Socialist Press no. 135

DEFY NEW ANTI-UNION

JUDGEMENT Stand firm on

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 135 Last Friday's court injunction to prevent

TGWU

lorry drivers steward Reginald Fall from picketing a food factory represents a fresh legal attack on the rights of the trade union movement. The judgement, following a wiit issuea oy management au United Biscuits, reveals yet again the reality of the "freedom of soeech ana ustice boasted capitalist about ov •british politicians. Weeks of vicious anti-picket witch-punting tne HOry owned press and mass media had set out to provoke violent attacks on lorry drivers! picket ines. one scottish Dicket nac already been killed by a scab for supposed "secondary picket- or the hysteria was stoked up ing"-though the law defines no further by Prime Minister such carecory Callaghan-defended by Len Justice Ackner made absolutely viurrav-ooastino nis wiiinoness to cross any picket line.

clear the political nature of his Judoement ano the states teal Frightened of the by Meanwhile, Labour Attornev • Triantenec Sam Silkin, TGWU leaders, wielding Moss declared that the Evans' picketing code, applied cuestion Was all of their energies to sapping Trom the lorry drivers dispute The Strenotn ot rank ano mile to be legal. strike committees that had shown the beyond doubt immense power of the workind tion that parliament class. intend legislate Then United Biscuits chief about its own destruction", he Hector Laing, a political advisor proclaimed. to Maraaret Thatcher moved in with a lawsuit against Reg Fall atter

LISTEN

TOCZ

25

NUPE

says: 5% all out against insults ow pay

ICAP

NUPES

theLow © says: Paid £60

-NOW

SOCIALIST

* 31 January 1979 * 15p

TGWU

OFFICIA

I STRIK

Transport drivers picket at Willesden, North London The power of the working class in struggle for basic Its ana living standaros Granting the injunction, Mr stands in conflict with the state apparatus that preserves crisis- nacen capitalism. The svstem of law is one organised working class. mit worke she ver but this is means for the employers Echoing an earlier statement genera thin more unan d venee he arbitrarily real beneato : which es the picketing in threat that the ruling class ma remote

LOO

army or ponce interventon to enforce its requirements-with "There must be a presump- or without the law. Under the Callaghan govern- coes not bring ment both these forms of attack to have been used against trade unionists. At Grunwick Laboul Here is the essence of the ministers unleashed the savage violence of the police Special Public leaders proved to have detonated an incendiary bomb with their official Day of Action on 22 January. AS DISTrICT OTTCIaS OTNUr.

COHSE, GMWU and the TGWU Toured The!r areas TrVIna damp down the flames, rank PHOTO: Ian Mackintosh, and file workers were imple- menting action Lignining strikes nave taken place in many hospitals; several London boroughs' dustmen nave launched all-out strikes and in the North-east incinerators have been closec indetinitev Throughout the country members meeting to decide on acuon are eine davisea ov tel things down. readers to calm hold back and institute virtually meaningless work to rules.

VOTKINO

entAus iasm' is no way to win a serious battle for a £60 minimum wage -al though does accurately reriect ine wisnes and practice * picketing against picket Bob Watson. Patro and in the lines; Ireland full scale multary reoression i is in torce to the preserve British rule But, at the same time, legal actions against the UPW and the NUJ have struck heavv blows against the right of unions to solidarity blacking, Workers setting dangerous precedents.

each Union Inousanos officials have retreated without stopped work a fight. sotancous Even while last week's court ThaT ong o unaria ne por was in progress,

TGWU

undermine the power of

IVIL

strike committees torry arivers" and urging their ment in scab their omnicial sunke oT liTtina a Tinaen Back-door deal The Garners STriKe where deal between

TGWU

oTTiciais ana bolice to restricT under Ine 1 picket lines to a maximum of committees, six-strong. has been АПО ah-out suriKe called by the TGWU to protest called in the at the killing of Scottish picket Officials fight without enthusiasm: ALL OUT FOR £60!

of the union leaders. called the "going The most serious blow to the 14-15%. suratecy

COT

une com oromiser. has come from water workers rejected who rejected a 14% offer (which and the mass of public was backea wy me avo and workers pledged all out strike action.

NUPE

voting and a minimum target. we went to press, also WelC the expectea to relect. TUlI Claim Behind the scenes talks throughout action public sector-in between the sector officials, mentira and the covern une ment concentrating increasing the public sector can be done. All other offer fractionally (probably to and policies are inadequate coupled wim extra work and job loss through sector tivity deals and pushed through the health under cover or one or severa 'inquiries' and comparability emergency provided studies Such a deal would be backed it he pa y hreicy if rokher cuts pay policy is broken to them must All public bone of the

SECLOR

worKers mUST understand That Them leadership has already aban- campaign run against the £60/35 hour week the press. claim and that the very limits oi ambition what Fisher also form Is there room for socialism in the Labour Party? Page 9 PHOTO: Mark Rusher, IFL Under the acute tensions of today s oolitical crisis no trade union leader is prepared to give firm this offensive against picketing.

Pentonville Five should not forget that it was only after hundreds workers in strike Attorney General Silkin seacers carlee anv action to defend the Pentonville .ing. dockers jailed by the Tories in And the fight within the udde unions anu Labour rart Now, with a Labour govern- to force the removal of the scab Callaghan-Healey leadership union leaders have no intention must be taken forward. Party recal Labour We say that this latest court conference must be demanded, the strikebreaking employing class must be defied.

Callaghan cabinet Can removed Pcket nes must de restored and a manitesto maintained policies fought for and strengthened in every are 1979 prepdlduror Ine COntrOl OT• STrK! Genera election to force haulage revolutionary bosses to concede the full claim.

leadership, prepared to defend interests ine working public sector, class against all attacks, must be backed up by full-scale picket- constructed. rate" of future fight against the next round or cuts which are already threatened. vater workers nave correctly any such conception, Strike committees must link

SECTO

with each orner and with other Stri the ideas abdule mates recoonise that cou itself a modest enough demand from move ment to torm councils of actior There is no secret to winning -arawino in organised workers and unorganised sections of the working class the public opposition to union Councils of action form a body which can better confront oress. ana Ine government is the only way i the political questions raised by "tactics" the and challenge strike the Torces or mne state waica willo To hold such action, public used against it. workers-particularly in We stand for wage rises and take public sector spending to be SerVICe-MUSE responsibility for and control of fully protected against inflation cover to be ine working class must not take responsibility for or carry the cost of the crisis. otrike committees elected ov the membership and responsible We fight for policies leading form the back- To the over nrow of canitalien and the removal of those union sunKe and can counter the massive propaganda leaders who sabotage them by struccies in orde to uonolo t Such strike committees will Interviews pp.4-5 the nucleus of a

New government crisis Page 2 in Italy Italy has entered its 38th crisis is likely to De one governmental crisis since the crawn out necotiation. with Andreotti to find a new formula joined the Stalinists involving new Christian Demo- bourgeols CP rather witnoul crats in reconstructing the than provoke new elections capitalist state at the end of ing for ministers World War II. knows this is unacceptabit The latest crisis, majority the the Loristian immediate predecessors was Democrats. provoked by a shift of tactics by almost certainly the Communist Party uncer its looking (TO. a new secona- General Secretary Enrico "historic compromise" like the one which broke up last the CP decided week week

DUT

establisnee Ine withdraw from the parlia- basis of a symbolic retreat on mentary majority of five parties question i by

SUIC

Giulio which nas Andreotti. Andretti's reactionary Democratic Christian govern- This may not be too difficult achieve since the ment since last April. prepared the way for a new un ne new

SITUATION

collaborationist probably that Andreotti will be orincioled search agreement with aked the by its of compromise adjusted torm fiery words of criticism between the unristan Democrats and the Stalinists on the basis of exclusively all clive could trivia. which continue Andreotti's objects govern. decision to enter the European The much smaller Socialist Party has already made it clear Monetary oyster WIThOUT consultation in advance with the That Will nOT duret Stalinist leaders; it objects renewat of the centre-ett' formula of the 1960s. The meteor on doce top bureaucrats of nationalised Demo- industries cratic nepotism: it would like to have a share of the nepotistic spoils. But Berlinguer SCruDUloUSIy avolute arty cined political or ciass criticism of Andreotti's anti-working class policies he nas ot course. assiauous ly tried to play his appointed historical role of ramming these policies down the throats of the berlinguer This would technically give "march against Ancreotti government fascism" on January 18 majority; but the socialst. to take the rap for the refuse in La Paz turned out to class reactorary be the largest mass Does the the entry e which the luxury demonstration enjoys has occurred in Bolivia nis seems all the more true since the military coup when there is growing evidence Socialist Party General that d'etat by potential Banzer in 1971. radiolv electoral advantage the Tens. of expense of the CP. thousands of and In last year's local elections workers, the Gained votes expense of both the CP and the Christian Democrats. more dramatically. last

BUT I

week reports leaked oUT that opinion poll ordered by the Common Market -for showed. that, Commission the Hiroopan pectons at least.

Socialists would overtake 24% (with compared with eLlo tor the urt. It can assumed that the Berlinguer leadership is anxious. To avoie an ectoral calastlywic of these proportions in national elections. So its policy in the present Pereda Hansen dead 2355 has just in that Te SET

USA

Josepr tansen Hansen, at one secretary to Leon Trotsky, was for many years a lead US ing member of the Socialist Workers Party. While we are unable to carry in this issue an exten- Hansen's sive analysis of work, we are currently pre- paring a full length article which will appear shortly.

The cause undertying Italy's new crisis is that the CP reduers Calle that role to the satisfaction of the capitalist class. The Stalinist leaders' advice The workers (TO Andreotti's wage control plans being less and less heeded.

Workers have been demon- strating ther determination fight for better wages and against unemployment-despite the stanist bureaucracy Last week, the trade union a two-hour bureaucracy called nationa strike in orotest aodis the murder of a Stalinist shop steward who had previously the nerved ana arrest an alleged member or the Red Brigades. But while the bureaucracy remdis organised strength the from class interests and towards defence of capitalist state ano institutions, they are nonethe Bolivia: workers march students responded to the (Bolivia's

COB

call of the main union federation) onto capital; the streets or lne and in other cities a one-day general strike call was widely followed. The of this ponlics march, however ShOW of treacherous nature the leadership of the present "opposition" in Bolivia. Bolivia at present is ruled General David a military junta led by Padilla who seized power in a coup in November General from Pereda. Abortive elections Pereda had taken power from Banzer last July during the counting of the abortive presidential elections which he (the official army candidate) had failed to rig ballot with enough the efficiency. Padilla came that he would saying guarantee new free elections in August 1979 He was welcomed as "democrat" the petty by bourgeois nationalist, and Stalinist =: Bolivia's masses. candidates in the promised elections.

Austerity measures At the same time his announced government series of anti-working class less beina orced sto some wage struggles for fear of the losing "autonomous unions". gaining nave DeeT strength in relation to the old Stalinist, reformist and catholic It is this erosion of the bast of the Stalinist trade union and organisations which political Berlinguer why leadership has been obliged once put on the mask of o•bosITion But this kina or opposition is no more than a manoeuvre of a Stalinist leadership rapidly running

OUT

effective enter for he bore i e role as police- Crushed If the Italian working class is to be able successfully to resist The crowing economically weak and desperate bourgeoisie the existing Stalinist leadership must alone

WILT

austeritv measures involving massive price increases; and ne resnumnea nis cabiner lo shift it clearly even further to the right. Rumoured coup "march But the

CUB'S

against fascism" was in no this way reactionary butcher. Its slogans were designed for the most part to defend dictatorship him his and against a rumoured impend- counter-coup by Banzer. ing The COB's main slogan "No to reportedly was right wing coup-freedom and democratisation, stop the fascist subversion for though also called withdrawal of troops from the mines. abject reformist leadership of the COB is therefore prepared to trust bourgeois generals, who amply proved their have nature reactionart practice, to guarantee demo- cracy and workers' rights.

In this they parallel the two nationalist opportunists who will be leading candi dates if presidential elec- tions do take place. Programme =: Erase: 2: Her So 1 National Movement) irom 195: 1964 Paz Estenssoro is report- edly hoping to fight with the support of the Christian Democrats and certain •SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 New round in Sahara war "Our forces have developed genuine army which, if need be, of capable now imposing military solution to the conflict by forcing the armies of to evacuate occupation our country" statement This recent the new-found confidence of the Polisario Front in their war against Italian workers demonstrate Moroccan and their would-be substitutes in the 17 On the 16 and retormist Socialist Party of Lem Januarv the battle New leadership Sail took place to the north- capital of east of El Aioun, Western Sahara An That requires the building of the Polisario ambush by the new

HOTSKVISI

leadershi basing itself on a programme wiped out a Moroccan trans- which must include column defended by port struggle comoronsin armoured cars to defend and advance The addition to the material interests of the working of equipment, destruction class took 20 the Polisario *The fight the movement to force the workers Moroccans prisoner This engagement was the Date. break off all collaboration with most serious to date in the Boumed- the capitalists current 'Houar *The defence of democratic offensive' being jenne rights and anti capitalist launched by the Front "terrorists" from the repressive apparatus of the bourgeois state Convoys Already the Moroccan government in Italy The present growing crisis of the which force bourgeois and the north of Western Sahara are raise Stalinist unable to trave except in unbrecedentee heavily armed convoys. the building of such a new revol the The utionary leadership. continued Polisario have of well into the south Morocco itself The Polisario's victory at Lem Sail showed once again how ineffective has been the reorganisation the Moroccan army, undertaken • the French imperialists by so-called of the sections setbacks and атте Left Revolutionary Front.

defeats in late 1977 And Siles can probably But the Polisario's warn- count on the support of the ing of its growing strength Guevarist MIK and of the was not directed King CP he had last •Hassan Il of Morocco alone year's elections. intended for but was also Only under an authentic military the ears of the Trotskyist leadership can dictatorship in Mauritania.

powerful the enormously Daddah's When Ould workers' movement regime was overthrown last Bolivia develop an indepen- July, the Polisario declared to unite dent programme , a truce with the new govern- behind the oppressed ment to allow them time to peasants and the students to withdraw from the war. rid Bolivia once and for all The truce has not yet military the Luise been broken on either side dictatorship and begin to Mauritania within build socialism. within the southern sector of the Western Sahara occu- by the Mauritanian pied army Need peace But the military govern- ment led by Ould Salek has not yet been able to achieve the on Pool-mer compromise grainien desperately needs Before they can salvage tne smpwrecked the colonels need peace it the Sahara-but a peace that their does not antagonise powerful northern neigh- bours in Morocco. Although the troops of Moroccan the Rev- 'Communists' Against reported to be withdrawing containing the from Mauritania as reques- Theory of one false step by Ould Ascendacion Sales's government could = Montorth s the them and in

STITE

that =Ten greater numbers Mande Heaty would Polisario that publish or discuss. Front its not has declared Make sure you get mounting impatience with svailadle it 21.7 the copy the vacillations of plus 20p p&ep from: Mauritanian leaders, the day of for these

WSL,

31, Dartmouth Park military dictators is dawning Hill, London NW5 1HR. unavoidably on the horizon

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979

ERITREAN FIGHTERS

STAND FIRM

Roads 100 miles

AGAINST

SUDAN

STALINIST

BARRAGE

Acting direct the of Eritrea. instructions from Kremlin, and the under siege, cubalt "left' outer areas. The

LOUDS

train the them streng nel of Ethiopian the armies long of this Ethiopian machinery massive the air. war has not desired (and by the forces Into not been war k begun. But all has failed, not launched by They aimed to subjugate the Derg, all their Eritrea to the military dic- Devos of the Derg, by futile. tatorship crushing into the Brothe far the the struggles Derg's Eritrean people for national tinually back and liberation. hemmed in. serous The annals of Stalinism While Eritrean themselves. are filled with the record of Liberation mele Kremlin Eritrean that positions, crimes ine Ethiopian bureaucrats have committed the against international working-class and the advances 1977 of the months OI Illasses anu world. 1978. such even few betrayals company, have been naked vicious as this latest outrage.

The In 1950 the Soviet larger areas proclaimed ambassador tant towns.. must take a decision which This of success July 1977 culminated satisfy the longing with the of Keren, the of independence and freedom national oppression. longing, the Soviet leaders By 1978, the position of Ethiopian helicopters, bomber jets and military advisors to forces extremely Mengistu and the butchers vulnerable. of the counter-revolutionary Asmara and Massawa-the Liberation orces on captured Soviet tank

SAUDI ARABIA

Nakfoo

RED SEA

REPUBLIC

Adigrat ekulullia • Makale I O A IP

DANKALIA

Sokota •Debra Tabor. turn Britain, heavy and the Italy and France met the road then his feudal linking of empire. forces for when could of the As rule Ethiopian empire passed from successor, Derg, oppressed the within borders continued and truggles self-determina- tot tion. malis in attempts major which use of Cuban and Soviet Eritrea was time the Derg grO WIllE but the from a working- militancy class had not been stamped out by all the atrocities of the 'Red of the Terror'. and louder state were Louder EPLA women's militia for demands were raised wage increases to keep pace with the headlong inflation of the war economy. In these conditions of the steve Ethiopian military dictators fixed on lne necessily destroying the struggles of the Eritrean people They reckoned on swift military victory to secure them to the Red Sea ports, to consoli- date their territorial base and to allow them to turn their attention to the slow opposition crescend within Ethiopia. The Derg was guided in all these decisions by the Stalinist bureaucracies who had established for them- selves a comfortable place as power Denne All three aims fell throne. squarely line with the African ambitions of the Kremlin and Havana bureaucracies. M09 RED 940 000m 591-1-000-89+0EN.++ EPLE demonstration through liberated Keren last May Day The Derg bragged that the 'glad tidings of victory Eritrean the secessionists' would broadcast on September 12 1978 at the celebrations to mark the fourth anniversary of its dictatorship. But the Stalinists and bourgeois will gathered for this witches' sabbath were fed on empty lies and the stale reports of hollow victories. The Derg's had offensive foundered. In June of last year of 80,000 Ethiopian army troops massed in Tigre on with border Eritrea. Their commanders were wo Soviet generals-one, Petrov, had earlier directed the war in the Ogaden. At this time the Cuban troops were involved in con- taining armed resistance in of Ethiopia, other especially the Ogaden Somali the West Liberation had aront Teorganised to wage guerrilla warfare. the Ranged against Derg's army were the forces of the Eritrean Popular Liberation Front, the Eritrean Liberation Front and the smaller Tigrai Popular Liberation Front. The of the straleg) invaders through these defences and link up with a second army break through planned to the siege of Asmara.. The united forces would then mop up any localised resistance and spread thell control the whole This scheme turned out very differently in practice.

The

EPLF

launched of successful attacks on the waiting army, heavy and causing osses forcing delay the Ethiopian advance. Even when the Derg's finally able 4mm y they move

INTO

action. made no progress until after a month of intense fighting..

Then they able to break through the positions of the ELF, seizing towns and major strategic positions. This move left the EPLF forces the engaged southern front in a position isolation facing TO f of danger immediate encirclement. They were forced make a tactical retreat by withdrawing trom southern front and from the Dekemhare, Segneiti and Digsa Still controlling the countryside, they switched to a phase of guerrilla war- fare in this area and by this seriously hampered Page 3 prevented opening army. Further around Derg Asmara, assault. 60,000 were attack on the northern but was Yacob. Ethiopians Again back by ties of attempts Repeated break Asmara 23 August its and abandoned the northern west. break

ELF,

to moveu seize the Ethiopians Mekerca. all numbers they decisively The inflicted forces, and captured not only large quantities of heavy but also Lanks and vehicles. Derg's offensive had ended in humiliating defeat. Despite the significant advances in the border area, which had effectively knocked out the ELF in the short-term, Keren remained firmly in the hands of the

EPLF

and the Asmara Massawa road had not beer re-opened. Armed the teeth remained a citadel Asmara of formidable strength. a citadel still But it was under siege, where the Derg were forced to sit and devise new means of wiping the Eritreas struggles of the people off the face of the Continued next week

Public sector - spread the Drivers confront scabs, the press Page 4

FIGHTING FOR STRIKE ACTION

AMONG NURSES

The Daily Mirror reported your tet him speak' out the oureau. strike action crats rejected this call.

for all out taken presented the day They wHen Th8 happened on the day of action Central action as if that was it-as if it Hall. was the end of the campaign mobilisation Well, 'the rather than the beginning.

22 ended up Not a single one even callec on anary march to Westminster. The hall for more strike action. was packed and it was a very They kept about and 'inquiries' into low pay there had " ne workers tellino ine workers now odory followed their leaders' call and paid they are-as if they didn't leadership- they wanted know. They wantee to Was the platform actually do next. seized? They didn't the answer People started move that one did they? towares me battorm and i was Of course not. The leaders one of them. The refused hear speakers. from bureaucrats tried finish the meeting with a thank the Toor-an amouranceman from Thanet wanted to speak you very much for coming" and and the crowd was chanting people were incensed by this Gillian Brear Socialist Press: What stage has the dispute reached? consid- The Regions are East London's Stratford container base.

ering the RHA's 13% offer.

Our claim for £65 would be 22%. But we're not interes- ted in percentages -we want- week. have been the flat t6s. running through Some firms are going and breaking the law back and waiting throughout. see Tate and Lyle Those screaming to what we get. gone back-but they back work are nothing have but scabs-many Hidallal picket on their gates! real cowboys. We see the t65 as a sate- SP: What about coverage of against the future. guard your dispute in the press?

There 1KeiV The only coverage to get decision on the tachograph near the truth was Nossitel next month. from the Washington Post will cut our That over- on world in ACHon time by 3-4 hours a day, so demanded the figures He our £65 would merely be a on all these stories of animal guarantee of 5 hours' over- cannibalism and starvation. We time. Of course there weren't any than that now. He interviewed the CBi The conditions of the and then went to the super- much a C markets to see and found better than They dic they of what pala tor niguts out, wilered.

said they were short of! we have to stay in digs-and What effect has the you should see them! They SP:

TGWU

Code of Picketing are horrible conditions The tanker drivers also had? At first we didn't think get bonuses for all sorts ol things, even though most of would be any different. We had been doing it any- their work is local. Those Colchester -way, allowing through medi- scabs who were quoting £140 a cines, post and firms carry- Gillian Brear, a staff nurse at Westminster Hospital talks to Socialist Press -that's Roval HUN, Ine comede or varsine have even intimidated nurses for

YOU

nursing otticers branch meet. allottery ings-never mind striking What does the RCN do on pay?

Well, the best example was last year. They said that the tact that we got only Tine govern ment's 10% was a 'victory'!

They said it was a victory of "•rotessionalisin over nostal Anyway we managed to get a smail group out on the day of action-it's. a question of break- ing down the fear of victimisa- tion. are these problems going How to be overcome! Av turtner recruitment mEd Almost inaudible above NUPE and genuine trade unions heckling-Basnett as a first step hut tae orooems ory slarl . The present leadership of there. kane or meatment can't the unions towards Ine platform and I was helped over serious they couldn't even trusted he The Dalliolet fight against a proper somebody shovee use micio in my hand-the Daily

VICT SOLON

When nurses join the rest of Mirror was not telling the truth the working class in the unions when it said i seized it Anyway the bureaucrats They nave To D thing before I the need to build new leader switched off the ship. could Use Was confused but people were chant- At Central Halls you called for ing 'let the nurse speak.

all-out strike action; I shouted as loud as i couid attach such importance to this policy -who else calls for it?

that one day protests could not win our claim and that only all- It's so important because the could set us on out strike action union leaders are atraid OT tne I thought mobilisation of the une odo lo victory massive that was the most important workine class thing. And tichting tor it nas been hard. Just before the day As a militant nurse working in started to other groups NUPE, what problems have you talk about it! Hospital Worker, faced the period up to 22 supported by the socials! Workers Party, put out a leaflet hard fight mobilise for the day of action. I but that wa wher clear to everybody that larat went round tive hospitals talk.

sections of workers were already ing to nurses individually.

prepared to take such action.

because of tear of victimistion Many afraid It's not enough

USI

along. It's necessary follow -nurses are always ind very prepare and give clea precarious position. organise depend on ward jobs eacersnio in davance And months before 22 tor reports wrom disitis the only paper in the January ame kev oredemis unionisd putting tion-the fight to show that the novelici 'professional organisa- forward policy so-called

THIS

Wa. Socialist Press. tion' can do nothina tor nurse!

Last Tuesday Pru Chamberlayne spoke to ten TGWU pickets outside union men. But, suddenly ing their own goods. they've all got union cards!

But now we're getting That's Lane too soft. You get all sorts Greer

(TGWU

Regional coming in, in anything they London find, often with Office) for you! can And we've had several licences. dispensation boys for Mind requests inside won't deal with non- from the freightliners, who SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 theLow Paid

NUPE

• Says: 5%%. insults theLow 1St out Minst and officials are now doing a lot of work that the RHA used to do. That a telex from Green Lane just now, asking would we let them through because they are NUR and not involved in the dispute We said they had to go to Picket line at Tilbury docks Camden John Seymour is a shop steward in the Cressy Road refuse section Camden General branch of NUPE He has been a steward in the section-representing 90 ist st the Strike Committee. But, more and more is even so, coming through. SP: How does the Strike Committee work? one Com incere s usu whole of mittee for the London-with about 200 representatives altogether We 2-3 stewards all but we never see them As for Headquarters, week they just sit haven't their offices-we seen them since the dispute began. No meetings We don't have report back with the stewards-we just hear things on the picket line The trouble is we're not organised. We haven't been on strike since 1926 and we don't know about ellest things. driver is And the lorry very individualistic-because he works alone.

strikes and build DEFEND DAVE a new leadership Ambulance drivers defy convenors SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 The following report written by a WSL member who works in the London and Ambulance Service belongs to NUPE. Last Monday's strike was the and united strongest action ever taken by ambulance drivers in London, especially we had a complete strike with acting the instructions of the Executive of NUPE, the London convenors committee and mass • stewaros committee. The convenors were involved with many frequent press interviews, in the week leading up to the 22nd.

Sunday tally day before the We all knew that it was only before they backed down, and the capitula- strike. call for strike action 1977 and workers-since been active in fighting seconory has favour selective action. public sector pay for the The whole claim since October of last selective action is that while the year. negotiations the seen Inal as the main strike lies What do you see . In tne issues in the public sector pay local branches. So when claim now? The main issue is to achieve solidarity among all maximum lost it'. unions sections in Dublic seclul the banner. would you say What strike action. several sections already come Why do you emphasise all out action as opposed to the strike action? selective action called for by the spread sections in their the don't he lieve that oiner leadership can be trusted; firstly and oress ine throughout November because strike action. up to now Fisher has relust to the fight for our ake up alongside the Ford your branch along these lines?

Cialli and workers. bakery recently the lorry drivers.

tion He similarly refused to take up the fight alongside the fire- including men last year, despite his left sewerage speeches. from November - majority. tor as long as ne cauld But now pressure has I was another stewards' SnOC calling To January 22. Malor by the Council of NUPE. Picketing official Kitson ranto from 22 January. don't you lobby SP: Why This the Strike Committee and demand that they stop on the platform. dispen- granting many seemed to sations! Ime way you just get lost in Oh, pressure the hierarchy up there. But if it goes on getting worse might have to put on tne •ITTerent we blanket pickets. call for all out strike action.

We will do that if neces- Un Ine sary-with 200 of us block- ing right across the gate monster 1ney nave sel a out strike action loose and they can't control claim from Divisional 1l. ASLEF aren't here today otticial call but they've been picketing tant at being too, against coaches heard that used to take the channel nac ferry passengers. action. . The We having big are effect. The docks are empty directed to -its all being Amsterdam or lying off. Sunday meeting At a , morning between the convenold the NUPE full-time officer Bob Jones, and David Ennals, the to decided strike recommend ThaT Ene should not be total-as previous.

agreed-but that emergency cover should de manded un a voluntary basis. What happened next showed rank and file the anger of the and women being sold out at the last minute by their leaders. Emergency meetings held some stations on the Sundav evening, where the plea to maintain emergency Cover was strongly At Camden station in North Fisher-smiles but no action and almost pledged before tney from midnight striking man of the Divisional Council, leadership The. and asked him to convene an the trouble with emercend y meeting Council. We argued that the LDC had leadership have all controi over a responsibility not just to back they will make • the those isolated sections in several winning boroughs that were already out, hands of the but to give an official lead obstacles further their strategy fails Fisher and Co. will simply point were put Harry our way my Barker, the full-time Divisional to the membership and say you Officer following the same vednesddy to those resolution through a full branch stewards' committee, which was have out on indefinite by now strongly in favour of all out action They must take up a fight to Now they had no choice but strike among all the Council Divisional Call unions, meeting. leadership actually call official all out When is this meeting going to take place? called for The meeting is have you taken in and we Thursday are building for a strong lobby.

Last October I put a resolu- Council does put out It this NUPE branch a call for official action, I think 2,000 members it will alter the whole balance of dustmen, nichways. out a lot the cam alch JUlI caretakers more sections and give and home helps-calling on the better chance of winning lukl Executive Committee to pur our The Tull Claim for all-out strike action How has the Workers Socialist League helped you in this fight?

massed by a big Obviously since then I have been a member since l Fisher has put off negotiations of the WŞL I've taken part in many struggles, which they have in-such rank and THie increased, overtak- current strike al arlitis and l've drawn strenoin ing his calls tor selective action understanding from political ahle recentiv which have resolution through our Enest the issues more committee he see to make clear-cut in fighting for the pay from allout action claim. I've become well aware that It was also at that stewards' militancy i enough- meeting that i was delegated to realised this especially with the attend a NUPE rally at Conway defeat of the Grunwick strike.

organised January What is a cleat neeced Divisional London programme in fighting against bureaucracy-both I put a resolution calling on Tne hardened right and the decep- demand that tive left-talkers. leadership call for all out action such a

WSL

has effectively programme all militants in NUPE smothered by the bureaucrats looking for political who think seriously deas to that endershi put about joining the WSL. forward was ThE London Divisional Council, a body made representatives from sections London-to put out an official Thursday atter the rally 1 put a resolution through my section pledging to take tor the the moment The Council made an This was all the more moor this time, since we had Southwark dustmen actually started indetinite resolution wa. passed almost unanimously comrade in NUPE and myselt took this resolutior John Seymour down to the home of the chair.

David Stevens, treasurer of the Wolverhampton Anti- Committee Racist local Labour Party member.

tried being February at Stafford Crown Court or charges, including counts of assaulting police.

that night! following morning this The Stevens wa grew with station militancy Wolverhampton voting for all out after station last year when a march orgart- strike. ised by the Anti-Racist By about 10.30 am half of mittee was stations and by thendorrhad London the • man near the town library come our The police

TOOK

the stoppage was complete with arrest stevens wadis the exception of two Stevens, arrest small stations out of 70 where known to inem as an orgarise crews continued to work of the anti-racist movement and was It was touch and go whether the town, would continue on the strike Racist Committee official res ponsible for The next ody. only Although police on the route taken by the one-day planned march. management almost stoppage, Wolverhampton nrovoke a contual ov by threatening a lock out of the immigrant population if we were to continue with the In two recent cases involv- action-the second phase of the non-answering of emergency telephones. this Although obvious management bluff, the again backer down that we recommended and should resume normal working- that we had made ou arguing and should wait for the

FIGHT RACISM

next offer.

STOP

We must fight for national the full action for Al OUT SELIKE

POLICE

claim, and we must Tight the by running

VIOLEN

scabbing service skeleton emergency under of elected con tol strike committees-to be with drawn at the first sign of scabb- ing trom ally source This way the blame Tor any suffering caused to patients can be clearly laid at the door of the real culprits-the Garlandl government and the state.

PRESS

GANG

If Wilson was listen- with the office, attendance and refused when Callaghan ing hold meeting made his great speech to the nation on how to were excluded picket lines he cross SnOr have squirmed must hysterical with envy. against Callaghan did not quite have continued status of hero achieve the ished. front but he ala acmeve bouquets every page single The real heroes in the As so often pages of the press were such m us stuff as Patrick Chesterman, the consultant surgeon who interview trade union patients turned cancer andy members. from treatment. from The press chided him for Elizabeth over enthusiasm and for in- Right Have cluding, •Play God with among The some who away. might not have approved of subtle. It began: (strikes. Patriotic pickets The Telegraph said: "Mr. right have they, mild and Chesterman's "to Life?» Play brief little tantrum was dic- tated by wish tor higher wages but by patri- "Mr. otic anger. -40 of by 120 heroes- More them-were found in Derby Irom Elizabeth in the form of lorry drivers who were demanding a re- strikers were vital supplies." turn to work and invaded district Mr. the committee rage

STEVENS.

Asian youth defending • Di themse ve • TrON atlack. white racist youth in the town and the Asians were centre, received heavy charged and all fines or borstal sentences.

early In Stevens' trial is likely to start on February 7, though the date number is not yet certain four The Wolverhampton is organising Committee Racist • a picket of the first day or in arrested 35 trial. March on The picket's effectiveness however, by the will be limited, (Com months

TACT

Lit by one which have elapsed sincE the labour move arrest, ment-with the exception i of a avantage tew individuals and the Dilling well ham and Wolverhampton Trades being Councils-is only now approacnea tor support the Anti- The only way David Stevens be defended is by mobilis.

Cal Ti haison with the movement onto no the ado the picket during his trial Details can be obtained from police are Polytechnic their harassment Students nion teleonort Wolverhampton 20327.

BLACK PEOPLE

ARE HERE TO

STAY

NEVE

WILL NOT

TOLERATED

BE Anti-racist march in Wolverhampton strike

NUPE

press sent home. leaders protested that union to members had continued to with the TGWU officials if the Press work with patients but the alicills. had been sent home by it has been week when the unrelenting management This was witch-hunts provocation ignored by the Press. the working class As the witch-hunts con- undimin- Evening News tinued, the announced intend- was Express throw 580 workers ing to out of their jobs, including the prize 22 journalists earmarked for Daily the compulsory redundancy Express who headlined an

NUJ

the Immediately of the work and chapel stopped discharged mandatory went into Birmingham's meeting which stopped pro Hospital «What • duction of the paper. They In one action the massive my Life?" contradiction the role 1n copy was no more journalists was revealed play "Alex Scott took a pill The jobs of the journa- yesterday to get his breath lists on the Evening News, for an attack on the hospita with the print along who prevented him of course should workers, having heart surgery. 'What be defended. " he asked. But it is time that the God with my working class began to exer- direct pressure cise some Scott's face re- flected the misery suffered against those journalists, though part of the patients sent home WIlL movement, Queen Birmingham's Lidut Hospital because offer no resistance to the blockading role they play in defending the capitalists. Scott was indeed

VICTIMS OF

EXPANSION

Page 6 Young Palestinians wave banner of resistance to Zionist and imperialist oppression

ZIONIST

COLONIAL

Socialist Press has time and again stressed the fact that an end to the oppression of the disposessed Palestinian people, and the unity of Arab and Jewish workers in a secular Palestine, can only be brought about by the destruction of the reactionary Zionist state of Israel. -I ver's brutal Zionist invasion of South Lebanon I DOM The inger ance mart at the sarage racialism

WIT IT TEE SOMES

barbarism of the invasion proved a severe embarassment to even the regime's most servile apologists, the more everyday economic exploitation and police/military repression of the Palestinian and Arab population in the occupied territories is largely ignored. The following article - by a guest Palestinian writer - helps expose the real plight of these people. As such, it underlies the necessity for the building of a Trotskyist the struggle for the Palestinian bacositio to actrance - I 30' Military rule and repression in occupied Palestine Through the thirty which years followed the establishment of the State of Israel, the main policy of its Zionist leadership has been to lands of оссиру more the neighbouring Arab countries. Within one year of its es- tablishment 15 May 1948, Israel occupied 6. thousand square kilometres from the area designated by the UN resolution as a part of the proposed Arab Palestinian State at that time In June 1967, more land 'was occupied by Israel, after it launched its new aggres war, known as the six day The West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and Sinai were occupied-an area of 68,5000 square km.

This equivalent to four times the

HOTO

area Israel had been I offered "Partition by the 194\ UN Resolution" (14,100 sq. km), and three times more than the Israel area delore 1967 (20,800 sq. km). "Greater Israel" The Israeli government started from the very begin- ning of its occupation to 'in "invest" in the Arab occu- pied territories, and to make the necessary changes in this land, considering it as part so-called "greater ership. This annexation policy expressed itself further 1n intensification of the "colo- nisation" of the occupied Arab lands-establishing Jewish military settlements claimed to be for "defence security" purposes, alongside civilian ments for settling the new immigrants. Between June/ 1967 and October 1973, fifty settle- were set up in the ments occupied territories This number went up to seventy by the end of 1976 half of them in the West Bank and Gaza. Confiscated Now there are 92 such settlements inhabited by 10,000 settlers. All these settlements were built on public up lands and on land confisca- ted from its Arab owners This annexation policy became more aggressive and more dangerous after Begin's coalition govern- ment assumed office = Mi =: 127

-I FEES:

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 The Zionist leaders say that these Jewish settle ments are the front line of defence borders of •Ine the "Jewish State" Not maps Golda Meir, the late ex- prime-minister and other leaders of her Labour Party have also repeatedly an- nounced that: "The borders of Israel are defined the by actual presence of the Israeli settle- ments, and not according to the maps". But Begin's government went bevond that, when it announced *Israel the right to establish in the occupied territories, because Zionist troops guard new s these territories are part of the historical Israeli land".

The establishment of this large network Jewish

COT

settlements in the occupied Arab territories shows clearly •that the policy Tel-Aviv is to create a new situation which would make total annexation easier. the At same time the economic policy of the Israeli government in these territories confirms that the plan is for total annexation Israeli economic policy is designed to create suitable socio-economic conditions for annexation-what - is called "economic comple- mentarity" The "committee of eco- nomic coordination in • Ine administered areas" was set as a tool to implement that policy. "Common market" The first step towards comic complementari- a as the setting up of a common market" between ice occupied territories and Israel. The main aim of this has been to expand commerce

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 with the more developed areas in the west bank and the higher populated areas in Gaza Strip. The Israeli government the export Cutoulares Israeli products these territories; at the same time has restricted imports from Jordan and other countries. Israeli imports According 'to the Israeli official: statistics; Israeli products from 75.5% of total imports of West 'the Gaza in 1968, to 89.2% in 1974.

Imports' from Jordan fell during the same period from 7.7% to 1.4% of the total.

curtements By 1975-77, 91.1% of of the the West imports Bank and Gaza Strip were while from Israel, 60% of the production of these territories was export- ed to Israel. Having "linked" the local the West Bank' market in and Gaza the Israeli market, regime set about associating TAne development economic the territories directly with development of the Israeli economy. Forced to change The Arab peasants West Bank and Gaza were forced to shift their agricul- tural production root, tobacco and cotton in order to satisfy the indus- the Israeli needs ot market. Israeli agricultural buy these agri- companies products lower Arab peasants that they buy from prices Jewish peasants. The colonial character of the commercial exchange beizeen Israel and territories shows• the extent of the dependen- cy of these territories on the Israeli economy. Israel 101 its industrial such textiles

WTOCUCIS

and electric equipment, these territories, in addition to some food products, such wheat, and rice, sugar which before 1967 were imported from Jordan and other countries. In these exchange to Israel Taw D10U- ucts demanded for its food and light fruits for some seasona consumption in Israel. West Bank is Hence, the a market for Israeli manu- tactures and a supplier cheap agricultural raw mat- erials. Israel also uses the West "bridge" Bank as a port its products to Jordan and other countries. so-called "oper bridges" policy serves Israeli aims by allowing the Israeli authorities to transfer goods and people from the West Bank to Jordan. According to the official stalistics, exports from une West Bank to Jordan rose 1968 between ana from I.L.53.6 million to I.L.453 million. Control of prices In years, mOTE that increase has continued.

The government exports imports, maximise The of the Jordan make these Arab profit taxes anu 40% sectors or "open the more. hereiold bridges" like the that the "common reveals West Bank. The is not Israel also gained used nomically. natural 1975 Until

DONCS ON

of the

ATED

countries. Another of the main ex- "economic teatures in policy of the the labour from these After the with of Jewish which is ing the society" the extent needs. Palestinian ments. main behind the This however. June was K. American journalist orities made a "concession" Blouis has written: "Whatever the needs Israeli Israeli employers by allowing them rulers say about their to exploit the cheap labour demands in the negotiation force in' the West Bank and process, about the modifica- Gaza. tions in the borders for "security reasons" According official , the main to and real aim for the Israeli the number statistics, workers from the capitalists is: the oil, land and the cheap labour force.

occupied territories working in Israel went up from five "That is the only inter- thousand in 1968 to 68,700 for the Israeli pretation in 1974. government practices in the 1975-77, the figures Arab occupied territories."

kept increasing at the same The pro-Israeli newspa- rate. pers and many reporters and These figures mean that researchers from US and the Arab labour now represents imperialist countries around 35 of the labour general try to hide the facts foce of the Israeli economy.

and motives behind the Arab workers work Israeli policy in the agricultural. occupied territories • mally building, road construction Along with Israeli bour- Page 7 been the / transfer on the sides of 250,000 Palestinian Arabs the from permanent employ- ment become But what the real labourers, thus depriving them of a basic right. Less than minimum Many found no Tel-Aviv's employment were forced to strengthen position migrate to the Arab neigh- bouring countries. Those with jobs in lop the occupied "protected" are theory by Israeli mini- mum wage laws. But they small labour practice force. receive on average less than 60% of the "minimum". In addition, the Israeli authori- ties deny them the right to The authorities set up trade and provide

ELSIELS

such as health care or social

SCCURLV

Furthermore Arab suffer from tories. appalling living conditions According the the Israeli whole fami- lies including children are radically the basic socio- living stables ine the Jewish farmers occupied are Locked up has become The Arab workers from the occupied territories are on the Israeli not allowed to stay during which it is forced to needed night the Jewish- buy much its une populated areas. supplies That is why many Israeli the Arab employers keer nomic workers locked up on their they are premises so lnal not noticed by the police.

these the all Israeli government annexa- tion policy has intensified dustry territories 1n the political and economic has unchanged. exploitation of the Arabs in the occupied territories The policy is one of bru- tal colonial Tiny firms, • oppression, ducts, and in these torm

LCLOTICS

ties allow sometimes industry. in the to some ing for building, ure "Contracting" is one. of the means by which Israeli investors gain profits. Profitable They usually make prof- itable agreements through which the small capitalists the occupied territories send them certain goods Palestinian youth fight back they need. So Israeli capital indirect- utilising all the traditional ly exploits the cheap labour methods of repression his- force. torically used by colonial According to Ma'ari- regimes, including violence, the Israeli newspaper-in to keep the current system 1970 there were 65 firms in unchanged the occupied territories pro- According to the plans of ducing tor Israeli contract- the Zionist leaders in Israel, Their total production ors. this policy . should lead to was worth around I.L.2.9 the complete absorption of million. the occupied Arab land into Another cruel conse- the Zionist state. •quence of the policy of the authorities occupation has Imperialist chief Carter with his two Middle East allies.

BUILD COUNCILS

OF ACTION!

Page 8 The lorry drivers' strike has brought the employers another vivid glimpse of the potential of the organised working class. now labouring might and main the struggles of their to tame the press and the media ring out continuously with abuse aimed against une power Corte orry drivers' strike committees and picketing in general last week in One Tory MP Parliament even likened strike committees to the soviets that sprang up in the struggles tols Revoltion in russia. His attack contained more than a germ of truth. Spontaneous The soviets were committees WOrKerS created in the struggle against i sarism ane casitaism. They drew together repre- sentatives militant section or workers-trace union political parties, bodies unemployed representatives, even delegates from meetings of unoreanise• workers. They were committes of joined delegates from rank and file soldiers, Soviets thus all-

WCIC

embracing bodles representing the toiling masses-and provided an arena for political debate and In this respect they were far more developed than the lorry drivers' committees. but Inev were. aiso that, they grew, and were revolutionary leadership, began firmly assert contro OT Ine workind class river authoria deal peo over society-and emerged as that of the capitalist state this sense when. we look the the lorry power drivers' wickets ano Ine challenge that they represent to the power of the capitalist class, see val Conneclon those Russian soviets. Unite struggles And when there are simul- taneous struggles taking place in ine •vole sector unions. on the railways and elsewhere, the obvious step necessary and link these Them To me occover whole through the ment do a formation of soviet-type bodies Such councils of action were formed widespread basis in the 1926 General Strike.

Since the General Strike there have been TeW upsurge of occasions where an class militancy seemed to offer the possibility of going weyer te timits or trade union struggle to the point of directiy confronting government. The degeneration the British Communisi Party nas that that revolu- meant The tionary strategy implicit in call for councils of action has now become пO1 a mass party but of the forces adhering to the Trotskyist programme.' Correct conditions The demand for councils o1 action, however, even advanced by small forces, can under

COTTEE

conaltons. support from Win substantial parity trade us and abour members other workme class organisations.

was tne case in the mass struggles against the Heath government in the summer Lesson of strike committees KS The working class had shown from the very outset its willing.

Tient. the ories-_wno had been elected to office in the wake of the treacherous Wilson •overnments oT-04-/U Huge demonstrations and protest actions had taken place naree Relations Bill though at each TUC leaders, backed the Communist Party Tovent to contine Inese actions peaceful protests aimed at "changing the line" the Tories rather than bringing them down. Miners' strike 1972 saw a national miners force back the Tories But the implementation of the Industrial Relations Act agast dock ickets atlema to prevent container firms using non-registered labour was the biggest single be tweet LIvE and the Tory WorkinG class government. leaders had succeeded holding DacK workers anger at the levying ol fines on the

TGWU

by Industrial National Relations court. rive cockers were lared in July for "contempt of court" when they continued to picket a

OXFORD

RADES COUN

Unity is Strangth Haulage drivers' picket line in Manchester non-registered container firm.

ine resoonse was Immediatt and enormous. Hundreds thousands of workers in almost ever section stopped work. Dockers, print workers, encineers and tousanas joined huge demonstrations Pentonville jail where the five the being held-without from union bureaucracy. The dimensions alarmed at Ine mass movement ThaT Ther were pressed into tentatively calling general a one-day for strike Despite the fact that it was the height of the holiday shut down pertoo in industry, tesurd ¡tions from union hories were flooding in to show that with o without this call a general strike movement was on the way. Councils of action was under Inese conor- tions that the Trotskyists of the Socialist Labour League took up the formation to

COUNCIS

• action arena within the growing mass struggle within which revolu- Bonares acceptance of their programme.

Yet until the was not contation was post its pedr

ACTSE

Oxford Council of Action supporting hospital ancillary workers strike SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 "How are the different demands and forms of struggle to be harmonised, if only within the limits of one city? History has even auraddy Inese will unite thi reported tree firm of ran for this edito her a proposed a different form possible to think up a better one. Soviets are not date to an a pron party programme. I ney throw open their door to all the exploi- ted. Through these doors pass reprosontatives of all strata, drawn into the goneral current of the struggle. The organisation, broadening out togather with the movement is renewed agaın and agaın in its womb All political currents of the proletariat can struggle for leadership of the soviets on the basis of the widest democracy. The slogan of soviets therefore, crowns the programme of transitional demands Transitional Programme P.28 (Folrose Ed.)

confirmed the rapid by was growth and implications of the Leyland

TOO OO

Strike which March 19// led tc the brink nationa

HE BOND

engineering strike against Levant s sackine toreat These brought the downfall of the Labour govern ment and the emercence of thi Lib-Lab coalition, • sinate in key battle every wages -13 defiance or covernment ba limits has implicitly. included : threat to the very life of the yove cult his mess strike so firemen's strike.

TOF

48,000 firemen went out, one million local authority workers were sti oressino Ener caim tol pay increase and 250,000 were pursuin their demand for a £135 a week wage The fight to mobilise thes workers pay claim was aronestee Tiremer essential if the pay policy was to be defeated in the public sector 1$70 DUt The TiCia readers both sections were dedicated to preventing such united action.

I Ne worker. Doc asi League, therefore, combined the demand that these leaders action with • agitation on a local level for

• COUNCIS

be established, bringing together firemen and delegates from other union branches in ordel Police escort scab driver in 1926 General Strike broaden the action and mobilise The Tories had been forced these other sections that such demands began While Sheffield the *Official Solicitore in order te in Dear TrUN and Countis oretex action were District set up in severa •alinist- po areas where the SLL had trade "Pentonville -and Committee was able to ignore a demand were subseouenty to shy awar stewares vo Oxford. Lambeth, and from such open confrontations.

action, Such council ot North London The TUC leaders, thoroughly North London established Oxford the initial action was trightened by the scope of that had the reso utior

TOI

councI mass movement embracine Tremen was passed by the local erupted, did everything possible Council and the loca action to defuse workers' militancy.

Labour Party, Confed and subsequently The predominance And with the easing Stalinist influence on this com mittee, combined with the FBU pressure, the Stalinists and 'left workers shop stewards commit- to wind takino eements that had heer Tees ano union orarenes forced forward into the Oxford the that strike meant however Council Action breathed Delegates ine Camden Council of Actiol was relegated to the status of a • sian ot renet. ano bedan to. oc they could its strike support committee The to naural meetno collapse. The Transitional Programme Transport House, Oxford drew So al though the Oxford over 60 delegates from points out: Action lasted well "Soviets can arise only at the CouncIl labout movement orean sations into 1973 leading time when campaigns including the Confed, the Morris Mas nonen Motors Joint Shop Stewards the Tory enters an openly revolutionary agallist odylaws and important intervention stage" Committee, British Levianc attempting to mobilise house- cannot artificially create Service Stewards JOINt Snor the issue of pay wives on the two biggest TGWU branches and councils of action at a point where major class battles are no town several

AUEW

prices, it eventually Taded Trom the scene. in process, and we do not seet the Communist Party Labour Party • Yound socialists lu uo so the

SLL

and other Phase Two But we retain the conviction groups. that the formulation of f such bodies After battle with the essential step a The emergence of compul. the struggle of the working class wage controls under the stalinists it adopted a porciy ot and rising fighting for the removal of the Labour government for power. Tory government. The lorry drivers' strike has WOrKInG class

DOSTITY

shown Phase 2 pay limits, particu- but the conditons tor such a

HOW

body to establish itself at the from 1976, action could emerge as an the end of head of organised base of a growing mass move- workers" created ine ceneral cone tions ir the revolutionaries again ment were no longt

WHICH

prover, contrarine needed to look at the question 'ment essential supplies of councils of action. organising supporting action for government The workers in hanging its whole existence struggle and challenging the the betrayals and manoeuvres perpetuation waut control, trade union officials and with te apparatus throwing its As rotsKy writes weight with 'From the first moment ol Healey, a major challenge to the their appearance, the soviets, 5% Phase abu as a pivor aroune wnct meant a confrontation with the whole bureaucracy., raising the their struggle against question of government. exploiters, become competitors Socialisi I me worker. League pointed out that should authorities and then of the such a struggle erupt, the mood central government bourgeois and the class To! HOS possible that a strike movemént proletarian are irreconcilably could quickly grow among other opposed to each , other. Conflict set tons or workers creatine a to the May of victory the power situation similar Tre Case June events in France in 1968 of the Soviets that is the tatorship Under of the proletariat anc these Conaltions socialis occan To draw attention to the councils of action demand, in society, will arise." able In preparing for such a leve offer of struggle we must continue to WorKerS alternative leater and organisation, Shie sper out the need tor councils independent of action, alongside direct our pro control demands on. jobs tne wages, control and oureaucracy workers This long-term perspective

Suspended for upholding socialist SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 At its January meet- ing the General Com- mittee of the Oxford City Labour Party voted sible margin (39-35 to the narrowest pos- expel Ted Heslin, an Committee Executive member and delegate from Blackwells TGWU/ ACTSS branch, from the Labour Party. The charge against Heslin was that he was a supporter of the WSL and that he sold Socialist Press. Ambiguous dere right wina, uner the arch witch- hunter John Power (Presi- Oxford Trades dent of City Labour Council and Trade Union Liaison Party the Officer), brought charges under an ambiguous Party in Case which standing orders designed to exclude political with seperate organisations branches and programme affiliating the from Labour Party For all the right wing's the attempts to recuce expulsion to the political tional matter, character of the moves PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report On 22 January six Labour Councillors were disciplined by The Ladour Group on Newham Borough Council. Mark Hyde interviewed one of them, John riant. campaign, election Plant campaigned on Why have six councillors been disciplined? Six of us voted contrary to a Labour Group decision in the council. The question was pro ceeding with €14,000,000 project tor a new Civic Centre' Also Ken Palmer and myseli have been further disciplined for putting motions the next

COUTCH

accred The Civic Centre decision and also council to calling on meet the social workers' pay claim.

What action has been laKen against the six? been told that have Is there room for socialists in the Labour Party? As a Labour Party mem- against Ted Heslin land's Cowley Body Plant.

ber, Ted Heslin has a 2½ Despite fact that Spell Dy more than one third of the year record of fighting for supporters on the GC. kind The bureaucracy in the G.C. voted against the Ene policies advocated witch-hunters to accept Ken socialist xiord trade union move Williamson Peter by Socialist Press. ment and the labour Party He has been a delegate to taken hammering Mclntyre into membership, the G.C., a member of the recently and a witch-hunt is pursued the charges rower against Heslin, and has now ¿xecutive Committee and always the inal recourse o Chairman of the the isolated bureaucrats.

split the Oxford Labour Anti- Racism Committee. Socialist Press has repor- Party down the middle. ted last year's TGWU moves Recently resolution from against the Cowley 9; the oranCI calling for an end to situation in the Oxford wage Labour Party closely control and the removal of the Callaghan/Healey leader- bound up with the victimi- within

TGWU

ship provoked bitter sations the debate and drew a clear line between those who perceive Last October and the crisis of leadership November the GC voted to the labour movement and refuse membership applica- those fakers and talkers tions from Dr. Ken William- to not preparea son and Peter McIntyre on out any fight for a carry the grounds that they were socialist programme.

WSL

of the supporters The initial objections Dilemma by John Power were made and Tony Williamson a reac- The fight against Ted tionary worker-onest ane Heslin's expulsion, and for Chairman of the

TGWU

Power the admission of socialists 5/60 branch in British Ley- into the Labour Party, raises

I MEDE PREMISES

the dilemma now confront- ing all Labour Party mem.

bers.

WILL DIE

The very right wingers driving who are now militant socialists out of the are at the same time the and outspoken

HOSI

defenders of the Callaghan leadership's catas- trophic course of scabbing strike breaking, wage controls other Tory ana which if policies challenged certain cost Labour a defeat at the next General Election. Why only the of these opponents right wing leaders are hounded, witch-hunted and expelled from the Labour Party? In Oxford, for instance, the Labour GC includes More Labour Party rebels: Southwark Councillors Bob Smith and Jim Greening lead a Lady McCarthy, right wing march of about 250 in protest against a planned new Town Hall.

policies! gramme publicised in Socialist rress contained the right wing cal tor driving traitors out of their Its far from clear that there the labour and the need for the amount movement, building new oftice space involved. The New maddersal. based on a socialist programme council leaders refuse to answer for the overthrow of capitalism.

questions prestige projears of this kind in there a borough with some of the worst housing problems they must sign a 'good behav. through rates-then they musi iour' document agreeing to be be openly discussed in the loca bound Labour Group movement. labour use 01 can be the party whip silences this.

decisions, Deore they readmitted the Labour Group. How do vou see the importance of the social workers' claim?

Men ra mer and nave aso It's bad that they have been been suspended for six months.

forced into a position of putting' In local carms Why buildinge one en The

NALGO

leadership opposed to the never Wanted local initiatives to There are a number of ques. be successtul. tions Their handling of the dispute

"ISU

Tne NALGO leader Drain financial basis of it is negotiated shows nothing but attempts to secretly. sell out the action. fund holding a sixty year lease We understand now that it But the social workers were involves a trade union pension on the land. taking industrial action for local

LABOUR

Excluded -Peter McIntyre chairman of the Area Health Authority which is current- ly carrying through a savage programme of cuts in the health service. Yet it is not McCarthy, Ken Williamson but Dr. well-known as active an opponent of the cuts, who is excluded from the Labour Party! Under these conditions no left winger or socialist- whether or not he/she at present supports the policies of Socialist Press-can consider himself safe from the threat of bureaucratic expulsion. More witch-hunts Power and his cronies have already served notice witch-hunts will that continue Meanwhile Ken William- son, Peter McIntyre and Ted Heslin pursue their are to rights of appeal to the NEC.

It is time that all Labour Party militants turned their attentions the real to divisions within their party took a firm stand on and socialists the right of to and Councils had a responsibility to reflects the drive to the breaking of wage controls. cash must be made avail- able 1180 Callaghan, by Healev imposing cash the job that the IMF has told them to must get rid of these servants of the capitalists in the Labour Party. How will you fight your sus- pensions? I won't sign 'good behaviour' documents nare wur have be a fight in Labour Party wards and GMCs and in the unions, to Torre our readmission withotr fight on a class position political have agreement with the other councillors disciplined but it is in defence o1 democratic rights in the labour movement. Page 9

PARTY

for their argue policies within its ranks. The Party's National Executive holds a majority of Tribunite MPs and dele- gates who proclaim them- selves left wing socialists.

from thei past record 'these have proved people themselves unwilling fight for of removal ine their Party's scab leaders.

Where will they stand now on this move by the right wing to oust socialists and deny them the right to belong to the Labour Party?

It is no accident that the witch-hunt comes at a time of deepening crisis for the Labour Party moves as ever further out of step with the developments recent within the working-class PHOTO: Chrs Davies, Report Healey Only Socialist Press, Workers the Socialist League has put forward a principled policy which socialists within the Party can struggle against the betrayals of their leadership It is for this reason that while the tame cats of the Militant group and othet "opponents" of self-styled Callaghan are welcomed inside the Labour Party, Socialist tress have under repeated wilch-nunting allacks Councillor Plant Can well intentioned individuals win this ment An individual can't do it. You need socialist that organisea around _policier can bring down the leadership and build a new one press car olav significant role in the creation of such an opposition witnout a correct meory anc there's no way programme forward

WSL We offer a lead! Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

Once again, this time due to the lorry drivers' TGWU's strike, the longest running dispute at Sandersons of Croft, near Skegness has been pushed into the back- ground by the TGWU bureaucracy. This strike-for reinstate- ment and for the most basic democratic meht. to ioin a union-began May 13, 1977 and is still as far away from a settlement as it was 20 months ago. The

TGWU

leadership both locally and nationally displayed time time their treachery and cowardice in this dispute.

Their refusal to call for more mass pickets following the extremely successful one held last October, and their complete inactivity in fighting for the cutting off essential services the plant is a betrayal and an insult the shown by the strikers. They have maintained a 24-hour, seven day a week picket on the factory these Ron Todd, the

TGWU

National Organiser, was supposed to meet the strike committee last week but up time has made no contact with them.

Duped This complete disregard for the strikers comes after the Todd, Olicials Cairns and Cooper had been duped by Roy Sanderson, the plant's lifting the owner,

HELO

enabling picket, display his forlifts at the Smithfield Show This agreed on the purely verbal understanding that Sanderson would nego- tiate the reinstatement of all the strikers and would also recognise the union. But after management organised demonstration by the scabs still working in the plant oppose the to strikers, (an occasion when by some TV Surance concluence appeared on cameras une scene), and aiso a manipu- ballot lated which also

NEWS

A clash on the Sandersons mass picket last October Act now to win forgotten strike Mark Rusher. IFT Duped-Ron Todd rejected the strikers, off, Sanderson backed breaking off the negotia- tions and leaving top TGWU officials with egg on their faces. But even this insult has drawn form not from Todd postave to the firm into screw Whichever way you look submission. at the struggles and prob- Solid lems now facing the working class world-wide, comparison one thing stands out above strikers have remained solid the need for a prin- all- and as determined as ever to cipled leadership capable of see this struggle through to leading the struggle for state a victonous conciusion There no doubt and the establish- that however, they are ment of a socialist society.

totally disillusioned with the TGWU bureaucracy and The Workers Socialist further Legue is the oniv movement in Britain that fights patiently and initiative must be taken if relentlessly build such the strike 1s to wull. the Dasts The strike committee Trotskyist Transitional Prog- • must surely now draw the lessons to be learnt from We alone are the movement Grunwick ensure that they don't finish up the same way Mass pickets They themselves call for mass pickets to be supported by all the trade and labour ment. They • must also take up the call advocated the by WSL during Grunwick dispute for a mass lobby of the demanding the immediate implementation of the blacking of all essen- tial services Sandersons as the only way the strike can be won. meeting of branch delegates from NALGO's local government group last week voted to accept a sell- out "settlement"' formula in a bid to end the six month pay strike by social workers.

NALGO

bureaucrats argue that that is the best could be botance-out look precaution ot outting it torward social workers heavily numecred

OUT

от Ine so oranches represented only 110 had social And the final members. worker vote. not surprisingty was.s-l for acceptance.

NALGO

officials claimed that the! will only tell social workers return work where progress is made on local tere doubt that the vote will be usec As rough a squalid sell stampede light to stampede a green wage oriolnai bargaining. Low pay The social workers' dispute hasts roots with their disatis faction at appallingly low rates with other local government workers This unrest came to a head ence which instructed full abolish the existing national pay socia worker enabling branches obtain local agreements. full timers ElIC did nothing achieve tnest ends was left to the workers themselves who began

AUGUST

will socla workers three branches striking local claims they had submitted. o nate nozens or eranese.

have submitted claims and 2,600 social workers from oranche strike action with over 2,000 elsewhere taking other militant mutanel The national bureaucracy into negotiations "joint with emolovers Camela tile proposed coreemeni through last week's meeting "deal" is of pathetic. It offers a banded That does not sarink on evel with battles head-on ing leaders of the working class whether these ne oben roni wingers, 'left' talking Labourites Stalinists of the Communist Party. Such a policy has made us the trade union no friends and Labour bureaucracy.

DUT

has consistently offered the most powerful lead to workers In strucce Indeed the strength of our lies precisely in our movement reiection of any attempt to tind "short cuts aroung the necess.

ary fight to construct a Marxist leadership in the working class.

In these battles we set out to prove to workers both in theory

NOON AR

PhANT THE SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979 NALGO sells out social workers

SLINGTON

NALGO

strikers attempted to mount erective pickets particularly in London, where they preven- ted fuel supplies reaching other unes wert to stop by the Instructed officials! Perhaps the most disgusting asDecT oT tnis deal is that any made will paid until July 1979-the date ot NALGO's normal annual pay settlement. Government oTTiCials nave made it plain that money allo.

cated work rates will be deducted from the NALGO hatchet man, Mike Blick. local government office other structure effectively giving workers! average 5-6% All NALGO members should workers with be fiahting this sell out attemn' Hitaly and call for a continuation and STrineS attacnea It looks like a puppeteer's nightmare escalation of the strike action to The negotiators are basically Win Locally conducted negotia se lino mos •ea on toe croumen that if this struggle is not ended tions Locat no to national control then NALGO will have nothin strike _Contro action •Strike une tor strikes! *No to pay restraint and the This absurd "jam tomorrow" 5% limit: protected against aroumenu Tous to exolan now increases through cost of living the employers will take NALGO to clauses cao tu ate them on this issue No to unitiey Councils and The negotiators claim that "Joint" consultation social strike has *Yes to properly constituted the workers shop stewards systems utre or no eirect our wereve and in practice the necessity for Totematonaly takina international „TOl up transitional programme the

WSL

issues points out not demands which, starting from the of Britist concation problems today's support the al Tim workers liberation struggle and revolut consciousness witnin the work ing class, lead workers in ionary struggles such as those in i need fo sure so re Itan ane outter socialist revolution also the necessity for the recon For this of the Trotskyist reason, though we structior are smaller than some self-stviec 'revolutionary' groups, the WSL world anising centre has featured in • forefront of party of socialist revolution The WSL is not the struggles in British Leyland, biggest movement on the left in Britair against the sale of jobs by

TUC

in the nor it the easiest to be But in its approach struggle against struggles, unionisatior to oom incory ana practice it la the fight against bureaucratic only really, serious revol the dictatorship within the unions.

utionary movement. rejecting any descent to simple

WHY

NOT

JOIN

US? trade union militancy, and any the form below in Torm branch, who will gladly supply controvny or Stalinist bureaucracy - is of moro about course essential for the working policies, and per. but spectives. class only ritain More details Send me more details of the Workers Socialist League Name . Address Trade Union/occupation

STALINISTS STAB The Great Train SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 January 1979

DAY OF ACTION

On Saturday January 27 , and intent on lack of support avoiding a confrontation TGWU Region 1 Secretary militant strike committee mem- Stalinist Sid and leading wers ana dicKels Staden, and his regional astouncino treachery coming at the end of a organiser Les Shorter, sat in by record sabotage long the Garners Strike Com- •talinist oraden. now inoucate whilst mittee rooms, the whole regional leadership of the strike the TGWU in a sharp move supporters • ot mounted an anniversary tne roll. all Garners picket on In the context of a national with 200 Restaurants, witch-hunt against the press massed at Oxford Street at the Garners lorry drivers strike: 200 strike lunchtime, and at Is now on une receiving end the

' TGWU

national Whitcombe Street the leadership's cringing betrayal of evening. Tne ront to dicket. delegations did Staden with Regional How many the Committee's has the Regional Committee mobil- consent, the police ise from Its 160u branches and a redov acreca witn half-a-million members? How to limit picketing to six.

showed that they Regional Committee are now unwilling even to make members Turned us

TO SUDDOU

bitter the anniversary of a token snow or attendance d struggle basic demo. on previous Garners demonstra- cratic right, to join the TGWU?

tions. The same stand was taken by

• COURSE-NONE!

The sole contribution of the and Stiller

O SEATS

Dunn

SERTUC,

and whole Regional leadership came blal lital McLennan. when staden, snorter ano Tul- GorGon General time catering officer Abrahams the Communist Secretary stood on Party (who has crawled out of the strike com• mittee rooms and crept around dicker lines lust ione enough te the picket lines, hoping to find have his photo taken). one of these strike through • Not •rainists

TGWU

GARNERS

OFFICIAL

STRIKE

TRADE UNION

RECOGNITION

Victor to the Corners Strike!

ERE

Pickets on the Day of Action

AT THE TOP...

UNION DUES

mobilised themselves-let alone the bodies delegations TrOM theys contealt, present. there contrast, turn out by the torces massive ot the state who on saturday protected Garners boss Margolis with a least 400 assorted police (twice as many as those bicker ing). We warn the bureaucrats and time servers necron leadership Regionas Com mittee Nicholson, Kirby, Dorchester, Maher U sullivan Westermann and full timers Blamerhauzer Cavanagh, and Inar evervone once of this strike will lose-with emerge-win record We intend to fight alongside the strike committee to ensure that their record of betrayal and sabotage will stand as an indict- ment of class collaboration for all workers and especially those in the TGWU to see The strake committee musi draw strength from the fact that which Saturday's turnout, Incuced celerations the

WSL

from Brighton, Oxford and Sheffield, , was large enough prevent stadel and Shorter using it as a pretext for calling the strike off. committee must lite forward their carry Margolis and against Regional leadership who case late all along the line to nim within the TGWU for a national a day of action on March 3 In this campaigning they will full of the nave

LIE

Support WSL and its supporters. The only problem for the striking haulage drivers continues to be their official leadership. aT nume waen emoovers over the country are collapsing by settling for the full the 35 €65 hour week. The aww is weakening that erent agreements in gotting membership by negotiating areas. Turned down Northern ireland The officials recommended tance of a £62.50 offer as what they calee me best mar coura be negotiated". This was turned down by a mass meeting of the member ship In Hull the officials nego- tiated a £64 settlement. was the

WON!

decision by the stewards in the Bristol area to accept a union nex our creemen to recur

'THEY'RE EVEN

AND THE NUR OFFICE...

OF COURSE, YOUWERE

WELL SID- NOW DO YOU SEE WHY

KNOW HOW MUCH I

WE MADE SUCH AN ISSUE OF

HATE ANY STRIKES!

Sel -OUt The decision of the separate claim for a 10% bonus ASLEF executive to call off orantee asi vedr • to Guares oI . rural trains their programme of one day That claim had been one of strikes and to submit their the many • side products of the claim for a 10% bonus pay- union leadership's ratusa ment to the tender mercies challenge the government wage controls head on. McCarthy of Lord McCarthy's wa. LorO qualify as the most blatant 'Railway National stat betrayal of the year. Tribunal told

ASLEF

drivers Both the major blue collar .Idst year lild rail unions ASLEF and the NUR high speed trains would get the payments are "left". Now Ray Buckton, wate claims ot up TO 20% TOr their members Talking ceneral Secreldry

ASLEF

they have concen- has invited this arcr fixer for the Labour gavernment trated on Getusing the wades pressure by squabbling over a again! much smaller diversion. This Lord however he strikes were calec. no is likely to come McCarthy up pay claim, but over a over ure with draconlar measures axing slashed jobs-British Rail wants Although the ASLEF action ideological differences

NUR

between ASLEF and the and Buckton and Sic in genera Weighel!

(NUR

general particular, nothing taryi coule de turmer trom Ine truta Both these men have fully cuts and accepted massive job neithel nas any intention fighting the real battle for all round increases pay way outside the do limit Clashes They are using the gladiator- ial' clashes between them to a common cause-diverting tne members' militancy over wages Sid Weighell Officials hold back victory to work with no money! shortage of parts from of a They have agreed to accept Lanet arbitration by a 3-man commit- The have been tee. get the Morris's trying do department transport Weighted what Leyland drivers are doing at Longbridge and every othe work The plant-cove commitee-consisting striking Welsh RHA members.

of Frank •Cousins, and RHA Geoffrey Jones, and nominee The stewards retused to ac this-rejecting equivocal letters chaired inaustrial from the Welsh TGWU Regional Director John Garnett-is weighted mars that the sn : Secretary George Wright, favour talking of settling nationally for letter the figure it recommends.

arrived signed by both Wright and chairman the After the Bristol decision, by the TGWU Regional Secretary. Ron Welsh central strike committee D. Driscoll. Nethercott said that these were: This read: orous or workers "The to say that the nation matters, policy of the Centra and I am proud of them." Strike Committee of Region (Wales) is that all 'own account vehicles are allowed to carry all Shortage of parts OW r account roads includit work normally carried by RHA firms still in dispute. This. is to This attitude many the TGWU officials is shown by the bring further events Cowley this week KHA Tirms to satue al Loo tol British Leyland 40 hours. where "Therefore the production stoped becaus

• THE T&GWU OFFICE.

THE NUPE OFFICE

THANK GOODNESS ALAN HAS INSISTED ON ONLY

(JUST AS WELL ALEX

SECTIONAL STRIKES HELL KEEP THE RES!

HAS GOT TO WORK

WORKING

BREAKING UP PICKETS!

HILD

A REMIER

FINALLY, CONARESS HOUSE

HELLO LADS, IT'S

WORK SO FAR!

JIM AND / WANT

TO SHOW YOU OUR

NEW SOCIAL

CONTRACT!

Page 11 Búckton Member. unions must demand that their executives call action now over the •cam-action unites railway workers instead of trying to divide them Al -Out strike action -not to!

one day but unlimited strikes- is the only way for the claims to be won. Councils of action Members must also demand that enexecutive: brust le discuss the loss et anv ioos One of the biggest nighmares facing Weighell- wants •art in an v -Is Inaco NUR has a policy of demanding this 20,000 jobs year extra on Ine ralways, ims claim mids also be ruthlessly pursued Strike must be set up which cut GIVIsIons and counte officials attempts to divide up the membership ndi workers calcu out on • strike shoulo. ink wo with otne form councils of coordinate the struggle covernment wage control Loylánd above policy British lorrie: arivers ana between vales and Cowley anything carried by the RHA firm: still understandind That KHA Tirm. that settle at f65 for 40 hours immediately be returned their normal work.' After checking that the letter had been endorsed by the

LOCA

strike committer Llanelli, Cowley transport section stewards reluctantly doreed authorise ine move ment of the material. But before the convoy vehicles reached

INE

plants, an objection was raised by the local lorry drivers' strike Oxford committer stateo that the disoensation nac not been cleared with them The vehicles turned around and returned to Cowley empty As we go to press it seems that

RHA

have used the Bristol tribunal as a cevice make a new offer. of £64 - a settlement of over 20%

AND OUR SEPARATE

SETTLEMENTS SHOULD

BREAK EM UP A BIT MORE!

RIGHT LADS - I NEED

| YOUR AGREEMENT NOW

REMEMBER: UNITY

IS STRENGTH!

Carter changes horses in

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Iran crisis As the Bakhtiar regime in Iran provokes new hostility every day through its repres- sion and massacres, so ine imperialists US the and Moscow Stalinists seem to have decided simultaneously that the best hope for counter-revolution in Iran is "Islamic republic" the 01 the Ayatollah Khomeini. Carter's envoy tormet Attorney-General Ramsay emerged from audience With Anomein! "deeply impressed by the depth and purpose of the anu natult ..movement ano will highest hopes that it will achieve social justice" Radio Ine same ume Moscow came out in full sup- of "returning home to lead the was peooes struocle lord new ane independent Iran" The Shah with Carter in the US Tudeh rarty week by the British deal to get himself into power.

(backed last under the ront conditIons has evidently Meanwhile the Iranian army stalinist aisu promised Bakhtiar a good job if to fight a losing battle abjectly declared its support for the Islamic republic, stating that he accepts the stamic rebud against Ene moonsta just as Bakhtiar has offered who are reported to be carrying "playing a totally an increasing number of arms.

with progressive part in the develop- have given a ment of Iran". resigning as rime Winister one millary Massacred

DUNLOP: NO

But the horse they are all backing is still in the starting return with Bakhtiar anu duvar

CALL TO OCCUPY

how estiv unconcerned many his followers while he attempts a massacred Dunlop's Workers in all 'Dunlop goods the docks; and demand that threatened Speke plant MPs block last Tuesday endorsed a NEB loans to Dunlop. joint six-point plan of The bankruptcy of "action" supposed to leadership Speke War fight closure, outlined clear Fred

ASTMS

convenor by

TGWU

General spinelessly Christopher Executive Council chair- argued as instrikes thich man Stan Pemberton. such Among the proposals put 'provocative" might

AUEW

to a mass meeting were the while convenot Arthur Todd suggested that of goods, Dieve livi materials or plant from leav- new investment be diverted ing the site; the blacking of Fort Dunlop

STOL

BOKATIO

Birmingham the Speke plant. TGWU convenor Charlie Right Parker echoed manage- ment's propaganda, calling for import controls against cheap East European tyres at

WORKIKS

But nobody put foward essential policy.

EAGUE

wor gad preme being

SOCIALIST

the from and goods a full-scale

PRESS

removed: only * occupation can do tactory forefront! this, and offer any serious

DEFEND THE

prospect of saving the 2,400 threatened jobs at Dunlops.

BU TOOLMAKES GET

FUND

DEFEND THE

SOCIALIST

RIGHT

PRESS

mirl As we went to press we had received total this so I would like to receive...

EVERY WEEK!

of £508.48 leaving issues. I encinie the sun' :..

Our thanks to a subscriber Worcester in who sent in S issues .£1.10 Name Nave subscribers who can spare a few Address 10 issues ..£2.20 pounds, perhaps a regular basis for our monthly fund?

2.5 issues .£S.50 All donations should be sent Socialist Press, 31, Send to: 31. Dartmous Parly Hill, Park Hill, Dartmouth 50 issues {10.00 Dartmouth London NWS IHR. London Note lak Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd. (London). Registered as a Newspaper at the Post Office.

number of indications of their upport for the Shah-appointer Bakhtiar government and also o ther hundreds shot dead or injured.

But they have still failed to gain much political control ovel the vast mass movement and ir of the soldiers have deserted with their arms The the week puents ot provided alarming new evidence that the central problem of this movement

WAICI

demon strated its revolutionary vast potential is that of leadership state emercency been declared in the Army, and rife with airforce appears mutinv. Airmen at Esfahan who to load bombs into planes have been executed; and East alroase Tehran lorry-loads airmen OT been placed under arrest have Tor relusing the sale Order • in some of the demonsira tions in Tehran the most funda- mentalist Islamic groups turned onysicamy acainsı Wviarxis ls bourgeois newspaper office was ransacked for Marxist allegedly using teccasions Marxist. on. ano some occasions • demon- verbally and strators were sical allacked Such attacks have been made by the years of much easier treacherous ooportunist suboor l for the Shah by the Moscow and Peking bureaucracies. and "Commun- ism" have been converted Stalinist betrayals into synonyms for opportunism and repression tasks of and course rakes the of course, makes the leadership much more cucut our at une same time so much more urgent But there is no doubt that me cone tors Torsuch a ledetr ship to build a strong party Seven years after the premeditated murder of 13 unarmed Civil Rights demonstrators by the First Paratroop Regi- "Bloody ment in Derry, Sunday" was commem- orated by a march from Speakers' Corner to Embank- rally on the ment last Sunday. the marchers they assembled Were attacked suddenly by screaming mob of 50 or so of the National lascists • nat can be done oy outting forward a programme of demo.

cratic reteast organise treedom to the piec tion of a Constituent Assembly.

wriust vast immediatev majority of the masses These must combined with demands material needs of the masses which have come to the fore in receitt stucules scale or wage. based on indexes calculated by workers' committees; *food distribution by workerS CommitteAs of the books and nationalisation of the banks and une caoitalist firms. *vast programmes of useful public works to provide jobs for _the unemployed. *the building of strong strike militias committees workers ano otolar workers •peasants and soldiers committees. All these programmatic demands point need for a workers and peasants government in Iran Trotskyist leadership must fight for this programme making no concessions either the of the Islamic anu vetty bourgeois faturalls leadersnip, TalIne InTo sectarianism which will isolate them from the masses.

NERS

NF attacks march Front. Retaliation waś swift and the fascists decisively dispatched, and the 1200 strong march led by the Provisional Sinn Fein banner wound its way through the West End Noticeably absent were the Stalinists of the CPGB and NCP and the Militant Group: and trade union banners were sparse. The WSL contingent was strident its demands, focussing on the for need the Yorkshire

NUM

to remove its sponsored MP, Police violence in Nottingham!

Police attack pickets ting first mass picket at Nottingham where journalists have been sacked for striking-saw an all out police on 120 attack by NUJ members Six

NUJ

members were • Vice Present clue estone a President Jake drivers were told by potic Vdl to drive through the picket lines at high speed One policeman was injured after a van hit him, and one van driver was arrested As the pickets tried to stop wottingnam evening rost vans leaving the numbers of police grew from 10 to 80 The iournalists lost their job for taking part in the strike and las reported ir Socialist Pres 134)

NUJ

officials members nationally to return to work. In the two weeks since the end of the strike the NUs exec utive has revealed itself utterly producing strategy to win back iner soos Guildford negotiations won reinstatement for juniors victimised for taking part in thi strike but employers are every- preparing to go on the where Olensive caxtordl Mournalsis nave been told that the first member who repeats a refusal to cross a oic ket une wit De sacked One member was sacked fo refusing to cross NUPE picket on the first day back on v reinstater WOrK ane Wa after the chapel stopped work into and went mandatory mole PHOTO: Laurence Snarham IRT

STOP TORTURE

KSPRISONERS

OF

IRISH

TROOPS

WAR

WSL supporters on the march Butcher Mason -a point later taken up by Fein Provisional Sinn terminal speaker at the rally The police, who earlier had denied the marchers the right later surprised the marchers against by aerending inem repeated fascist attacks.

At one point in Oxford Street, an attempted fascist assault was smashed by an display of unprecedented strong tactics of the police who arrested about 40 of them.