 2a, workers. Paul's Rd., London N1.

Callaghan lashes out at trade unionism SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8 November 1978

LABOUR

PARTY

Prime Minister On two occasions in the last few weeks Callaghan has Callaghan last week challenged his supposed the chose fitting opponents fight to occasion of the debate remove him from the Labour leadership-secure in on the Queen's Speech the knowledge that to deplore the practice tiley would not do so. of trade union solidar- It is on the basis of this ity. spineless capitulation by the Further embarassing the that his government letts' demoralised crew will so- confront proceed lo called 'left' MPs public sector workers in an him all-out bid continue to uphold orovide slavish support, 5% pay limit even after it wiTh Tory leader agreed with has failed so abysmally with Thatcher that the power of Fords and other private the unions is now greater employers. than ever. Splutter He appealed-somewhat belatedly-for trade For Eric Heffer avoid this a winter of strikes and 5% ridiculously low for "some comrontanon. But he went on workers" while sitting back lament the fact that workers with folded refusing to cross picket lines Callaghan is left to rule the expression Labour Party roost is sheer • oecome an of he solidarity had not

ILY DUVIISY

known in his younger days!

But this level of oppor- Carned to extremes. he and bankruntev complained, this could matched with ease by mean that lte could seize tame cat LaDOUTS "Marxists" of the 'Militant' up! group. He lead article oI their latest Wilder voices paper proclaims straightfaced: "The Labour government Deploring any such exer- cise of working class power, must restore the cuts now Callaghan went on to moan and implement socialist that there are "a few wilder policies to provide the for dramatic voices seeking to thrust vital resources workers into the forefront" improvement of health and welfare services." in the belief that the govern- Which Labour not defeat ment? Callaghan's them. govern- these provocative ment? comments, in the midst of a staunch and unrepentant of defence the 5% Udy policy which has been over- whelmingly both TUC and Labour Party are unlikely to produce any change in the stance of the Labour 'left'.

The leaked internal mem- orandum from the Depart- of Environment on lorry weights has provided a candid and cynical admission from the state of the true of 'public' nature inquiries. Headed 'Lorry Weights: Suggested Inquiry' the memo- circulated at senior civil servant level-proposed a public inquiry achieve an increase in lorry deals! position of environmental groups. the docu- Some quotes from ment reveal how this strata of Ene state reocres ouore induiries -beloved of bourgeois liberals lefts "impartial' Heffer cher cises in democracy DaT

SUB

ON OUR

HANDS

FIRDUNSSA

Ignoring Callaghan's trade unionism-Ford workers and their wives show contempt for would-be strikebreakers.

Does the Militant editorial team live on this planet or simply read about it in Labour Weekly? Further proof There is no prospect. of this government introducing socialist policies of ant description. The Queen's Speech ange utter proof of this. for those dull enough to need it. ne actor ary pro-capitalist policies of this government, it is neces- follow sary to up Callaghan's challenge and launch a fight throughout the labour movement to from the Labour oust him leadership. Youth leaders The 'Militant' group, jealously guarding their cosy Callaghan's position licensed like youth leaders the Tribune troupe of pet lett-wing' demagogues. have a fight. In demanding of all the self-styled lefts' within the Labour Party that they take the fight up. to Callaghan, can quickly learn the real nature limitations and of these "leaders", and the necessity of constructing a principled, leadership to revolutonary lead for struggle Tne socialism. Public inquiries myth exposed come to, one hopes, a sensible conclusion idea of The getting the Departe wosst risk, if not the means OT rotine political obstacles to change thi "The worst risk, most likely, weights problem itself and is that the inquiry we wider reasons marioner Would

OTOCUCE

TItE wrong in Sir Peter Balwin's minute answer this main "On balance, context , however, given advantage that the direct Some KInd widy antal on lorry weights is not politically inquiry, held wholly or partly in public, inquiry holds would be presentational. 'The of Last 0 golly lorries. and and the cal avenue to tangible protest heavier establishment put by in the public mind of a clear and

NUCLELET

aired in public and subjected to balance overwhelming case rigorous scrutiny and question.

for heavier lorry if not cross-examination main end of the the inquir V68d, day, EnE i colto wel nave wicer ettects recommendations would "It should a focus made by impartial people the who for various road haulage have carefully Interest 081 LOCaLTY have marshall their forces and act

SITTOC

FORD WORKERS

5% IS A

THEI CAN ALLAFFORD N

HOt. Laurence sparham, is t Benn-was the Windscale inquiry also rigged? cohesively to produce a really good case merely establish the main point at issue but should do good to their now sadly tarnished public image "This would make it easies for the government prote legislation › on tomy etient an Page 5

ABC-

still in danger The fact that the actions carried out by journalists Duncan Campbell and Crispin Aubrey in meeting and discussing with former soldier john Berry common journalistic practice is defence against charges under the Official Secrets Act, accord ing to Mr Justice Mars-Jones in the ABC trial. The trial which has witnessed the spectacula collapse prosecution the "case" on four charges under Section . One of the Act. is now remaining roceedine charges under Section Two This provides fo years imprisonment receiving unauthorised official information of any sort.

Duncar pointed Lamone Leaders have talkedi of rewriting Laboul enforced literally then -was every newspaper published Britain would be in breach of it He referred to the statement in 1976 by Home Secre made tary Rees; expressing the that mere • official information should no longer be an offence And ne stressed that whilt John Berry had spoken in their conversation about the govern. ment's Signals intercenci adenev SICINT almost all of the information he • revealed was already knowr camodel from sources and elsewhere. The Judge, who the previou week followed his dismissal of "spying" charges by attack.

those organisations and individuals agitating in favour of Aubrey Berry and has shown during this week that these three men could still face jail sentences from evidence •ceal editors that t and newspaper editors delIons which • they are being charged no means unusual What is remarkable about all three tha were supporters of the oromineni campaign to prevent the depor- tatio former

CIA

doen Phillip such Acee-ane by the state "security" forces 'subversives' the labour continuing movement campaign for the dropping of these charges, the removal of Merlyn Rees and the repeal of the Official Secrets Act, trade unionists are involved ine rignt tor the most basic democratic rights, now scandal.

ously under TrON Lavour covernment

WRP TRIAL

REVEALS

BLACKLIST

We will be taking up in a later issue the implications of the

WRP

libel case against the Observer and the further evidence it presents of the deeply opportunistic practice of that leadership.

But what the case has also the nature political black listing operated against the WRP in the entertainment igoustry Irene Gorst, the actress giving evidence against the WRP told the court inat Jonn ale anti-communist theatre impresario who prevent her attending the WRF school said: in the • WRP don't work very employ them. Wan They are a lot of trouble."

he had wnc

WRP

Letter from Noel's uncle Heavily armed Irish troops keep an eye on Willie Moloney (centre) as he arrives for the Appeal hearing Willie Moloney are those of the SL. The 'security' forces always were going to be the Rosenbergs Having read your numerous have the same answer; that the of Ireland. articles on Northern excellent drawn I feel sure that without the victims , guns Ireland draw them. publicity attention and the worlawice cose or Noel Murrays support given to and Marie Murray who are both the have Confession been serving life sentences in the so- carried and I would like called Republic of Ireland.

thank all those people on behal They There is only one case where accent. well of Noel and Marie, and Noel's educated, hard-working young that old tale wasn't used: that and for tather their was when a little girl of eight coutle great humanitarian work. He worked as an engineer was on ner way to church When Dublin, met my sister or for contession. went tom bion arrival in Dublin they took me Universitv work for the Mountjoy Prison government in the most back- But of course the back room Marie, applied for shenad ward and boys can explain away anything, underprivueged part permission to visit her. of western Ireland. what's one more After being kept waiting for and anyway, murder among so many? a couple of hours i was retused Batoned There her, • yet next Novel dermission to caa tion of violence, but there was day I was allowed in to see Noel They were both very hopeful and still is a massive at the Curragh. escalation and active both sides movement only to see the Civil Justice Ministry worder. Dy the British and Rights marchers stoned by Irish governments. Paisley his People On wonder what November 21 luesday brutally the Dublin went to balance

KUC

the Ministry government were or Justice doing minority At the inquirv desk I said I doou Tre They "Bogside" - Ulster-the answer is nothing.

wanted to make enquiries about Catholic the Indeed they i brought in their aled London. getting permission to see Marie derry-four houses own Murray in Mountjoy they all terroris burned and several people killed filled their gaols with anybody about ten in a night of drunken fury.

ATTer minutes l sido to the freedom tie hers or called to phone and was The freedom fighters or spoke to some man. I told him slaughter television their dependants. how I'd been turned Bloody Sunday, when thirteen away from Mountjoy but had been allowed wowten did chilaren in a Slump to see Noel. march were shot Liv nignts He told me to hang on and down. after a few We all read of the inquest in The Dublin government had minutes ne was back the phone and said that a major problem on their hands.

and The verolat wouldn't see her. I explained to 'Murder by the British' Army. 1969 boom had turned i ne him that i was an old man We have read into a massive Inflation the and press of Britain was running wild and unemploy.

would never able a million come to ireland again pounds in compensa- ment soaring, with no prospects Since Marie was in the death. for school leavers. cell, they couldn't The country was sliding retuse my request. towards economic collapse and as the government had collapsed Never be allowed politically a long time ago they decided that w ds time to He told me to hang on again, declare a state of emergency.

and after a few minutes he was One reasons given for back on the phone and told me the declaration of that I would never be allowed to of emerdenc alalb

WAC

TOP

see her protection from murderers and bank robbers. ! replied if that was his final reply all 1 could say "Fuck How was for Cement Tine Justice, the Murrays had •overnmenu That they and the Provos'". couple. "murderers" and "bank robbers" Bishops went i ne Cathollo their death clergy of the Republic cells-Noel and Marie Murray.

aware of the type of trial thi but never a word Appeal Ivulays tad. of protest from them. They know that the Murrays I arrived Dublin from are being the denied one Coventry on Fridav October 20 most basic human rights and 1976 for the appeal against the that that be tney Should death sentence which ailowed some privacy. wds start on November 1. Noel brought from the Irish Justice Minister Cooney beside my • wanted to be Curragh Detention Centre every sister, Noel's mother, to give her of months to see Marie cou•le some in Limerick Prison where there case appeal should fail. • a big table victims of torture tion to by Diacee between I myself feared the worst as the "Security" he wander standin byat torces the Republic, Bishops know nobody •aSt decade, has been like America in someday Murrays any court to answer any charge will be the McCarthy era. free but by that time Marie may of murder or torture. I was afraid that the Murrays old to have what she De too We would like to thank Willie Moloney for his help in preparing the accompanying article for publication. Its politics, needless to say, would dearly love-a baby Bishops " ve neare tha preach of the sins of the fathers bois is she dist hime its being • TIme Its being unborn children visited on the At present, in contrast to the period before Supreme Court decision Murrays have no complaints about their personal treatment. Franco lives on Marie has recently sat for some exams for #noontant which she received every assis- tance from the Noel is fine It line • Curragh but he misses a lot of the friends made there they were mostly short-term Boltica prisoners. are only about four " here Noel left but keep open knowing they will fill i again in the future they are in the filling with meantime drug Child addicts and inmates of a local • asylum. what the Bishops think. They must be aware of it as some groups In ireland are publicly condemning it I think that all the govern- have is s should hav and churches flying with words "Franco lives on ir Ireland." Willie Moloney It is almost three years to the day since anarchists Noel and Marie Murray were arrested for the murder of Garda Reynolds following a bank robbery in Dublin. Throughout thạt time Murray valence committee na fought hard first of all for a jury trial and then following the and release of co defendant for stenson release of the Murrays Ine Until 1973 both Noel and Marie member. The Officiey left because teey feit They left because they that insufficient was being done to aid the struggle for national against repression Treedom and both sides of the border October 1975 they were assumed living in Dublin under to Noel's failure names due answer bail toI charges possession ot arms Returning home from" walk.

Catholic Church-a crucial prop to the Irish bourgeois regime and its repression SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8 November 1978 Case expos

FREE NO

MURRA

ing their dog on the morning of October 8 they were arrested- but instead ot being taken Bridewell answer the charge of jumping bail , Noel was taken Harcourt Terrace station where he was subjected intense physical harassment and torture The purpose of this was to force of him a statemen that he was guilty of bank robbery and murder of Garda Reynolds Tortured Marie was Intally taken to Coorlock police statior from there to Harcourt Terrace where she was placed in a room and forced to listen as he was being tortured Threatened with his murder unless statement sue sioned a involvement admitting robbers and murder • of Garda Reynold , Marie agreed to sign The Murrays' "trial" openec

es Southern Lynch-law

DEL AND MARIE

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8 November 1978 Noel Murray in April 19/b. Ihe case was heard at the Special Criminal There

LOUTE

only three judges lin this case 76-year old Judge by Princie wau nave responsoy Tor trying the case, convictino otherwise and then sentencing the defendant.

The Special Criminal Court established 1939 and was reactivated 1972. As Detence Ivutidy

WUFHITIILLCC

Doints outi "Since its formation its main been purpose has neouolicans alna since

IVI L

nearly …Nl kenho leans and "disappeared" by • the sequestration. it had socialists havs been sentenced time of the trial. t nis put a stop to any omner on the unchallenged evidence of Ronan Stenson, Irish papers saying anything accused police witnesses". with the Murrays was so badly about the case. (leaflet issued mid-1976) beaten at Harcourt Terrace that unile aner condemned The trial was a tarce trom cells the Murrays were treated in the most inhuman and what is STarT TInISA I urravs wanted three counsel centre Dow a minary ano moie uedai way assigned to defence but Accordina to the ''Rules for civilian doctor agreed that his (Irish Times were consistent with the i947 (section t Prisons TFTS i was reluseu (Section 81 (1) ): 1 ADri yo ne buoc dic allegations of torture. not know what transpired on "A orsoner under sentence 8th, 11tt and 12th the 7th, Collapsed of death may be visited by such trial, (Irish Times of his relations, friends and legal cavs ot „ Ine Several months later Stenson advisors as he desires to see and During the 'trial' Justice was stiil Suttering so badiy trom are autonsee o visitaim ov an intervened to help the his injuries that he collapsed in Pringle order writing from the the dock several times and his Minister roseCuTon. or a member of the One example was on the trial was postponed. vistuine committee. crucial whether Stenson's evidence was vital question The emphasised part of these tor the detence case and because someone WitO •• not Know rules was used systematically by Garda Reynolds was a police- ne was now untit to stano trial Ine aunor ties zo prevent ine could be tried his or give evidence for the Murrays man for Murrays from having contact an application for adjournment capital murder (this later proved with such friends and relations *o no the contrai noint in the was made tney desirea to see Supreme Court decision to lift When ths was rejected by the bench Noel and Marie dism issed ine ocan sentencer. Death cell Inel counsel ano reused Intervened have anything more to do with the proceedings _ror examole wen Noel S The Judge intervened while They were Willy Moloney visited found guilty uncle the Murrays he the prosecution counsel was Ireland to see terraosence ane sentenceo to death on June 9, 1976. was prevented from seing Marie summine U •Or

INS

OOIT TO

"Does it make a difference After despite the fact that she was in sentence was that the person should know he the death cell passed an frish Times reporter Willy Moloney's visit wrote wds dyvd! an article tor his paper But by stage criticising the trial and verdict.

Dublin

TAP

coincider with Ene Murrays were not even in court.

Supreme Court hearing of the Contempt The sole evidence betore the Murrays' appeal Court was the statement from This was held on November Marie Murray Both the reporter and the Cour oo riminal Apel navige 1976, their appeal at newspaper's editor maintained were prose- always Wd. •rocured uncer ouress. cuteo ana Tinea tor contemot o1 •een urne• cown on zo Jury Noel, also court. This treatment was also 1976. A statement by meted The Supreme Court hearing made under admitted out the editor duress Hibernia Review .held nomine dur instee accus moe laville -w ict wds vitol lit authorities of torture. orinted an artice anc oublishing Murrays in attendance-tounc Although this statement was correspondence condemning the them not anguilty capital trial Hibernia. murder, changed their

IOCI S

SOFTCITOT

-. Terrace Police Station nevew was also inreateneo with sentence to one ot tite iorson- Irish Premier Lynch ment The reason given tor the decision was Court have wrong convicted the Murrays of capital murder when it nao clearly not been proven during the trial that the offence was a capital one (Garda Reynolds was off vas suoto f by tone baek duty bank robbers). Supreme Court Even than more sacreeroic the fact that the Special Court evidentiy dian t care about ine lack of any argument to prove the offence capital one, wasa was the TaCi That Supreme Court ruled, Noel could have been found never •vtv or a coota crime g a (Marie is the person alleged to have shot Garda Reynolds) The fact • Supreme tac cne Court took tive weeks to comf to i e derion of tese onwa Murray efforts Berence committee In eino the case to light in the face of systematic repression the by Irish authorities. the . campaign involved the bringing of inter- national legal observers to the Court hearing. Niceties Clearly without this work it is unlikely that such care for the legal niceties would have been shown by the Court. A most two vears nave cont since the Supreme Court and Marie Murray's decision amoed dealist nel Concil Marie Murray Mr 'Justice' Pringle has yet to be heard. ago the Court .wo montas Criminal Appeal peal d aot obe that the appeal be not of the transcript of her trial had been "mislaid" by the prosecution. Loss ot ine transcript ls say the least, convenient. Fo over the period since the Supreme Court decisior there mountin• evicence that int Murrays were not guilty. Ronan Stenson, the Murrays' co-defendant was acquitted in a separate trial. Under duress outlIner CanOVe charges of torture at Harcourt Garda Station i ellabt wert suostantiateo Again the only substantial against Stenson was a demet sne Wae ne Crals he was under ouress At Stenson's lawyers claimed that had been neid megaliy-a claim ina had been rejected Judge Pringle. time was „ tne claim upheld! Even the prosecution awver. Te: t ine porce obtained a should have legal asked the bench warrant, and tor arrecuon t seems dovious that the lse of this legal technicality seen by the : state as preferable which Stenson's Iridi well corronorated chalme torture would have become the centre of the case oince joined the Murray Defence Committee and is campaigning Tor inen release A further interesting feature furth mane leede i mined missing with the Murrays and Stenson in the bank robbery Conjecture t nascen conlecturec tha thông anthe police suspected of being "fourth man" had •een n ponce custooy To keep within the law on the authorised period for which Cal Uttal! suspect without charges being laid, the planned to him police rearrest ouTsOt Ine

DONIC

STaLO immediately after his initial "release", , and placed two garda at the toot of the steps to carry this out. Sitting in a car close by was the man's mother, tamily docto and a tamous Irish counsel.

When he was thrown down the steps, and before the garda could rearrest was nim, Page - seized by . nis moiner, doctol and counsel i ne doctor certitiea ne wa: badly and in need medical treatmen1 when taken to'a brominen' Dublin hospital he was found to five suffering from broken rios ane various omner insuries His case against the govern.

fo ment these injuries •een enc neor a one lime are several other similar cases What are the Irish authorities ' Can scardd oT. we sertously expected that the DeLTAvA Murrays' trial papers have been will Marie Murra v nen i Com aleati mino ty tall allegations made the world to judge? Will Stenson allowed to ove ev ence appeal. Why are they scared of a jury trial? reported doove news papers the Irish Times such as (hardly a anarchist bawe velt rr asse vner tre orinteo criticism ot the trial!

And throughout the campaign to release the Murrays Defence committet • na. been subjected to harassment from the state forces rooms were denied Meeting them, demonstrations were broken up, leaflets were taken trom them The harassment was so great the Defence Committee reports, that at some points people were to even accept friontened leaflets from them so closely watched they by the varad seen from the can be Murray case, and many others, repression is meted out in the frisH state . adains anose dare to resist imperialism north and south Lynch has shown that he is the equal or Callagnan in nis usè of special torture courTs. and rigged trials reflect dinese aevelopments the increasingly difficult position of Irish capitalism cauent in a mountine crisis to which Lynch has no answers Lynch and his gang have masters aveline WorIC what cheap Te inO

CATAS

labour is available in Ireland and offering build and Tactores To Toren cabial te move into. For example the trish government built and equipped factory -erenka Annacoty. Ferenka were given a grant of £6 million. . They puller million was out woen the to exhausted in completely paying the wages of the workers In Waterford, where several concerns smaller such nature established, they have acted in the same way watertore nas n oow ałion of only 30,000 people but two march of 20,000 ago people was held to protest Ine creatment ane neoect ine have received from the govern.

ment. Borrowed money The military were moved in to prevent the march crossing Ine onede waieh. sianos in ine town centre Lynch is living or • money borrowed from the IMF His only assets are the prospect pools of cheap unemployed tabuul Torelar capita sre ane anc the encouragement of emmigra tion (10,000 to Britain came lasl yedi. In this situation and with the continuing struggle in the North Lynch needs to steo uo reores sion. As we outlined oui recently published perspective for Ireland an important part of the for the Irist programme •evolU s oDoos lion l l] democratic attacks rights C Or being carried out the Republic Those like the Murravs whe stand up to such repression and fight-in however way-to replace a brutal capital WitT SOCIa IST system deserve our support against Irish state terror. While • have major the political ditterences with anarchists it is our revolution.

ary duty to tight alonaside then ane detend them against thi class enemy Those who have taken. up the deence ot tne murrays if England should consider ways they can bring further publicity to ine camoalen. Socialist Press is proud to have helped in a small way tocus some attention on the case.

IMG 'UNITY' PLOY IS

AN INSULT TO THE

here a reply by the Workers We are printing Socialist League to a letter circulated by the youth organiser of the International Marxist Group to various left wing groups (including the WL), youth groups and youth papers.

The letter, which is also reprinted here, invites its recipients to participate with the IMG in the building of a "unified revolutionary youth move- ment." Our reply spells out why we oppose such a project. You Dear Comrade, vouth at every turn. We note your letter of appear to have chosen this

SYL

has October road,

WACI

was addressed to Rebel,

SWP,

correctly view, in our decided not to follow.

ICL,

Big Flame,

ISA.

League Workers Socialist Hide and seek the Socialist Youth and subsequently League and The question facing published Socialist workers is that young 01 Challenge. leadership While the Socialist Youth Yet you play hide and seek League, autonomous as all with them on this question.

youth movement in political Revolution declares:

WSL

sympathy "We aren't tied any drafting its own reply to the political party. We think we made in your letter, teach many of these can the

WSL

strongly 'parties'

LW.U

of their about how they should fight with national committee to leecu for real freedom.' participation the paper But read your letter in Socialist Challenge Revolution to tind: Ready to fight "Revolution „paper launched by the IMG. Whilst agreeing with you What are youth to make that recent of shown the readiness ol ins! Kevomion reluse. to say where it comes from!

broad sections of youth to Are the members of the fight and fascism, Lacioli IMG who wrote it "not tied that now are Hally i to any political party"? turning 1c volutional d WSL reaffirms The first question paper", politics, the lest anyone should which the youth must be confused after reading it.

its position that only with a demand answer is that revolutionary The Trotsky to the this of the serious programme wall avoiedace France the potential be developed centrists questions facing youth "Your political pass- proposal Your to 1930s- the statement summed up in group together various self- gentlemen! please "the Labour Party and the styled "Trotskyist' and And not false ones, if you Tories are the same" please-real ones!" centrist organisations on the

IMG

really Does the basis of agreeing to disagree.

think this? Then why does Disguise Even should some youth it call for Labour votes in be attracted to the wretched elections? Why not vote standing Rather than of

SWP

Rebel, amalgam Why does it eagerly Flame banner and

ICL

Big openly

IMG,

and the possibility of seek policies the IMG hopes to oul that you propose, this could front plattorms 'united disguise itself and trick the • basis only be on the with left' Labour MPs? with chatter about political confusion and the youth The answer is simple. In independence mutual hiding of sins. work the

IMG

its Revolution is therefore We that unlike the nave stucked

VOUL

recognises written in advance to adapt letter and Revolution itself.

Tories, Labour is a reformist to the conscious- existing workers' party. (In fact the Contempt for youth ness of the youth-or rather regularly

IMG

cavituales of that TO cancere to the Labour uncritically of It is characteristic consciousness left' fakers, taking their the probably chatter perceived by centrists radical speechifying as good endlessly, as you do, about not-so-youthful cynics who coin). the 'independence' planned it and unleashed it , 'vitality etc. of the youth, whilst at upon the world. Sophisticated' the same time peddling adantation goes sc far that Revolution is forced political line which displays can't expect But, for to state it is "not a music middle ciass

COLCHOL

youth to understand all this 'sophisticated' stuff. Clearly that don't believe yOu youth are up to the task of fighting programme takes into account which the contradictory nature the Labour Party and which fights to expose the Labour Andrew Wiard, Report misleaders. old ultra-left Any will for 'the rubbish do kids'. So much for the

ELVIDGE

youth in the Labour-affilia- ted trade unions! doubt They can no merely echo your headline Up Yours!" "Oh Bondage, and if they happen to live in Spitalfields, East London, candidate - Red Hilda, it the next election. appears that the IMG Young workers are in the forefront of today's class struggle

YOUTH

Trotsky-warned of centrism leaders are not satisfied with they want dishonesty, appear ridiculous too 'Unity is out of the ques- tion on this basis. You must be fully aware that the WL will never be party to such an enterprise. And the Socialist Youth League has nothing in common with a paper which Anti Nazi supports the League and hails the Carnival of its 'success which led youth off on a musical oversold jamboree while the National Front police to march freely allowed through the East End. Unlike the IMG and SWP we do not consider that, for Rocking all its michel against Racism' in itself political way provides any forward in the fight against fascism. prepared to collaborate with you in 'internationalising' wrong positions with stupid articles on 'Rocking Tanks' the Against Czechoslovakia. Rock Against Racism-does not in itself offer a way forward

THE IMG LETTER

Dear Comrades of Carnival 2 success cheery cemean b cens of thousands of young people are prepared to take part in the against racism and „tascism Furthermore, tine marked interest in the various political events at the Carnival-the stalls newsoadets cates that thousands of youth, through their experiences in the AL as well as at work. on lit dole, at college or at school, want to go further and take part in bullaing a revolutiondry diler native to the policies of the government. A small Labour this increasing interest in revolutionary boltIc.

was the sales of the new youth Revolution. Three paper thousand copies were sold at, ol going to and from, the Carnival.

addition the entire print run of 5,500 sold out within was Tive days (!). Revolution paper iMG. by the launched believe its success demonstrate that the influence of revolution the youth ideas di Vi tar oroader inar the of any particular far left Our aim in launch. organisation ina Revolution is the building of an independent revolutionary youth organisation. /Whèn WE talks the about the independence of the Socialist Youth League follows Lethin in the beliet a youth movement that it is necessary to allow the politically fresh youth to make mistakes But this also contains the need to explain the nature of mistakes and errors to youth and fight for policy and correct perspective.

REVOLU

ASIDE:

Independent because we ar convinced that the best way for the youth to grasp revolutionary Marxism InroUel , in their own organ- isation. other words we believe such Tha youth organisation ano reseec for its independent character, is practical way CEnt convince 'thousanos • OT revolu tionary-minded youth the necessity of joining and building a revolutionary marxist party di political alternative reformism In our view historical exper- ience has demonstrated, further that such a marxist party wil be built simply through ПОТ incivicua recruitments the contrary, through a process of splits and fusions in existing organisations and, above all, the mass retormist parties In Britain today, the frag mentation of the 'far-left' is, , in

OUT

vIeW. a maor oostacie lu building such a marxist party this reason th IMG has For consistenti

TOF

unity of revolutionaries into a single organisation, on the basis •ane democratic centralist system of the past two organisation, for Within such an organisation Such has method nothing in common with the IMG's patronising exer- deliberately cise of producing full of a paper error, and even religious obscurantism, on every line the vain hope that this 1n will attract youth The , LO stand for the construction of a Trotskyist youth move- ment. Revolution cannot bring

Breaking the silence Verlar

NIER-RA

COMMILIEE

MF NO! PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report Youth feature prominently in an anti-racist march to Brick Lane Revolution brands Tories and Labour as the same we would, of course, continue regular meetings/conferences of to arque for all supporters starting December or our oo tica with and affiliation to the positions Fourth International. regularize the paper and Amongst the youth we estaolisn

DOLI

policies ano believe democratic structures. ine necessity. ano possibility, of creating a single Without prejudicing this pole the meeting's give decisions immediate. This because notice that we would prodose winning the platform y asian dinitial printed thousands of young people to Revolution No. revolutionary marxism and the basis tor discussion. ane a struc- healthy ture, based on equal represen- yoUT tnorouoniv hostility all varieties tation of national political sectarianism. organisations aten is both think it representation of supporters' groups. possible and necessary tor our respective organisations to put summary, we therefore In the building of a united revolu- orooose. 1. Discussion of these points

VOUTA

orcanisation amongst our highest political and any others Between oth and December.

may wish priorities. the views of our respective order organisations (as well local questions of polical to test out capacity reach principled and structure in the December coutica, acreement. ano aovance along this road, we issue of Revolution. collaboration of our respective A period ot loint work respective organ- vouno memoers ano suooorters detween our producing revolutionary groups Rebel, youth paper whose explicit aim Youth anu between now and Ine Construction nevoution such a unified youth organisa- December. tion. We would propose Comradely greetings That Ine Redmon Da re randependent character id O'Neil (IMG Youth Organiser) guaranteed editorial control be ing in the vanes ol that goal any nearer. tasks the slogan of unity can To those serious youth become the worst possible who genuinely wish to see trap." the unity of the revolution- ary movement we repeat the The IMG would have words of Trotsky: youth unite with the most "When centrists confused centrist lavers In begin to declaim too much the name of "unity" about unity, the Marxist is against clear political duty-bound to be on guard.

programme and practice. Unity between The WSL is pleased to note whom! n the name of whut? Against the rejection of this perspec- whom? tive by the Socialist Uniess there Youth clear definition of aims and League. on the cuts John Lister reviews the new Workers Socialist League pamphlet "How to Fight the Cuts", published by Folrose Ltd, price 30p plus 9p p&p from Folrose Books, London NW5 1HR Two as years Chancellor Healey announ- ced after the cut cut budget of the Health Service, Education and other sectors of the public his actions were services,

FIGHT •

greeted by chorus of protest from every section

THE CUTS 4

of the 'left'. The Socialist

SAVE

S • International Worker Cano tne

JOBS

Marxist Group's paper Red Weekly teemed with articles on "Tignting Ine cuts Even the _union bureaucracy, embarassed to the core by the savage Theiance their by Labour government whose policies they to the ai indo oling the rest demonstration NoventO advanced parliament demanding "Stop the cuts; Save jobs" BuT now. as tie moac the cutbacks announced Healey really being Hens of areal cores in the public services, actual cuts in ation of serviss and eroston or levels, actual deterior workers, the clamour has ceased All of a sudden hardly any- November 17, 1976: plenty of placards, but where was the the cuts. Why? action? Because it is clear to all those affected that protesting The booklet draws on the rirt apour me curs. marchino acainsi experiences of these struggles.

them, articles against first the them, is not enough: if there

EGA

nor the Oxtord nursert not a serious perspective of all- idea searned arenas

TOI

advanced level proletarian by strike action, to stop •the struggle. The hospital staff was cuts, then they will proceed.

• Dartraly InTO Frightened unions as the threat of closure loomed, and the Nursery Cam- This prospect frightens the remainec out talking lite heterogeneous grouping of union bureaucrats and their trade unionists, vicars, the Communist local dignitaries and lett wing mary ir knocks fe seam oul activists. of the stunt politics and oppor.

practice of the Socialist tunist rearguard margario ao ticians the Marxist Group What these bodies protest to round a band- from soares their WacOn To umoon TO Was nol The importance of the new spontaneous Tevo tonar Workers Socialist League for within clear How to tiaht the cuts DoOKIel manifest political oroaramme ante confusion and hesitation perspective carried out Trotskyists of tendencies, pointing these

WSL.

The instead to the political lessons the bam oniel of two actual struggles which point in the EGA fight: have gone to the lengths of all action fought одет labour became the opposition from every anti-cuts sub-committee of Camden quarter. members and suppor Council dersuadeo fne have played ters with them and influential role in both the meeting hospital, that the first important Anderson Hospital London develot that meling, Workers and in the occupation at "At that meeting, Oxford Socialist League members from South Nursery class. NU 31, Dartmouth Park Hill,

FIGHT *IS

THE BITS

FIGI FIGH

THE I

THE CUT

SP

SAVE

OBS

the sub-committee, and from the

NUPE

parent branch University Coleci Tosoita argued that ultimately the oniy way to defend the hospital 1 was , and for the occu workers' enquiry into the state of the hospital and for the open- ot the books of the Area Authority reveal details of expenditure and the health 38rvce Ene area." Of course these demands then calor the imagnation oi the EGA workers and ters, were taken up, and became une basis or a mont exteno. a beyond membership TAp resources of the WSL Eventually, , in diluted form, the demands by other 'left' groups who had at first scoffed at the ideas Continued fight While sowing this crucial seed from which the

EGA

WSL

continued the fight within and around the work in for the driv lowards workes corro ou hospital , and complete indepen- dence of the work-in from smooth-talking slow-actin union omicias who seek onv ti confrontation hear who ted the lay in the fight os also WSL Nursery campaign supporters

ENNALS OUT

NO MORE

HOSPITAL CUTS

How to fight the cuts the policy of supporting strike action-both within

ULUC

and workers to back up occupations against the cuts. consistently fought for action to force leaders of the public call all-out strikes to reverse the cute ano entaolo a cheino ceae of social social services in expenditure maintain the The TaCO OT INTAtIOn When this demand for supporting strikes. was first put aduane of

TOO.

seemes Tar ur advance labour move- tha ment in the public sector But the

EGA

struggle and subsec uent partes pital closures in London have since shown that it is possible Strike action from wide layers of the working class noece luis une continuine threat of such action in the case of moves to close the EGA that has sept it opon to tais day Of course struggles to stop the cuts will not always prove immediately successtul. In fight.

ino une eurs wo kers are uo noi only against the Labour govern- preserve the ot alling capitalism voutabully the full weight

OUT

also 80gimst of the bureaucratic machinery in the trade wich nates nonino more toan the independent struggles of the working class Impact The South Oxford nursery

OCLUBETOR

and has had a lasting impact both on the labour movement in

LITE

zown. on mursary stueeler nationally and on • The ovara: fight the cuts But it has not prevented the closure or places. But it has offered a clear perspective and directed relent.

orGanised workers' movement-the trade unions and the Labour Party. are carrying Jacen through the cuts. fought the end such Cantalan neve defeated-they bring to the most advanced layers concerned thi avarelless ConTrontIne working class and the necessity for a principled programme and South • Thonor Oxford Nursery class has itself bean closed, plans by the Tor councii to close tne next dool Middie School simply reversed by Education Secretary influ enced the prospect of a by further occupation Experience Our movement categoricall rejects the defeatism of those groups and bureaucrats that believe declare or cuts Our experience in practical struggle has proven otherwise with

ANO

relec contempt the prospect of opportunistically hanging back the struggles get underway before joining mouthing the current popular slogans members, . strengthened by the fights recounted in pamphlet, the fore against the cuts as a crucial part б. of a revol. 'utionary party to lead the whole working class in the struggle for power.

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

The attack by Leyland on the 2,500 jobs at AEC Southall demands principled lead be given by the unions in the plant. After years and CHes smokescreens, the plans revealed by Levlane WelC former manadina director of Bus the Times letter month. He stated that Leyland close AEC by the planned Management has 1980s. ear v said that BL does nOTi

AEC

to be "viable consider a commercial point TrOM view". This revelation makes of Leyland's assertions nonsense 600 late Over redundancies would enabe tot plant economic- the call for

FUVV

paid and 90 further lot nourv staff to walk out the Gales Even now the management is trying to derail the hiaht nack out the that pernaps the plant coula operate just producing engines-as long as 100 a week : were produced by just yuu workers. At. the moment about being produced. This engines are of speed-up and exploita- level tion Is what mandat ment will try to squeeze out of and at the workers • Leyland Ther utta model plant in Lancashire.

WSL

JOIN OUR

FIGHT!

The Workers Socialist League is not a move- for the faint ment hearted. We do not offer any peaceful back- of abstract dis- water and armchair cussion revolution. The fight we carry through each day in Ine workers' movement has often been shown to have a inflicting im pact setbacks on the labour bureaucracy But does So only because choare prepared to fight tenacious- ly-someles agallist licavy odds-and in the teeth of bitter hostility from union officials, Labour fakers, Stalinists and all manner of 'left-wing" opportunists But in arguing and fight- ing practice for building of Trotskyist leadership capable of mobil- ising the working class for the struggle for state power and the establishment of a Save AEC jobs! Bidwell Art bosses nave already arrogantly outlined their plans for maintaining productivity is reached for the latest redun- They want to "negotiate a fundamental change in working 'and their proposals flexibility and Include LOldl jobs mobility between grades, and departments. The also wants free work nano transfel between departments or even to plants "maintain full production requirements" agreement #Tan necotiations reached five "Within will and transfer ahead allyway work' for a minimum of three socialist society, we are through a struggle carrying essential for the working class. Unless workers shown the necessity break from their present they unarmed into the fight for their. independent interests. Forefront this, Understanding our has the movement from start, stood at the forefront of agitation to break Labour's wage controls, and prevent the sale of jobs at Speke, in the stee TUC bureau- elsewhere, by crats cahoots with management. Time and again

WSL

members have detated hier speeches by 'left' windbags who talk of opposition the social spending cuts but lift not a finger to mobilise strikes or occupations. And our members have

NEWS

months. The failure of the present offer plant leadership to any defeat clear moves has been shown in a number of ways. Martin The convenor Mick did at one time express hostility lies and to productivity deals, but has innuendo is by an elected trade fought for since accep- union committee

MONTO

tance by the membership all the "plans of access He is also a keen proponent particularly • Levland Vehicles, the in restion to Ael. participation' set-up in Leyland.

Such a committee must be elected now at AEC to examine Uther sections have the past leadership the oans call for Leyland Vehicles and centred controls as the way to save jobs.

order to be in a suppliers in Even Bill position i to tormulate boricies lu full-time

AUEW

fight back charge the situation-nas None of the machinery must criticised the plant leadership moved from to be ahowed for its undemocratic practices the plant. It necessary, the plant 'left' Sydney to enforce Ridwell anc this policy have now written Industry The fight to save jobs Varley and Secretary Eric AEC is essential if West London Levland boss Michael Edwarde is not to degenerate further into demanding an explanation.

an unemployment black spot.

apologetically Many other 'We feel obliged to give stated traditional areas of employment them (the stewaras and unions, in the area are also inreatened backing and shall act Firestones on the Great West threatening to close accorangly. Road Two weeks ago Bidwell told Hoovers on the Western Avenue the local Gazette: planning lay offs are 'We've been told in the past Crown Cork and is a future for That There Booth's Gin, who have been or but decisions have got strike tor three weeks over wridi They should either is basically union recognition.

use it or run it down. Even Airport is faced doubt which contract and i nere HELIe win attempts ce of Bidwell's options Leyland move

NOT OT

WOrK

OUT

taking up another area. The only way to put an end

WORKERS

DUCALIST

' EAGUE

TAST

• adhering to Moscow. played a key role in every Our principled stand on major cuts struggle. championed these issues has also vividly We have exposed the opportunism unionisation every HavI and confusion of the various fight, from Grunwick to other left groups who claim and Garners Sandersons. to offer workers a revolu- and fighting highlighting tionary alternative. of bureaucratic each step And the practical exper- betrayal and sabotage. Workers ience we have gained in the And the fight the Trotskyist Socialist League has been at the forefront of the fight Transitional Programme has of the convinced Leyland and 'throughout industry necessity to reconstruct the Fourth International as the of the oppose independent shop stewards' World Party Socialist OI Revolution, on movement through class 'workers principles established at its collaboration in foundation in 1938 participation' bodies. We call on Socialist Press Stalinists supporters readers and coming consider the In each of these struggles struggles, the problems they face, and the necessity of a and internațional work the WSL has fought to principled lead in each day- to-day fight. reveal and to explan not join us? Our Why counter-revolutionary role played by the Stalinists of local branch would be Communist Parties- pleased to

LANC

you these be 'Euro- about our programme communist parties or those policies and perspective.

SOCIALIST PRESS,

Wednesda ovember is? Strikers from Booth's Gin in West London lobby the TGWU Region 1 committee Harroway blows the weekend. The company are looking for a settlement and gaff SO are er Far from the asserting right WorKerS decent standard, living Harroway managed present the issue in the mos servile way possible- What readiness of the The our lads are looking for is a leaders at Fords union for success of reward sell to their members the company' short and the reluctance Presumably Harroway thinks that • the company them mobilised to see ‹ 'our lads on an independent basis were come Dad woula Just nave to knuckit perhaps most was down and accept hard vividly expressed by Dagenham Body Plant But the most candid the shop stewards chairman. Slate chil doUl position of the leadership in Sid Harroway, in a full- the Hords strike is containe interview in the page in the following extract: full Evening News a would be before to call Sid a strike leader week the A rueful smile lights up his meeting that rejected face at the mention of the the company offer. word leadership 'Some Without any mandate 'it's a job to times. he says from his members Harroway run and get in front'. of the mem Del Ine evening Ivews goes Communist Party-chatted on inadvertently state away to the capitalist press Harroway's real role: "That in language that one worker what makes correctly described as 'scab Sid Harroway possibly the talk' and 'strikebreaking' country's foremost expert Under the headline strikes. He has been "Christmas is coming and sorting them out (sIc.) a we 11 settle this weekend" Fords non-stop for 31 years interview Harroway's destroyed at one fell swoop Harroway's position, like that. of Peking Stalinist Reg the fraudulent claims of his Stalinist Birch of the AUEW, who a Party and the Morning Star to be at the week before this had of the fight against described the strike as 'a head Callaghan's wage controls.

ghastly mess, demonstrates First the Evening News that the danger the prepared the ground with a winning of the Fords claim little demoralising chatter.

from the rank comes "Christmas coming, and file but within the the boredom of home leadership itself out the tedium of blotting the mass meeting: Allel production line (!) and the task of taking control the their fighting spirit is speed- out hands of the ing off in overdrive". and union bureaucrats Harroway Then fighting for elected strike brought in: responsible to "I expect to see progress the rank and file, becomes today. I would not be at al more urgent than ever in the surprised if we had an all the Ford struggle win night claim in full. Harroway interviewed during a strike in 1977

Print union bureaucrats SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8 November 1978 Garners boss expel strikers "no' to talks They are scared that even As the strike at the the smallest fight by their Usher Walker printing members will erupt into inks factory moved into full scale battle by powerful its fourth week the sections of the working class Last week's arrogant

NATSOPA

union such as Fleet Street workers statement by Garners Steak and defend jobs have bureaucracy House Margolis that conditions. boss attempted to smash the he will have "no talks with strike by expelling every negotiators' the union Sackings temporary card member turn in marks a surprising the nine-month strike. in the chapel. This vicious action is a The strike Those closest to the dispute Victorian-style employers of indication clear nac concudeo mat vardols wa.

ine close to bankruptcy and almost began on 10

NATSOPA

bureaucrats are Usher-Walker strike commiotes dements of not prepared to let their October. strike committee s demanus The presious da walker members even full recognition and full. rein- Usher most basic democratic joint

NATSOPA

meeting, TGWU Reaional Committee

SOILLS.

members last week con- firmed that Margolis had made Garment workers leaders end severa attemols strike. But, the strengthened falling off in outside support on une ocket unes. of the Regional Committee to to force the closure under fire in the North Margolis has his restaurants, etectivery stuck uo two tnects to the biggest union the country. remain otrikers nowever. determined extracts from letters exchanged to win this diseute Book The Guinness which officials are deter- Jack Records tells of a man who Tuesday lose. Last Secretary General mined days crawling spent seven of Tailors they lonnieo the seciona com- Nationa union mittee, demanding that: Garment Workers and other on his knees and claimed a * Each trade group "adopt" a full time officials. world record. for September 14"... There is garners restaurant. textile Workers continued picketing. however. Chande Ine *More finance be made avail- in the North-west decision to accept the Clothing InO USTV able above the £2,000 just given England flatly deny such a claim Manufacturers' most their officials -since ov the Ger on their crawling *An official be allocated to be within the framework of the have the strike. I pose also knees tor ine fast au years!

Recent wage negotiations for *Region 1 support a TGWU not oppose agreed industry the validity the national delegate conterence on amnevers

TOI

of their claim-the following are adjournment the wages council meeting. September 20 "The clothing Manufacturers Federation pack condition of within 6118 a loonous the terms or Ine 5%. The Executive Board accept these conditions..

replies

END

SLAB VIOLENCE

[from branches opposing

REGION 1

sell-out] indicated a lums of dissatisfaction terms

TINE

replies indícated outright rejec- tion of the government's White "The Executive Boara gave serious consideratiol to objections raised, but it pointed out that at should be The outser or me necorations the employers indicated that only prepared to they negotiate the wit ain the government White Paper of "After a careful review The Garners lobby the The crcumstance, industry, the Executive Board Mass meetings end doubts the Strikers at the Chipping Despite majority when he said,

HONKARAO

"I want back to work, especially efforts of the capitalist press Warden warehouse of House confusion and WIth enristmas coming on tor of Holland won an impo- portray the kids. But they'l! have division after the vote at tant victory last week offer talking make worth against moves to destroy the Ford Dagenham the general mood of the workers was Referring to the attendance clause in the senalty optimistic and determined hey are how cong o actory so shut the Now the :.: 33.3 was the comment of at the Paint, Trim and Asser 3.

Plant after the mass meeting.

pickets themselves lines many strikers are scepticism in the past towards admitted surprise over- at the He told them that the strike the advocated by whelming relection Ine DOlC off (with called company's offer by Ford Workers League must be Socialist ane the TGWU workers all over the country.

Socialist Press, that regular mass strıkers sacked/ as now accepted that management held that the should nad been TelL had an agreement with USDAW.

length of strike, under throughout the course of the have strike conditions where strikers harter admitted that they do not have of the nation- The results been Isolated Ineir a single member in the Chipping short of-cash, would have led to wide meetinos orove. nowever a readiness to accept a deal and that the reason the trade union warden warenouse or any house leaders have not done this is not of Holland shops. return to work The strikers correctly however, The vote showed Tear ended their decision retused to allow the firm resolution of the Ford by swarms of angry moderates but a desire not to unleash rank workforce to defend their living and file militancy and frustra- giving the strike active support, stancares Before the mass meeting one and,

TION

naving retected from the Engine Plant ultimatum, went to West Brom- worker membership in the running ol the struggle. to confront the Regional wich the mood ot the summe• up said that they company to make between intended 15 and 20 men of their own choosing redundant and compulsorily retire seven men. This is on a site which even management had admitted the previous week was six men undermanned! Dave Union oucducial Hutchinson also agreed (at a with private meeting management) that his members should lose money owed them from earlier dispute of the members The decided that Chapel the of the union to negotiate on that basis." Executive Board, taking cognisance of the current from situation and branches. decided to ratity agreement on the condition that Clothing Manufacturers Federation agree arrange 1979 with it January

COVERAL

the light of developments industrial relations generally." The employers rejected tal and the union accepted the rejection.

NUT&GW

recent clothing-a struggle or survivalr 'Employment pamphlet we also read the following: "While there is genuine cause about the future for optimism it would, however. UK be a classi example of wishful thinking if we were to believe that employ.

ment Ine Industry Nad reached the end contraction... "It is a sobering thought [!] that the International anom Office (ILO) have warned that technological and changes in international trade are likely to make 1.6 million cure coal workers redundant by 1985."

That the leadership of the

NUT&GW

will do nothing Mass picket call Secretary, Brian Mathers.

That USDAW. and manage. of Hulett's ment the doubte USDAW official actually turned vo at the bicket withir an hour of the strikers' meeting , surprised to find the picket still there, crossed it to meet manaeement. Mates however, -5: se soot and presentec tac on ne striker with back strike pay.

He also called a new meeting ot the strikers tas we were coine to press) together with Hulett official, Northants Morris. to discuss policie.

TGWU

This turn by the produced bureaucracy instant heartening ettect on the strikers wno are now contiaen winning back to the picket who had left some @usudir I ney nave cared tor a mas.

picket at the warehouse react to this only way to threat to sack their militant leadership was chapel take indefinite strike action.

Hutchinson, full-time said that branch secrelary. 32 of the this broke rule Society's rules and since time has consistently that tried to defeat the strike.

In collusion with various other scab bureaucrats he has gone to the lengths of issuing NATSOPA member- ship members caras the United Road Transport Union (a scab union) in for strike-breaking order supplies of news ink to be the fact that in the past twelve montas dants nave cosed Preston, Clitheroe, Bolton and Crewe, with further 650 members due to be sacked trom the Burtons plant at Bolton that the disputes union's national geners cale out amount to du unhe evabe try. But at a recent North West Shop Stewards Regional conterence reoresentine couvu members, union officials including MacGougan suffered a severe setback when a suoborte and Tactor convenor from Winsford fought successfully for the conference To alow dickeuno suikers trom Brentwear Ltd, Stockport, into the hall. one then went on to tAck the • leadership's support for limitation called for wage bene

OOOKS

cod antes ed are officials to.

attacked the not supporting the nationalisa-

LION

clotnine Inoustry inder workers' management and control All this took place under an item agenga entitled ThA ''1.15 to 3.00pm Work Study- a lecture and discussion led by Mr. Fairbrother." In this fight she received total the I support trom all shop stewards present. The fight to remove the well- NUT&GW crawlers began fed Halert Worce We urge 5000073 fight for union. Tates sane and Labour rary acegators: join the picket. ren for the is at Chipping Warden can our Daventry Road, and is next to the Export Packing Services TaCLONY Donations and messages to House of Holland support Strike 15 Plowden Committee, Liose. • Aston-Le yvalls, Daventry Northants. Page 11 delivered to Fleet Street.

has More recently ordered the ending of any assistance to the Usher Walker strike fellow

NATSOPA

members Fieet Street, with the threat of disciplinary action if they do not. Disciplinary threat Other bureaucrats. , deter- mined not to be outdone in attempting have threatened strike, workers at the firm's sister- with disciplinary

JACION

action : if they refuse to do work stopped by the strike.

all of •this Even after scabbing the bureaucracy was still not satisfied and threatened that the entire chapel could be expelled.

Last they week summoned the strikers to a meeting to special branch discuss not how the strike could be won, but why they had rule 32 (i.e. broken gone on unollicial surkey. The chapel decided that they would be unable to attend members were picketing the firm's plant Mancheste and some had not been notified one attending no the meeting the bureaucracy felt strong enough to expel of large the strikers from NATSOPA. Using the excuse of non- attendance as a reason for the expulsions, one oned cracy have made their most determined effort to date to the strike. smash Picketing Nevertheless the strike Despite remains strong being small in numbers (less than 100) the workers have kept picketing Fleet Street pickets have been sent and the sister-factory in Manchester to ensure inat London work is not done.

NATSOPA

militants have supported the strike in a number of ways.

chapel at the Last week Times Financial sent motion to NATSOPA House demanding that the strike be made official. Members of other unions tank a casting su tons tons of Carryle Usher Walker ink has been blacked by the TGWU and will remain idle until the dispute is settled. Petrified The bureaucrats

NATSOPA

are petrified of the Usher Walker strike and would the way its victory encourage their membership to struggle. Other members of NATSOPA must tell the that they bureaucracy are not prepared to let them get away with their treachery.

Black all supplies to Usher Walker! Black scab news ink! Demand that the strike he =ade official! readmission Rice our the unson scabs and parasites-bulld a revor utionary leadership

NATSOPA!

Financial contributions and messages of support should be sent to: Jimmy Burton FoC, Usher Walker Studenttee, Union, C/o Strike

NELP

Students Living- Livingstone House, stone Road, London E1S.

PRESS

STRIKES!

Queen's Speech debate in a general upsurge on pay tnat could paralyse much of British Prime Minister which inaustry Callaghan nailed his colours ane raise witn new snaroness une to the mast of the 5% pay gustion ot limit, Ford workers all over cover nment. the country came together "Mass in a series of mass meetings British the workers that threw out • reject a 9% offer. company's 14.9% and malority penalty clauses pay offer.

have workers out a 9-11½%-with-strings offer.

The same day in Bifmingham 3,000 manual workers trom Leyland's Drews Tractor been have 5% ane i ransmissions lactory storming out of the gates after a their on caim vote unanimous workers

TOF

their 5% with-strings offer.

40%-demanding And, London; Bakers minimum wage Sam Union General WaS Closeted national strike in pursuit of the union's 25% pay claim-which rates would still on their current Tinte registe only give a to rise. hostility to PHOTO: Laurence Sparham, IFL this closeted ministers in a last-ditch bid to agree continué demands for members balanan. Labour prepared removal from oftice, carries on- regardles conference and policy-to uphold the 5% limit.

pay struggle retreat by might they Still talking-Duffy catapulted Into

SOCIALIST PRESS

RALLY

To commemorate the Ist anniversary of the weekly Socialist Press. Speakers to include Socialist Press Editor John Lister Followed by a showing of Eisenstein's

"STRIKE"

Admission £1.00 I would like to receive Sunday 19 November ¡ issues: I enclose the sum of 3 p.m.at New Ambassadors Hotel Name Upper Woburn Place Address (1 minute from Euston Tube) Send to: Socialist Press, Dartmouth London NWS IHR Published by Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd (TU) London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

SOCIALIST

SPREAD THE

the coming period, the continued rule reactionary Labour meetinos nave ocoun Oxygen, where recommended of Michelin already thrown "hovo scottish lorry. envers recommended and press otter, local dulliorily are pressing pay claim: PHOTO: Jonn sturrock, report 35-hour

FORD WORKERS

yet even while workers con bitter their

NO WIVES

forms of wage

SOGETHER

TUC leaders remain week with

INE WIN

THİS STRIKE

economic policy, chiefs union Stal wast their millions confident that no MP or union leader for his of massive, pay strikes to the Queen's reply In her La•oUT rarly Speech last week Thatcher care- TUC Congress fully the avolded attacking concept of pay restraint, and The sharp escalation of the ridiculed Callaghan for nas vva. to find the Tories, afraid that desperate ettorts find themselves half-way between rigid house controls and free collec- office pledged to end wage controls in a period

ANNIVERSARY RALLY

Right at

WORKERS

SOCALISTE

the

PRESS *

forefront.

DEFEND THE

SU TOOLMAKEIS GET

DEFEND NIE

SOCIALIST

RIGHT

PRESS

Tries!

EVERY WEEK!

S issues ..£1.10 ..£2.20 10 issues 25 issues ..£S.50 Hill, Park £10.00 50 issues Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Ford, Leyland, Bakers ...

KICK OUT

CALLAGHAN!

WIVES SP

WETURN

UNTIL

WEVE

WON

Ford strikers' wives demonstrate in Southampton There compromise all waffle possible-for the strikes-especially be destroyed in action, sector Aust the Callaghan cabinet that campaign and spawned it must be driven out.

labour movement Callaghan and workers vine siegearos car only be defended through large ing protected against 'lefts' join in this fight.

increases any Tuture inmation tiloudh cost oI living clauses based on a trade i officia take up union/housewives. price and pressed to go further Jobs be defended only every job-cutting productivity allow plan is thrown out. their . such a tight carry

OUT

workers' movement , indep. movement. endent of the TUC and Labour Such bureaucracy. As the strike work gro 5, ment wades each workers strate in practice to section struggle must take steps to unite Local councils action. drawing delegates from every eTt talking oooortunisla working class trade union and dent interests of oreanisation tacl of in the struggle for socialism.

Within these council: action Marxists will argue to

FUND

The November Fund has got off to a flying start with £243.25 arriving from readers and supporters including a donation of £15 from Denmark, in the first six days of the month. Now we must keep this momentum going and ensure that the full £600 target is achieved this month.

Donations should be sent to: Socialist Press Monthly Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

BL PAY

STRIKES

START

The indefinite strike at Tractor British Leyland's and Transmissions plant has shut down all already production of Maxi, Marina and Princess cars at the as well as Cowley plants, MG Abingdon. As we ao to press the Min and Allegro production Longbridge is grinding to a halt.

The dispute will stop the wholt ot Lev ano. Convenor Arthur Harper declaring that no meetings will the company until concede, went on television !!

describe Leyland workers as "lions led by ido has abruptly halted the company's plans connect proposals for review with parity • pay inkee ballot acceptance concitional But principled fight at Assembly Cowley against no roorate. eve reall 27, a 35-hour wlah and acost for • plant claim of living clause. has aressuroo every other plant into submit ting its own claim. Until that point convenors were all set to comply commans dans, in act dawai stewards only put in their claim last week, while Rovers hold a their claim last Friday-two the supposed settlement time as and at the adle the Drews Lane walkout! But most consciou the fight ha sabotage Then carrie our ov Londo od convenor, Communist Party Derek and Robinson and organise the strengtenin Talkaist and spreading of picketing and at Rovers. Conned all-out anu

LITE

particular remove conned a 600-strong stewards' demand meeting, getting them to vote ir so-called Labour favour of a resolution allowing the negotiating committee MP this call, three options. ChOOS •Tit .hese wards • • L they must be supported on this until December 1 to improve 2) immediate strike Those that refuse, and prefe action; or 3) negotlation witt attack no action. members and supporters, ictate blanche Having won can be exposed to the workers predictably option l to Friday's mass meer political struggles, the context of a growing move.

alongside Fords, demon. Cat talks closel orancine increasing Christmas. numbers of workers that a revol- Communist Party party, not a group 01 this registered its • support • TO hida Star, Morning

TACTIC

be built to defend the indepen- which criticised the Drews Lane the working Friday and failed to strike class which can only be secured Monday's pay mention strike round-up! Meanwhile in the Cowley Assam div held be 1 or Tuesday and a mass meeting the negotiating committee's of the 5% : offer and rejection decide on further action.

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

Public meeting Strike now! Break the 5%! Wednesday November 15 at 7.30 p.m. St. John's Hall Scarisbrick Street

SOUTHPORT