Socialist Press no. 137

PRESS

IRANIAN

WORKERS

has made history. Ene revorutionary surging, devastating pro-Shah trom mass forces. movement, whose scale and intensitv can ony be com. The nuce pared to the February Revolu- ranian tion Russia in 1917, In une strength of millions of workers die relormist ana sceouc wne has shattered the power of one the world's

TOS L

savage cictatorsnips armed might of Iran's 400,000-strong armed forces-built up as a bastion of imperialist power in the crucia Gulf and Middle East area and lavishly equipped by the Shah mass movement. and the US allegiance to and British war. mongers wiin ine most soonis.

Khomeini, the forms of strugale ticated weaponry that huge oil could buy-have effec- inal nad the decisive impact in forcing the withdrawal tively collapsed. Shah and the collapse of his five week oid oupper dovernment under Bakhtiar proletarian the solid strikes by workers in the industry. These strikes ine once powertul economy to a grinding halt and provided a crucial driving force behind the Itassive street through Tehran and other cities, proving the limitations military miant forces. tionary mazuran again pouring unarmed into the streets despite storms of bullets, Forty bercent Ine 300,000 strong army were con- consistent scripts; they have now deserted Khomeini to the troops, and the mi teh nunoreas to une Tass movement. ment cradually Thousands of tormeds and morale of even the Shah's show- youth have the airforce of the Darracks onan s select moeria Guard and torced them surrender, and sacked the the ally Saturday Military barracks throughout oracred Guard with Chieftain tanks into enran and in other cities have been taken over and burned or the Farahabad Tehran where Khomeini support remain under siege as we go to oress naa reacnea tever Thousands political triggered the most spectacular had been collapse. who held under torture ourina ine •nan s 25 years of brutal dictatorship Weapons handed out have been released, while nated agents or nis secret oolice and top army generals page, and airmen flee for the rebel us workers way into une arsenal orinaina rebellious militias out machine guns and pistols in WOrKerS order to fight back. armed WIth the most modern weapons including anti-tank rockets and men began to hand out weapons wing cavy macine curs SeTT

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 137 * 14 February 1979 * 15p

MUST REACH

FOR POWER!

of any organised opposition to movement reactionary scope of the revolution provides a damning answer to every miser- argues that the working class is overthrow the imperialism. Proletarian Despite the fact that the has showr the fanatical Islamic leadership of Ayatollah have actions-centrally oil fields and every major nave orouent demonstrations challenging and ot the the armed The tenacity of the revolu- movement-adain and ao peals sapped The army and, in particular, desperate nic to ston rot of desertions and dis- students who rushed to their une imoeral by sudden v •contronted armed. rather unarmed near masses, the army began to lose Desertions multio led hIs tanks, vehicles and the crowds, captured by ana oy sunday military chiets ordered all troops to return to barracks. Air cadets went on the ram- Shortly afterwards a helpless Bakhtiar broke resianea ana Khomeini's nominee Bazargan stepped in as head of Islamic Provisional Govern.

As the battle raged the air- ment. •This changeover marks the workers and start of the most testing period * arsenals they came from. bUT Khomeini's far

WHICH

the Iranian masses. mobilise, Khomeini's ever receive the full Ine otalinists (Communist) Party They Khomeini's movement "wholly progressive" by Bazargan work Khomeini rides into town •Yet it is of all for the Iranian masses.

point-where rom nIs •verv •TIrst state ment Bazargan has made it clear "Islamic Republic" will a programme allemol lo salvade as mucn a possible of the state apparatus proletarian over from the Shah's He has appealed for "calm"; bodies on for the crowds to stop attack- places dna workine cass ing military targets and imperial- tricts -and of policing the cities. Ist em dassies : and beaded tor return the the distributed to the masses during the weekend Tar as We do to oress there is no indication that the who found 25 vears of undanas arter ano ine oolice torce dictatorship are at all willing to And from A history of Labour Party witch-hunts Page 9 Political revolution .pp.6-7 Fighting for the NUPE clai .pp.4-5 Leyland • p.11 Eritrea (part 3) p.3 Deserting soldiers carried shoulder high in Tehran No moves left-Bakhtiar hand them back to the military from the factories, the oil fields ana trom ever workina class that body delegates must be elected clea "Islamic Republic" to workers' councils or soviets is to be a nationalistic capitalist I cach area waica must orean.

occupation of major recime in waich une reoressive ice the apparatus will be preserved as capitalist holdings and banks as as possible and rebuilt, and vart or une mant to torce their nationalisation without compen- such is incapable o fulfilling the objective needs of workers manage Disarm Ine demands ot the pool peasantry for land reform; of Iranian women for equal rights; In its moves to disarm, de- minority and renew the exploi- Ine oppressed nationalities for their right to tation of the workers of Iran, determine their own future; of regime will how- workind support of class

TO I

programme of public works to the Tudeh OT unemployment and against have declared wage. оготестес inflation must all be taken through such bodies, as part of and will clearly attempt to persuade the tight for a workers and peasants government. SiKin oil workers. whom they claim to lead, to follow any call Free speech for a return to There must be a fight for precise v at this Ine rant or tree soeecn the machinery of assembly, free trade unions and the capitalist state is at its weak- election of democratic est, and the mass movement at constituent assembly. its strongest-that a bold call for cacn ot these demanos wil show the conflict of interest policies is essential the workers and armed militias peasants of Iran and their pro must be organised into formal capitalist Islamic "leaders".

the basis of work- As such each of them must

OIS

snaroly bose Ine urcent neces task take over the sity tor the construction ot a revolutionary in Iran as the only means whereby the Disband army revorutionary cains or rebruary 1979 can be taken forward and On this basis the militias contradated in the overthrow must demand the complete dis- Iranian capitalism and the slancine army estaoiisnment . OT the cictator. ship of the proletariat. these militias.

HOW NOT TO ASSIST THE

IRANIAN WORKING CLASS

PERU: CUT TO THE BONE

Page 2.

— INTERNATIONAL-

RCG

way). by diversionary an If the objective of the member stating inat the british Conference on Iran called government's imperialist role in from its last Saturday by Liberation inseparable Ital similar the serious esewnert was to any world, especially in Ireland. moves towards concrete acts But greatest horror of all wa: of solidarity with the fight reserved for the

WSL

speaker Shah and his . against the who pointed out the role of the then it was successors, soviet and chinese covernment.

in supporting the staggering success. tyranny. Only two speakers rom tne definitely the That floor lone a WSL member, the cries an Iranian student) raised other ot Rubbish! To plat Iranian er pros Tane dansara

VOT

organised biacking Iranian enting supplies den Party actual came! army. improbably that the Iranian They were answered by hon listened the massed Todd (National Organiser of the radio mainly to hadio Moscow TGWU and a platform speaker) bocause "they knew who they with could trust"! zorTenT about how it was not the job of He tailed to mention that a us in Britain to tell the Iranians fow months ago it was broad- casting birthday greetings to his . Wist to do. I odd threw in the bureau Imperial majesty tne stan most dishonest argument cial s to organise action and putting the blame for inaction squarely clas: that the first nine mes a cine paign to get the branches inter- He failed to take up the tact.

pointed him, that out branches had already demanded executive blacking In the last three years arms. average living standards of Fearful: as always, of indep- Peruvian workers have been encont class Todd preferred the policy cut in half and unemploy.

friendly persuasion of the long ment has nearly doubled. Shah in ot the Time suddorters the Labour cabinet to stop arms Thase are the orastic sales conclusions to drawn trom dramatic figures just released by The TGWU leadership, any the military government and ar said. were redundancies independent. economic research •UT demand not of course to work organisation. full but Starine pay Peru's overall economic crisis Committee or crcuiry to study alternative formot rod fior.

is reflécted large drops many industries, production universally an acute crisis in the finances o retormis favoured bringing pressure the state and a massive level oT bear on the Labour goverhment.

due "re-scheduled" Tribunite Russell Kerr, nave been Con- condition tor HouRsO assured ine that the covernment had its policies of ference that Owen been last few weeks over the 1

WUT

dusterly his these policies plus the ano. nad changed Halllait policy. "rationalisation" policies savage which have the Not so naive heavy burden imposedle workers and their tamiles which We don't believe the new figures reveal even ? Russell Kerr could be so naive as from June In the two years frantic 1978 Owen's InTer DOT June search new went up less tactic than Jefend imperialist interests as a while the official cost of living -a fall in fiaures soared by 150% chance ov weart. But Kerr and Stan Newens, the real average wage of 40 in with whom he shared the chair, two years. are in the business of defending Unemployment up the present rotten pro-capitalist leadership of the Labour Party been in office. Since then there has fall Only the WSL speaker called considerable anotnes result for a move to oust the leader- the mount on ship as a necessary part of a increases in basic tood by the military regime solidarity decreed much higher stammists coomeo as norritied dy have beeli the suggestion as the Tribunites.

than the permitted rise in pay While the wage greater expression even avelage down by a half in 2½ years, the horror

WOM

long time enemy of the Irish national liberation Newens) official figures) went struggle, TrON around 250,000 in 1976 to an presented somewhat estimated 428.000 today.

NOARMS

OPTICALL

An early display of left demagogy from AUEW bureaucrat Bob Wright avoiding blacking call last year Tudeh. issued a state- The ment for the conference declar- ing UncritIcal

SUDDOTT

TOT

Ayatollah Khomeini and any reference at all to the need independent worko ore nisation. hand other that it control uden does sav itself almost exclusive credit for of the overthrow

LITE

The conference was run witt an iron bureaucratic hand which disagreement with the line "broad-based I non-sectarian ot a movement win mun set (Tesolution I sub-committee of Liberation on Iran was introduced at the last no discussion and no amendments allowed solidarity organisa

CARI

(such tions on ran which, whatever its faults, did against the Shah's dictatorship when Liberatiol Armoured car in Lima Most of this is in the non- agricultural sector of the econ- and the million omy unemployed is liceast the largely TOUnU already ourstIno will poverty stricken workers living in solde silly wals of inse •eve rooments among the major are sources of the military noiltica Is Bhutto for the drop? of Pakistan, President without doubt a loathsome whose crimes specimen the working class against would merit execution by a people's court. But this is not why he is now under sentence ot death period His отт ce wa marked by the wholesale repres- imprisonment SOn. Dealings of and torture nis opponents. The always flimsy facade of legality was stretched to breaking point by the use of the Defence of Pakistan Rules without which allowed arrests jailed people broot ano without charge or trial. Bhutto, who rose the basis of populist powe wasted little time in turning against the at first looked to workers wit him as a socialist leader He went on to use military SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979 inactive) were dis. was utterly missed as "tiny non-representa tive groups" and were refused the right to speak from the floor in the debate. The whole sorry show (apart from informative platform Fred Halliday) did speech by tor concrete solidarity with in struggle for socialism in Iran. Its verbal anti-imperialism purely merely raised a new obstacl serious action the labour movement. Liberation's late arrivar on the scene or iranian solidarity might make an interesting study whie the niounite member.

(Stan Newens, Russell Kerr, etc) been limited way raising • destion IraN could the alliance rest of which composes Liberation have waiting to see which wa' been -the Kremlin was going to jump?

Toppled-the Shah million in the same period of 1978. Betwèen the same periods, the number workers who took strike action went up from 28,000 1977 mert 1,131,000 figure equal over 90% the employed non agricultural worktorce! would already inese neures for as his caling 9 were it last calling month's general strike after one day This failure resulted from failure of its leadership- the Stalinist domin. especially the ated maki political preparation event which would have brought Tine future its problems. in regime into question. expressed in Constituent Such the the controllI stage present acute Assemov electe• last vedu alla fears for the struggle must involve the build scheauled elections few ing of armed workers general since many workers were intim- idated from striking by massive crisis also politIcal in the most recently military shows up available strike figures: hours of and the streets industrial areas. The troops had work lost Enrouen StrIKes up from about ¼ million in the oroprs To shoot monstratore first half of 1977 to almost 20 and suspected strikers. repress demonstra. violence to strikes only to find, tions and the military in mid 1977. chiefs headed by General Zia, preferred to cut out the middle assume direct control over Pakistan. discredited further for his brazen rigging of elec. tions, was place undel arrest Since that point he has been appalling stage- brought to ar are being exactly copied by the with managed that charter military the murder they are ignored and this dosurg political opponent. case is being used to hang him: Bhutto recognises Farce the PPP. are the ano nis barty. only substantial political force The case was a farce from with support mass the • outset, entirev. ting under a state pardon pera state pardon Undela Possible focus has changed nis statement tour times) and other statements extracted Guns under As long as bhutto remains possible alive he ano soent ammunion roduced as "evidence"" turned out not to focus for militant opposition match each other. savage, samic reaction epitomised by the Zia regime.

• course because But finishing him off could Bhutto's aeneral Steel workers fight back "It is beginning to be question of mass anger". That was the assessment of regions of the the situation in steel industry made last week by one of the leading rrench tradt union bureaucrats Edmond Maire Secretary Lorraine and Nord-Pa Calais, the two main steel du producing areas of France which are scheduled to bear tne brun 21,000 redundancies proposed by the government for the next two years. Presented a move with the agreements of tha -c covernment on ways te resolve the steel crisis the redun the major thrust of dancies are "rationalise Harre's production. While union national with officials terms necollate the government. workers i und industry have been stepping up their protest actions A series of one day strikes in citterent sectors bas cone alone with other guerrilla tactics Whole closed down and barricaded off on last Friday's day of demonstrations and temporary protest occupa- tions also took place At the same time the rail- network in the east wa way four of into confusion when a group of stee managed to empty 1,500 tons of than nore imported iron ore from a trait onto the tracks. The choice of targets reveals leadership the Halutt involved in these struggles Socialist-led Maire CFDT have been able to score Com- points off Seguy and the munist Party organised CGT for the rabid nationalism of their that the problems in the claims steel inoustry national nave been caused by the pressure national sections within the EEC Such bankrupt and reaction- ary can curren record level of unemployment France -1.3 million jobless workers-and cannot lead to the necessarv fiaht for work sharin on full pay i with such policies all Armea the Stalinists and reformists can otter sTeelworker improved terms of redundancy of further prospect attacks in une near Tuture Bhutto whip the PPP's supporters into a wild frenzy which no political could leadersnie control giving the Before go-ahead Zia must feel for the hanging that the absence of any genuine workers and the lack of party will holo clear perspective hackthe dosition movement Hence the delays and hesita.

tion in putting Bhutto's head in a noose. Zia now appears convincec his regime cannot live that question • Bhutto. The aronesiat can survive long Is whether after executing him

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979

INTERNATIONAL

EPLF builds workers' and peasants' councils Part three of a series on Eritrea by David Whitfield lies Digsa to the south-east of Asmara, in the heart of Eritrea. At the centre of many battles, the town has been captured and re-captured by the liberation forces and by Ethiopian the army occupation. of last year, the In July Derg's planes nom bed Digsa for 45 minutes, killing 13 and wounding people 107. The heavy toll of this raid was no accided Nine months after their liberation by the EPLA, the Digsa had people gathered the elect a People's to Assembly for the adminis- when of the town. the attack was launched. The 13 people killed by the Derg in Digsa were not simply •casualties' of a wai for national independence. Their fate was aetermincu social war of class the forces that is developing in EPLF women's militia alongside the military conflict. It is this process of civil

EPLF

forward the puts 'People's Eritrea which has war in of objective aroused the fear and wrath Assembly constituted of Ethiopian military of the people's represenialives dictatorship, least freely democratically and much as the strategic signifi- elected from anti-feudal and cance of the Red Sea coasts.

anti-imperialist patriotic forces', draw up a con Transformations decree laws, elect suculon. ministration' has national Socialist and

NO L

and foreign yet to proviae hirst-hand the policy. 0I Eritrea, developments and not this of the presented searching assembly, place formations win cited The the contains based and by

VISIONS

but same has been Demo- the cratic People's Assembly at Afabet formed-of tions are youth, peasants, women, and petty-bourgeois layers. Within these mass

EPLE

the associations, and develops its maintains

UWEL

time At same formed, le town and to aid the Eritrean Popular the have become the mass nove to sembly. ited are to recall ally Assemblies time. e prole and tariat DoWel rural production and arising today In many tribution sound a sentee. neen People's fully vegetable developing agricultural the allel Page 3 brought about have of this considerable lifting burden of domestic drudgery. Women's oppression

EPLF

places consistent emphasis on the fight to abolish the specific oppression of women, and these material changes have provided the oppor- clearly tunity for large numbers of participate oppression been most forward increasing the militias work the land 'now controlled directly by the EPLF in the

CLU

the front liberated areas. worked The estates are to cooperative basis provide 60% of the food remarkable any the EPIA. At required by standards. the same time, they are the centre

TOT

agricultula research experimen- tation. work has been out in the also control the develop- and educa- to contend an acute qualified shortage personnel. far Private 1S by training been "barefoot inerated 50% of the national EPLE has for The tant of salt and sandalwood incense, command merchants

EPLF

has as the major be 'neutral the probiem of schools for literacy mus Lanice masses. Much been spread "people's the offensive by the economic security, and allies in the ship and Soviet and bureau cracies. The the liberation keren, Agricultural

EPLF

blow this latest in Eritrea distribution basic 01 work problems these supplies the shops. systems of of Eritrea. Brezhnev, and central land designed on Irom Suct material the 10. sim ply repress 110₺ etc-they pendence. arms, filled production be cannot The proclaims itself a Eritrea peasants have who spend Daniel by and the _Construcuur oI ine projects the ovel cle. tion their hangs Eritrean masses is whether they can and are carry forward their struggle advanced into the fight for a revolu- important tionary socialist programme.

techniques Without that political tivisation of domestic • strength, their courage and sector of the labour. will . heroism defeat the sufficient from threats of reaction createa l water and within and counter-revolu- their tion from outside their pounuing 101 families individual beleagured nation. basis. Now of the of ending Concluded the improved supplies

Barnet dustmen picketing the Brent transfer station. They told Socialist Press that they believe that 6-ton lorries are Bringing Camden to a halt getting f28 a ton and carrying 15-20 loads a day.

shop steward at Camden's Cressy Road depot.

action against the 5% in that Borough.

Last week you reported on how your section nad given a lead in half the pulling over Borough indefinite out strike. How as the struggle developed since then? answer to your question in Jast week's Socialist riess i oulined two immediate tasks in developing the The first was whole Camden out indefinite strike action.

Last Tuesday we succeeded in this. Over 1200 members the branch attended a special mass meeting in the town hall on Tuesday afternoon. it was a stormy meeting as you can imagine. All my section there, plus all the other sec- tions already on strike soeaker atter speaker calling indefinite strike action it seemed a foregone con- clusion that we Would win Ene eventi the vote was close-just under hundred TOr Naurily StriKe An interview with John Seymour, the dustmen's He is also on the Camden General Strike Com- mittee. He carries on his report on the developing John Seymour action. The point was, that all those voting for all out strike action the must oranised ane powertur sections so qualitative ly it was a much stronger vote Underneath the arches... the rubbish piles up in London than it appeared too emerg to argue exemption formed within a week. from It's essential that the strike Camden out on indefinite strike.

committee for the whole action! Camden cel a to on ane situa You also mentioned the tion and do not grant any more need link

WIEN

dustmen last week We took a democratic vote important next step at a mass meeting for all. out strike action. the point i was trying to get across was that if there is To say that the oniy wav to to a leadership independent emergency cover is to has trom never let a whole section scab on the risne

¡WHO

wanted fight on this claim strike is say tney sacritice ine and has now right strike! dropped the £60 demand "going rate" o1 linking what ne cals the What up with then strike other dustmen? and joint strike committees with Well. I think we have been sectors in struggle nave SUCCeSSTUl week when my depot came out To de oult. Too this end wee see it on strike threw picket consolidate strike the Transter Depot avl vos Camden sectior Brent Socialist Press: a Trans and my nave fighting to spread the station is where refuse been tAr strike to other boroughs. from domestic Have achieved these ends? collections by rail or road to a Well last Tuesday's vote was a great victory. But since then two transfer terminals there hs Brent been a setback around and a nuge compex or Helps out. yards where private Keeone the home Coreakers Rather than for "cowboy" are policy emergency dumping rubbish owne all out strike action secretary has biancr successfully carried a resolution on the strike committees allow- from the strike. I was completely opposed to as it could be used by the Enis

STRIKES!

Hospital workers remain in the front rank of the struggle against low pay, with some of the most militant action being taken in the London area. At St. Andrews Hospital in Bow. workers have now been on strike for two weeks, while one week strikes St. Mary's and St Hospital began on Monday February. day strikes have also been held at Great Ormond Street and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney.

WUH•

westminster group Chalta for almost week by struggle against victimisation arising out or selective actn.

With virtually every hospital now having begun some form of action-even if only a work lo rule or a go-slow-the struggle SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979 Fighting for Christine Creasley is. a NUPE shop steward 80 home helps in one of Camden's representing five Home Help sections. She is also on the Camden General Strike Committee.

We interviewed her on the developments in the strike around the question of emergency cover, and the decision of the strike committee to exempt home helps from the indefinite strike action last Friday. What was the attitude of your How conne ceasion to striki on Tuesday affect the home the growing manoere towards helps? demands for indefinite strike action? every •virtuall nome neip phoned in on Wednesday morn "ne basic situation. because to ask the home help organ of the structure of the job /SP: iser for guidance Home-helps meet once a instructed this week nad Thursday organiser immediately vote Trev taken on Tuesday to inform was isolated in their work) was that I had to discuss the possibility nome of • strike was their discretion whether their patient was win them woen i saw them.

Their attitude that didn't strike committee took a definite because we have ally decision emergency cover muscie we would only succeec and until could in hurting our patients. At a branch whole section at Thursday's pay meeting on 8 out. January my nome nels I want to make it clear that argued angrily against those my support for indefinite strike who continued to work on the understanding action. did so that they received no This pay- was carried the strike had been declared or over to the mass meeting in Camden Town Hall last tuesday Tuesday. So the focus for organising the home helps shifted to the strike I was one or the tew nome helps who voted for all out strike-a policy I have supported Tes tne main issue was to control emergency cover. lor monins in me oranch ane or the shop stewards committee.

On Wednesday strike private contractors to transfer other

NUPE

seni This depot is also one of thi branches : in the borough, like health relust yaras for barnet. We got workers and ambulance a really good response from the mel to oreanist • loint StrIke Barnet dustmen who helped us committee and discuss ways o picket over last weekend developing all-out strikes On Monday I was allowed to these sections speak at a mass meeting in the can see, we have depot and they finally took the already established good links out on with the Barnet dustmen walk indefinite strike with us Our Cressy Road strike com Since last Monday we have mittee has taken the initiative been the Barnet and called a meeting of all strike SU•DO TInO dustmen wheny they request it.

dust On they Meeting mounted a London attend. mass picket on dustmen at the House, Euston, next Friday.

Barnet Mays Lane depot. This During

ICAL VICEN

succeeded in pulling that depot will be building support for thi meetine I think it's vital that these organisations are built if Fisher's We'll with the ena up . same beaten alt question as last week-what will these joint. strike com- be fighting for in the next you mittees I will be fighting for Jew davs ou tae striker soredoine Well we have gone some way action, spread Incetinite strike towards what the of joint tor last week. I will be trghting committees to extend those gains. workers' control of emergency The first thing is to consoli- cover and, fighting set up date the Camden General Strike councils of action to co-ordin Committee a more disci- ale and detend ine strikes.

plined basis I shall fight to get delega-

STEP UP HOSPITAL

for the £60/35 hour week demand is at à crucial turning point. The harder and faster the strikes are escalated, ine quickel the claim can be If the fight is not stepped ur the of all-out strikt emergency cover With controlled by strike committees then under the fire of the huge press wither of There growing danger dwindling morale and action fizzling our.

autumn Socialist Press has opposed the consistently suicidal and divisive strategy by NUPE and I other public sector bureaucrats. Fisher-his policy of selective WE strikes creates damaging broaden and spread the strikes through the fight to unite strike divisions and build Ine struggle against low pay and the Callaghar to unite the labour movement in government.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979.

reached two commited decisions. was to set up a com- mittee composed of meals and home helps (two interlinked in closely caring Tor to vet patients and decide what the secon• was to our as to a mass meeting of home helps Thursday. agreed with the basicaliv first decision but was worried by the second. why support support policy control workers' of emergency cover. Some of the people we look The solid strike against the of domestics at the Westmin- ster Hospital incurred the full weight of pressure not only from management but from top NUPE bureau-

TUC

crats, General Secre- Len Murray, tary and Labour government ministers. these conditions

NUPE

branch secretary Jamie Morris conceded that the case go to ACAS. Socialist Press spoke to Gillian Brear, a staff nurse the Westminster and NUPE steward, about the strike. How did the strike develop?

The strike was from weak the start because it was a form ot selective action The focus was taken from the main hae-which was ine pay claim-to te six domes- tics, so there was lot. confusion amongst the members what they OVeT were alludity Strikine about. Although

NUPE

the gave. strike official backing, they (TO Ene ConTusIOr trying to keep the issue separate Trom pay. When the talks with manage- ment broke down, the full time official, Godfrey Eastwood pressured us to take the case to

ALAD.

At this time, the porters and supplies sections refused to alang with this, and said that tney were going to stay out over PaY After this the strike seemed to be split two ways. branch secretary and

NUPE

negotiating with were

DHSS

force try Ind management to go to ALAs while we spent our time trying to keep the strike alive. by going round to porters and The supplies workers and bringing them onto the picket line.

went with some of the the Executive

NUPÉ

on Saturday morning. Pid this have any effect on the rike? think it made the strikers ilise that the real culprits workers' control after are gravely ill. but we committee ine meas on wee should control service to them- stewards were adamantly stick- ing • decision of 'all out or all back' eventually decided to mantar cord conse service to all patients it should with their militancy they were taking vital control away under the done the committee and not manage- ment. ing the reactionaries and oppor argument to call felt that each home help the strike oft altogether ares shone occase tner ovn we went into the mass meet.

emercency cover Whilst the discussions on the ing of home helps on with the, only committee were conne on a Ce I went to our area officer dearec emercent cove order how many clients linked to indefinite strike action would -and with the strike committee cover out of the b00 w in mv onion de encrore or an contused on emerconey cover.

emergency list. were worried list. that virtually about the meeting? was checked by much so. The idea every case me of facing 300 women who had salister on the final list needed Those experience oT Trace attention. work, who had an isolated work voted For example included and who had cameront seven day covers (SP: extremely daoanst strike at was poten serious who tended tially de most us days week, may be important factor, incontinent ane are unade to as sale detore was nat most feed themselves] areas had had no lead as regards That the secretary had no clear My final list constituted cover, and about 15% of, the normal cover, that is 85 out of 600. position to put to the meeting.

Wherever meeting was a disaste could, The faced chie discussed this position with tremendous aouse ane them. chants for "back to work" soon • into They were increásingly pre- whipped the meeting up strike linked to this kind of emergency Amid all this confusion, the fact implement the decision or de there cover. i nere was a complication on Thursday when in the strike nesday's mass meeting was lost Screws turned on Westminster strike behind the in our He ContusiOn strike were the NUPE leader- whisked off by NUPE officials ship. and •isappearee Tor over We were asking Fisher and the other EC members why they While the union leaders, didn't call for all out action over covernment ministers and AnA spokesmen had 'hot line' Way telephone with •ovious that we contact were suffering directly from the Callaghan alic 1dy policy of selective action which members. Morris was cenied ine chance to telephone his dows manadement to take me initiative and isolate sections of branch members. but even under such pressure It was a lesson to all of us to he had no right to decide any- see the hostility of the EC to a thing on his own-and no busi group of their own members on negotiating under • 1I003 ouress. Fisher himself was prepared hotel by a police inspector.

Is there any action going on What did happen at the talks? Westminister pay? well. une promised all sorts of action if Yes. The supplies depart would to management not go ment are SHoulane mnees a chance that the porters might ALAD-suC as oacking every private patient's ward in the join them country and calling the whole of The porters are still refusing service the private patients our cistrict out on sinke At one stage even wing threatened to sever its links with think the important thing Labour Party, and promised is that our strike had a lot to da with action on pay spreading to us that they woulan t take it to

ACAS!

other hospitals in the area. Everitually, after almost 24 We sent speakers to both the talks, hours manceement. Cane voted to strike from the follow- under direct instructions.

from Ennals, did agree to • go to ACAS Monday, along with and NUPE climbed down. • Thest unanes nosoita talks with ACAS are still going If this action continues, I on. think there might be a chance of What do you think of Jamie coming out again, and inis Morris' decision to send the case time on our terms-a strike against low pay. to ACAS? He was obviously under

PUBLIC SERVE

END LOw Bureaucrats at the head of the January 22 Day of Action sight of. Instead the secretary took right winger's suggestion up that home helps should be made exempt. Of course in this fever pitch voted that this the women strike committee: What happened at the strike committee meeting? When I arrived next morn- ing there was a crowd of women paradino betore une oress wile only too eagerly responded to their anti-strike hysteria.

actually

• THE

secretdry allowed these women into the meeting, and in a tense atmos phere himself proposed that the nome news be arrowed exemo

STANDARD

Even the pathetic 'We can't let the old suffer 300 hone careerist touts of Gerry Fitt's Social Democratic Labour Party have been forced into a gesture of

WOMEN

protest at the political stance Labour's

WITH HEART

Torture' 'Minister for Roy Mason. They have declared formal boycott of talks with - him and his imperialist 'direct rule administrator as part of their pretence of Tory Evening News hails concern for the "Irish di- ménsion" to possible exemption decision power-sharing deal with the tion Loyalists. It was narrowly carried, des- Fearful of missing out on pite strong opposition-much to plum loo is a colabora ime cenant or tae union dosain!

Fitt has "solution" tiomist press threatened to with- How did your section react?

evol draw support for Labour in Obviously they te t messer first out, then back the House of Commons in again thought the decision They This move comes at had £60. the lOST DUl point when. feeling against were some

GUITA

re lever. British imperialism is runn- these circumstances they voted ing high amongst the Irish to accept the exemption despite people, pressuring even Jack mv oooosition Fianna Lynch's reactionary We decided however not to meals on wheels by Fail government the scab South cookina food. And there renew its general agreement to pay a £5 demagogic pronouncements levy to the strike fund about "all-Ireland con- text" members also exeressed of the in the Wal a wish that I should stay on the North. strike committee. feeling has been

PRESS

GONE

Women have workers Keith Joseph. emerged to the fore in the "What is a woman? She i the mainstay of her. family and public sector strikes. the backbone of the nation..

Although they do not hold When her husband goes to work positions in the union she has nothing to do all day and although many hierarchy, . except cook, shop, queue, sections of women workers have Can. CUSt меню lena. ки traditionally elected male sew, wash iron and fetch and stewards, the strike has allowed carry. And more and more she many of the backward attitude: diso goos out lo work swept to one stae "She is not as good as a man, women workers show they have but better. Not as strong, but the strength to fight for leader- stronger... Shis and aMan create. chises This presents direct woman copes with them. challenge to one of the oldest "She can be nag and a tricks in the capitalist press nuisance, she especially when from women has been let down. But she men and using the family as a represents light in the dark, working against class comfort despair, and militancy. when things are rough." This is not a strike in which the centre pages the the press can use wives at home Mirror carries on in the same attackuseanos strike sickening vein under a headline But that does not mean they which explicitly excludes the cannot play the sexist card.

suppose• obect or us venera The Daily Mirror from among its readers: tIon to turn its back on the strikes "Mr Britain: This is your wife".

last week-but in fact had the It has such perceptive deep strikes in mind-when it devoted analyses as Inis. 'the works long hours specia issue *She marvellous women of Britain".

mostly without Yet she pay. its headline, complete with doesn't strike or picket. two hearts, The the was UnsUne are with The text was by butcher-over the price of stew- meroines Patience Strong with ing steak. Page 5

IRELAND

STROOPS OUT

NOW!

Mason under fire further intensified by the of RUC men prosecution and members of now two the British SAS on charges of murdering Catholics clearly Mason has also • been stung by the ettective.

internationally of the ness IRA's campaign exposing of the savagery the treat ment meted out to republi- 'on the blan can prisoners ket' in Block of the Kesh concentration Long and Armagh Jail camp These prisoners are de manding the restoration of political status stripped them by Mason in 1976-and are refusing to wear prison clothing or do prison work. Their courageous struggle against all forms of ill-treat- ment and torture by prison screws has won them grow- ing support internationally The British working class, however, lags behind in this respect. Trade union branches and Labour Parties must be pressed to take up the struggle to support the 'H' Block fight and demand the removal of Mason and the pro-imperia list Callaghan cabinet, , and the immediate withdrawal British from troops rena The crude attempt to force women back crane role women never have played echoed two days later by the London Evening New. Home helps in Camden- mostly women-were wrongly aiven block exemption by thi strike committee to continue working, The home helps also agreed £5 a week each to the to pay strike fund-hardly indica. tion of anti-strike sentiments!

Yet the Evening News, under a picture of a dozen home helps outside strike ru bazoner the headline "The Women Heart" and another headline by saying cistorteo' the truth "We can't let the old suffer'- 300 home helps defy order by Nurt Newspapers sell themselves on pin-ups "beauty hints' reac tionary problem pages and jokes which portray women as stupid mean and avaricious. If thev dise Cant eve women's interests "at heart" it is because they wish to keep downtrodden •anO CIvice society on any ground: other than class. A "family newspaper" is just a eupnemism tor capitalism

PROBLEMS OF POLI

Part Two Trotsky Leon was murdered by Stalin's 1940. agent As a result nis writings leave unanswered a number of questions that arise in the struggle for the political overthrow of the Stalinist bureau cracy in the deformed workers states. His death came in the early of the Second imperialist World War, and nis analvsis un to that time could not have anticipated contradictory way and the political which economic weakness of im- perialism and the strength of the still leaderless working class would emerge in the post-war world. Power extended Trotsky had anticipated that the war would precipi- tate either the successful po- litical revolution the Soviet Union, vi a restora tion of capitalism if Stalin's policies led outright defeat. But as events turned out the-still unstable-Kremlin bureaucracy not only sur- but, due to •war the unparallelled sacrifice and struggle of the Soviet and European masses, found its power 'extended into a circle "ruffer" states European LaSt uneven, hesitant, tentative and contradictory way in which the Kremlin leaders embarked process that was eventually to transiorm the capitalist property relations in these Colmanes and insta. mono. lithic Stalinist governments subordinate to the soviet Union is examined in detail in the essays in the WSL's book Communists Against Revolution. Uprisings But the fact 'that this superficially straightforward extension of Soviet power actually weakened the control an stablity or te Kremlin bureaucracy has been demonstrated time and again-from the 1948 inter- bureaucratic split between Tito and Stalin, to the series of political revolts and up- risings that have character- ised the post-war history of Eastern Europe: These have given substance to many of the general propostitions of Kremlin chief Brezhner with servile army chiefs programme for political rev- olution spelled out by Trotsky. instance For Trotsky calls for a "revision of the planned economy" and for the "opening of the books" the spoke workers? state, without out who should carry out such vision, whom these books should be opened. Need for party The Hungarian revolu- tion of 1956 not only showed the strength of such demands, but also brought forward the organisations to implement them, and by its eventual failure tragically confirmed Trotsky's insis- tence on the need lot revolutionary party to lead the political revolution.

At the of the Hungarian was working class, which formed a "National Council of Free Trade Unions". According even to the British paper the Daily Worker (Oct. 27 1956) workers formed: "Workers Councils in factory to establish every workers' management and radically transform the sys- of state central plan- lenn ning and directing." Stalinist-imposed man- agers were driven out of the factories an entirely an e Russian soldier hoists red flag above the Reichstag at the end of World War II new policy implemented: considerable privileges."

"It called for the estab- The News- (Robert Black: lishment ot workers' letter, Nov. 12 1966) militia, removal of Soviet In this major struggle troops, worker and techni- soviets began cian of management the develop in Hungary; elected factories and mines, and an committees challenged end the to bureaucratic bureaucratic administrators methods of central econom- for the control and manage- ic planning ment of industry. "Production norms were And at the same time to be abolished (this proved workers raised the demand a universal demand) except for the release of all politi- when agreed to and set by cal and for an prisoners the workers' factory com- "unconditional amnesty for mitte in question. all revolutionists". "Minimum But without the leader- and maxi- mum wage limits were to be ship of a Trotskyist party capable of fully grasping the in accordance with socialist principles of equali- contradictory nature and ty "To back up this assault historical origin the bureaucracy, and Oter lon the bureaucracy] sections internationally intended fighting lean upon simuitaneously armed the Soviet Union workers organised and the into factory and trade union workers' states OLie militias. prevent any military inter- "Through workers' parti- the odds were venton cipation planning and stacked against In factory the Hungarian masses. malagement. regulation of® production Joint militias and the distribution of its benefits could now come • The uprising did, how- under the scrutiny control of the working class ever, offer an answer-albeit and sponta- and its independent organi- dil neous one-to another prob- sallors. lem not tackled in Trotsky's this way it could programme for political expose and make impossible revolution: the Stalinist the and corruption gralt secret police. upon which the state The Hungarian workers Party bureaucracy thrived hunted them down, dragged added and to. its already them out and shot them. And they began the forma- tion of the necessary alter- native militias of workers, students and rank and file soldiers.

further questions stand in obvious need development the Trotskyist Transitional Programme is to be made the ducu latt

LASK

political our epoch. In particular the struggle against the Stalinists' of pression national rights within the borders of the Soviet Union itself (where less than half the popula- tion regards itself Russian) takes on a parli cular significance as national begin to reemerge one of the forms of anti-bureaucratic struggle. From the time of the The Socialist . Workers League bases itself on the struggle for the reconstruc tion the Fourth Inter. O1 national as the basis for the overthrow of capitalism and of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the deformed workers states of Europe, Asia and Cuba. The problems posed in each different. case are Workers in the capitalist countries are faced with the task of social revolution- the expropriation of the means of production from the capitalist class through the building of independent organs of workers' power.

But in the deformed notorious "Georgian affair" tation of thought and dis- Stalin's domestic cussion by the bureaucracy; Onwards : characterised by and from the continued brutish chauvinism oppression of the family towards national minorities, unit. with whole peoples finding In 1936 Trotsky argued literally themselves that rebellious youth faced planted at gunpoint to con- a choice of either going into form to the wishes of the science going under- Kremlin. ground to fight. Stalin's heirs have proved ,The subsequent imposi themselves no less contemp- tion of Party discipline on of national rights scientific

LUOUS

theories has Ie- within the borders of moved any illusions that the

DO L

the

USSR

and throughout first option offers any real the European buffer zone.

way out. But the substitution of Self-determination "psychiatric treatment" the modern-day

USSR

for The revolutionary regime the more brazenly physica headed by Lenin and weaker iTOLSKV

TAT

material circumstances, took steps to guarantee the right of national minorities to self-determination within the USSR. This policy must today be defended and incorpora- tea into the programme Ior political revolution. Position of women Other aspects. of bureau- cratic oppression must also be consciously brought for- and combatted In Warel Revolution particular, Be- trayed highlights the impact of Stalinist policies on the position women society. The 1930s saw tained drive by the Stalinists Stalin head and strengthen tortures utilised by Stalin the individual family unit against opponents mean left over from bourgeois form of political society. lnal ally opposition must The early moves made furtively organised, under- after the October ground resistance Revolution towards socialis- The demand for the right ation of domestic labour-in to open political expression particular communal dining thus takes. on a particular rooms and child care-were importance for the develop- thrown into ment of the youth-poten- bureaucracy seeking tially the most determined check social force to combat the deaden- movements and build a base ing weight of bureaucracy: of support among the most backward layers of Soviet Red Army society. The call for the restora- Perhaps the most com- tion of the right to free plex issue to be tackled in a abortion demand, free political full state provision divorc revolution is the question of of child care, and communal the Red Army catering is an essential part In Revolution Betrayed of a fight to return to the Trotsky of Lenin call path the makes and for the election of officers, October Revolution. and the abolition of ranks, Youth recently reintroduced Stalin. The Transitional Pro- The struggle against the gramme includes Red Army reim posed shackles of the men along with workers family also involves a clear those who should be demand for an end to all allowed in to the soviets.

forms of repression and dis- Indeed it is within the crimination against gays Red Army that the building The youth, too, suffer of soviets is crucial. They do from the rigorous regimen- not at present exist

TICAL REVOLUTION

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979 workers' states, private ownership of the means of production has already been eliminated. State power however is monopolised by a parasitic Stalinist bureau- cracy. The task these countries is political revolu- tion-the overthrow of this reactionary bureaucracy and the establishment of workers' management of the

CHOOS.

This article will concen- trate the problem of political revolution, and point to elements of pro- gramme necessary to pre- pare for it. By Tony Richardson They were ended, and permanent ranks and privi- leges reintroduced as a con- scious policy by Stalin who required total bureaucratic control over the army as other aspect of over every Soviet society. As part of this strangle- hold Stalin ordered the execution of the vast May Day parade, 1937: three of the Generals in the front row were killed by Stalin shortly afterwards majority of the leading the intervention cadres in the army, in order strengthens imperialism, we analysing of Cuban troops in Angola.

stand for unconditional break Is links with the socialised revolutionary of defence of the 'pro- heritage Here neir gressive' role in carrying for- the tne bolsnevik revolution.

Droperly But for all this clear deformed workers' states.

ward the fight against of imperialism has onto evidence way colise those the tendencies that see only one their 'current role as chief which Army has been military prop for President moulded into a tool of the the actions of the Side ol fail Neto's bourgeois bureaucracy recognise the contradiction.

some set only. Ine reac tionary face of bureaucratic intervention as in East Ger- 1953 or Hungary lish 1956. They draw from alances m In these impressions a call for diplomacy • the the disbanding of the Red Maale East, splits within Army. Warsaw the and the Impressions by Others see only the pro- gressive side of. the Red Army-lts role in the over.

Cuban now turn of capitalist property defend against any relations in post-war Eastern oppositon These with Europe. led them in 1953 to make no call for the withdrawal • ation of of the Red Army from East Germany, even while in and the mass military demonstration moved in to operation anti bureaucratic workers' railway. bureaucracy, Kremlin uprising. the left' credibility protound Contractor It is crucial to recognise established by initial the remains-flowing from the both sides of the role played anti-imperialist struggle dual nature of the bureauc- by the Red Army. equipped the Cuban racy itself. Ilas in Czecho- forces to give a left' face to Instance While the Red Army is slovakia in 1968 Trotskyists reactionarv Derg mill- undoubtedly used at present immediate tary dictatorship, and inter- called IOr the defend the privileges withdrawal of Soviet troops vene behind a smokescreen and political dictatorship of precisely because their role of "socialist rhetoric to help the ruling Stalinist clique, the Derg's bid to smash was aelence or te kremlin at the same time it is also Czech and bureaucracy Eritrean liberation armed force that against the working class.

struggle. according to the actenas,

NATO

But had troops bureaucratic methods of the Contradiction bid to • intervened bureaucracy, the capitalism restore Trotsky in In Defence of nationalised property Czechoslovakia Trotskyists Marxism stressed the neces- relations upon which these would have declared them- and sity understanding the political privileges • OT selves unequivocally for the 'progressive' actions of the power are based. victory of the Russian Our understanding of Red Army as one side of troops over imperialism. a contradiction. imperialism makes us recog- nise that it is driven by its Writing the Russian on Context crisis towards attacking the invasion of Pastern Poland Indeed 1939, workers' states in a bid to he pointed out even wnen we force them back into its describe certain actions of that: "The orbit of exploitation. the Red Army primary political Armed historically criterion for us is not the defence against progressive wo eventuality must keep sight of the over- transformation of property crucial. Hence the necessity all context in which such relations in this or another the Red Army and actions take place, and the important TOr area, Warsaw Pact to defend the totally these mav be in themselves.

counter-revoluaun workers' states. of the but rather the change in the slated Despite the fact that the as consciousness and organisa- bureaucracy tion of world whole. prole- - niel-revolutonary the Linist strategy of "peace- Such an approach tariat, the raising their :existence" essential for instance effectively capacity for defending former and Lund uses accomplishing ones. bIeW and From One standpoint, only decisive the politics Moscow whole, taken completely retains its reac tionary character and remains the chief obstacle world road to the the revolution. Our general appraisal of the Kremlin and the Comin- tern does however, not, alter the particular fact that the statification of property occupied itself a progressive measure. We must recognise this openly. Were Hitler on the morrow to throw his armies against the east restore "law and order' in Poland, the eastern advanced workers would defend against. Hitler these iorms established by partist Soviet bureaucracy.

The statification of the means of production 1S. said progressive measure. But its progressive- specific ness is relative, Its weight depends on the sum- total of all the other factors.

Thus, first must and foremost establish that the ot the

CALCINO

CLERKILO

dominated by bureaucratic autocracy and parasitism cloaked by 'socialist' aúgment the measures, can prestige of the Kremlin, engender illusions con- cerning the possibility the proletarian revolution by bureaucratic manoeuvres and so on. This evil by far outweighs the brotressve contenl Stalinist reforms in Poland."

Withdraw troops Following this approach we call now in Ethiopia for the withdrawal of Russian and . Cuban troops and the of Eritrean the liberation forces In this the Ethiopian and Eritrean masses would best be able pursue revolutionary struggles against the Derg On the other hand we did take the position

IIOL

initially held by the Ameri- can Socialist Workers Party of calling for with- the troops from Angola at the time of the Cuban intervention. We gave critical support to the

MPLA

against the

CIA

African- and

FNLA/UNITA

backed forces. And when the MPLA requested the aid of Cuban their troops imperialist struggle we supported them being sent, while the time ballie the

CLL,

bourgeois nationalist nature of the MPLA leadership and the need for a revolutionary party. Soviets But one element of pro- gramme not spelled out by the

WSL

at that time was for the Angolan workers' movement to connect up in every way possible with the Cuban soldiers, and for the soldiers themselves to fight for control of their inter- vention through the election of officers and the develop- ment of soviets within then own ranks. Trotsky in In Defence of Marxism suggested a similar approach in spelling out a forward in Russian- way occupied Poland: •. in the sections of Poland occupied the Red Army, partisans of the Fourth International play the most decisive part in expropriating the land- lords dividing the land among the peasants, in creating soviets committees •and workers etc. While so doing, they must preserve their political independence they

LUSI

fight during elections in the soviets and factory commit- tees for the complete inde- pendence of the latter from the bureaucracy, and they must conduct revolutionary in the spirit of propaganda the local Kremlin and its agencies" During the military struggle against , the hitler. revolutionary workers will the LU Page 7 closest possible comradely relations with the rank and file fighters of the Red Army. While arms in hand they Hitler, the Bolshevik Leninists will at the same time conduct revolutionary propaganda against Stalin, preparing his overthrow at the nrit and perhaps very near stage."

In the historical context Trotsky's work stands out as a clear guide. His writings way analyse point the bureau- events such as the cratic overturns capi- 01 talism in post war Eastern Europe, and present answer to those

CORDCLE

who would impressionists seize on these overturns as evidence of the "progres- sive" nature of Stalinism In the event, Stalin used his military control of the Eastern European 'buffer' states in the same as way conscious •betrayal R10 revolutionary possibilities in France Italy and Greece- to establish a new arrange- "peaceful Ior coexistence' imperialism world scale. This article not intended as an exhaustive analvsis of a programme tol political revolution deformed workers' states of Eastern Europe though obviously the demands for self-determination would play a major role in programme

SUCI

combined with the necessity to defend nationalised relations both Eastern Europe the and Soviet Union itself. For this reason we are opposed to call to any disband the. Warsaw Pact alliance A programme for revolution must Dollica instead start from the need mobilise both the working class and rank and file soldiers independently of bureaucratic uner Stalinist leaders. On the other hand it is include important the demand that the USSR and East European states with- draw from "thieves kitchen" the United Nations, and from the Helsinki "peaceful coexistence" pact. Only directing by oppositional political "back Lenin" to Current. and towards the analysis of the Stalinist bureaucracy developed by Trotsky they draw the essential con- clusion: necessity build Trotskyist parties, reconstructed Fourth International, to provide conscious leadership in the struggle for political revolution. Concluded Trotsky

IN REVIEW Voyeur on Vietnam Hector Marroquin fights for his life By John Lister long-running struggle to save the life Mexican of socialist Hector Marroquin is reaching a crucial stage in the United States. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service decided December refuse him right political asylum in the USA.

This opens up the danger that Marroquin be deported to Mexico, where he taces torture and almost certain death in jail on trumped-up of terrorism raised charges against him wnen ne was a student leader early The government of President .Jose Lopez Portillo has a notorious reputation for the ot trade union and the and ism; torture murder of political But Carter's INS, in dis- missing Marroquin's appeal Carter for asylum. • blandly asserts that he has failed to estab- the hands of the administra- asylum lish: Indeed so broadly based tion so supposed v concern- "that there is likelihood Carrottin, meaner or the with "human rights" is the campaign that more of your being persecuted for support appears have your political opinion, race, US Socialist Workers Party, been forthcoming from religion, or membership in a supported by an bourgeois and petty bour- mas ocen particular social group" extremely broad based cam- geois politicians, pressure Despite paign demanding his right to and civil rights setback at • Ted Brown reviews Dispatches by Michael Herr, Picador Books, £1.25.

I entered the revolu: tionary movement partly as a result of the struggles of peasants and workers against imperialist oppression in Vietnam; in fact the struggle in Vietnam was probably the single factor greatest in my entering the revolution- ary movement at all. The history of Vietnam, at that time, the late 1960s, was shrouded obscurity. All that I knew was that, a tiny on 'the other side of the globe, relative handful of people, poorly equipped and poorly armed, beating the best equipped army world had ever seen standstill. And that that Army, the US Army, aided detachments from Australia Was elsewhere. and New Zealand as well as There seemed little else overequipped The Young massively we could do. indigenous puppet army. Communist League and Communist Party, At the time, the struggle of which of the Vietnamese workers I was a member, did nothing and caught my peasalls lo enngaten me as it likewise It's imagination only now, as caught the imaginations of Trotskyist and with the hundreds of of benefit of hindsight, that I thousands around the can see a way forward that youll world. could have been taken. In turn I gave my moral Nevertheless, I still view support to the struggle by with interest anything that turning out massive is published on the struggles NIl Vietnam Solidarity in Vietnam, be they past or Campaign demonstrations, present struggles, and and by arguing the case of with viewed particular the Vietnamese masses interest the prospect of Defeated-Nixon colleagues at work and reading Herr's book which, my bodies than from the organ- ised labour movement. Celebrities Marroquin's Defence Committee circular for example boasts spon- an impressive list of

• SOIS

celebrities, politicians and even the worthies of Detroit City Council-but not one singe trade union local of identifiable union leader.

direc- tion of the SWP's campaign has been to present the issue as one divorced from class questions, and largely out- side labour ot the ment. The SWP paper The Mili- for • example, reports cani. 26 January on Marroquin supportérs who , happen to be in the Electrical and Steelworkers unions collecting workers signatures petition - but gives no hint of a fight their locals mobilise for • resolutions even industrial action in his support or pressurise union officials to back the cam- paign. separate short piece adds a token call to "urge Co-workes umon locals are at the present moment, being highly or Here's SO The Herr's

SLICIELD

book turns out to be that, whilst on "active service" as correspondent in Vietnam, he listened to, and mingled with, the "grunts"; the rank that file 1S, anu them names apparently conscripts. He even seems to have es- of tablished some sort rapport with at least some partly bought them whisky and canned fruit their eagerness to tell some- anyone; the one horrors of the war and the Marroquin telegrams"-but this bears little relation to the main thrust the campaign. Instead, the bulk of the article devoted of an intervention aucounts in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Detroit. while And the previous carried weeks excerpts from Marroquin's speech to the conference of Young Socialists Alliance in which he stresses the class nature of the INS decision, none of this is included in the general propaganda for the cam- paign. We are not opposed to a campaign seeking the broad- Marroauin.

SUODOL 10

vital that his fight against deportation successful. personal horrors they were undergoing. This Is in contradistinc- tion to the approach of many Mr. Herr's colleagues who were ulte satisfied with the press out by the leases Gusted "masters of war" in Saigon.

(A parallel might here be drawn with present-day reporting of the war in the counties six of Northern Ireland) The weakness of Mr. Herr's book his whole for writing it, which, hard as he looks for it, finally escape. him. Employers It is, however, a motive which isn't difficult to find and the search can profitab- ly start with an identifica- tion of Mr. Herr's wartime employers, or, at, least, one of them Herr wrote not for Mr. for maga- newsodoers

DUT

zines and, in particular he for Esquire. Now Esquire, most know, is a "soft porn" mag.

mag It's designed for voyeurs, as magazines, all (as al c opposed to and guides of one sort another). It's designed to be flicked through and titillate and, in this case, Herr provides titillation himself, tot through

DOTI

his "daring" exploits Vietnam and his reckless of life, and for others way But to place any faith in well-meaning bourgeois to sustain any S11 DeTaIS serious fight on this issue, and turn away from the primary task of mobilising the labour movement in Marroquin's both cerence the main issues and

GUCKS

creates added danger of defeat. The assistance of liberals and radicals should not be brushed aside: but support from the labour movement must be tenaciously fought for at all costs. The Defence Campaign is asking for financial contri- butors and messages of sup- port to be sent to Hector "Marroquin Committee, PO Defence Box 843. Cooper Station, New York, NY 10003 through his reportage of them. (The titillation is presen- ted as "serious content" in order to justify the maga- zine. Playboy plays the same game.) The difficulty is that Mr.

Herr is uneasy about this The "grunts" he talks to are unwilling victims of imperialism, American Mr. Herr is a. whilst • VE11 willing tool of it. In the end Mr. Herr quits Vietnam, unable to live with the love/hate relationship he has with what he is doing.

"stateside" But bore. , and Mr. Herr dom sets in, yearns to be titillated again.

As a substitute we get these memori Mr. Herr wasn't of course alone. • According to Dispatches, Vietnam lousy with photographers and journalists of Mr. Herr's ilk. The tragedy is that not all these people were • witnout talent. 1 neir talent: could have been undoubted- ly better used in the struggle : a US withdrawal to force and build a socialist society.

Substitutes This in its turn could have been a step along the road to building a socialist , the precursor of the

SOCIOL

voyeurism and titillation are seen they are- poor and worthless substi- tutes for a real and substan- tial life.

No socialism and no SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979 PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report Only the trappings of democracy-the Labour Party conference democracy! "1 Veness and the never saw more winger Keith bureaucratic and brutal viol- exousions or lett winders trom the Labour Groups in Newham ations of democratic rights and Southwark Councils. and party constitution than action. The olocKoort South party under examina- these pious Social Demo- tion by the NEC over crats resorted to when they

TWO

MONTHS

alter a nice voi found they couldn't beat us campaign or threatened exoul in fair debate. They just sions and refusals of member. ship against any who oppose the framed us up and threw us out." [James P. Cannon: GoT On 4 OF vitaly (Callaghan's personal adviser) as History of American Parliamentary candidate for the Trotskyism]. construency. Step up attack Cannon's words on the actions of the US Socialist As the Labour government Party leaders in 1938 will stews up is altack or lie work- ing class, so the bureaucrats, the of bitter have ring and the right wingers careerists familiarity to all those who have consistently attempted • hunting in order to suppress opposition. to fight for socialist policies formation, the the British Labour within Labour Party nas been arretriev Party. ably wedded to the politics history and reformism, parliamentarianism of bans i ne expulsions from Ine so-caled ano class collaboration par Lator "functioning Its noisy lett wing nas con tinuously failed to back up its democracy' Labour loud talk with any real fight for Party is alone dna murky lare inocialist press in recent socialst Dolcies. weeks the rare instances where we have. •in a stand has been made usually witch-hunts self-destruc- the part! on a sinore issue. ener tion the North islington machinery has inevitably of branch rather than re-admit left expelled the left wingers.

Readmitted-fake left Nye Bevan hysterical But the most reserved suspected TOr "Trotskyist infiltrators" "disrupt" the Labour Party by injecting socialism InTO Their political work This article does not claim to offer historical evidence gathered here anti-democratic nature • o britains sociai demo- cratic prop for capitalism.

1920's the Commun- ist Party made annual applica- Tons to attee coun Party Each year it was summarily retused. out many CP members continued to work as individuals within the Labour Party. With the rising tide of work.

class and the ing militancy growth of the CP in the middle twenties, a wave of panic swept Labour through Party vied with the bureaucrats who Torv press in their Red Menace speeches. Mass expulsions Mass expulsions followed and rank and file Wilete retused cooperate. whole were arbitrarily dis- affiliated, purged and recon- stituted -1927 no less than 23 local parties had undergone this process, _oreviously strong branches Hackney Islington, Ham, North Rhondda, •outnwar k Poplar Lewisham and Camberwell Trades Councils also suffered the same fate more were 'done' Kelvingrove sincoln n Glasgow). By 1931, after • two more purges, the abour Party could feel that it had satisfied Torie the evel etticiency ot its witch-nunting machinery. Mosley The ironv is however that whilst this was going on, the right wing was completely unchallenged by any disciplinary action Oswald Mosley was making his way as a bright young party Jeff Harris looks into the murky history of anti-socialist purges in the 'Social Democratic' Labour Party support for his infamous Unemploy- ment Neither Mosley, nor his wife an MP) nor Forgan were (also ever excelled from lue LabouT Party 1931 to They resigned One year the New Party TOrM the later this became Union of Fascists Ramsey Mac Also in oiner La Dou MPs completed their journey of collaboration joining Suspended •The next maior offensive by the bureaucracy came in entire when the mittee of the League of youth (thirties equivalent the LPYS) was suspended The had gained Stalinists contro or tne oreanisation ano the over next three years, campaign mounted and the Transport House

NEC

culminatind disbanding the League's the calling off of its annual conference and the oroscriotion or anv separate youth branch at national and district levels. In the tace of this massive witch-hunt the Stalinists dropped their militant posture ane nemselves loined wita tae right. wing in moves to expel groups of Trotskyists "Wreckers" Ted Willis, leading Stalinist active in the Party at the time, put it like this: for "I here olace Trotskyist wreckers in a live just as there is movement for nace

DOLS

on a neatos human". Advance, November 1936). But this craven collaboration not enough to save the was

TOO

wer t expelled. The breaking up the closely yOUT in ked WiTH Ine tainists Popular Front campaign; a cam- paign which attracted some sup-

DOTT

TrOM notably Cripps. Nye stattord Bevan and George Strauss.

Eventually these three were Page 9 along With severa Parliamentary candidates, and Tribune was subjected to some Cripps was charged by the NEC as being: the Unity Cam. paign for an alliance on the class war basi Tune CommunIs MacDonald Party, which stands for Dicta. torship, with Labour • Party whom deer wen Inte warch stands to yemocracy.

virtually somnolent entry as a Others pulled back hen on result of internal fissures and of being the turn the (notably the treacherous Labour Party which had become Lowiner-resident tne a mass party with its largest ever Mineworkers Federation) Cripps, and Strauss Bevan Again the right were soon crossing ram dant. crucial roles for Labour during the floor of the Commons to the forties and fifties join the Tories 1949 'left' MPs The late forties and earlv 1950's saw continuous Zilliacus, Solley and Hutchin were expelled over campaign by the Labourites to pan and expel rotskyists, many some people don't want to come to the

RED YOUTH RALLY

on Sat. 24 February not being inte

SOCIALISM

AND YOUTH!

N19-youth Rally-Caxton House, St John's Way, London £1 (London). speakers, Tickets' 50p (provinces tilm and More details (including transport) fram National Secretary, SYL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

WSL We offer a lead!

INDUSTRIAL

Arms jobs in danger One of the many side- effects of the Iranian crisis on world imperialism the cancellation of billions worth of pounds' of defence with contracts the USA and Britain. The lavish spending of Shah's had ine icille served as a vital prop for the British armaments industry; Otio which em ploys about 300,000 industrial civil servants in the public sector Mick Martin alone. be defended and. a pro- Inquiry of useful public 1 ame The prospect of closures and redundancies following a cancellation of orders for the Chieftain tank was last week countered by call from TGWU official Mick Martin for an inquiry into alternative non-defence pro- The struggle against tor the Leeds plants of the closure

GKN

making the ianks. Reinforcements design But Martin is no convert to working class. indepen- office at Smethwick has dence: he "tripar- wants a now reached a decisive party", tate working COn- stage. sisting of union représenta- The 18 TASS members ¡lallaz cl have produced a detailed government/ ministers, to document draw up a plan. Cunte la management COSUrE Cuts proposals and justifying the expansion of the design And his concern for jobs office. has led him put This has been circulated

ROL

forward any call for occupa-

TASS

all organised tions to prevent redundan- offices and through cies-any more than he has shop floor organisation called for any fight

GKN

represented in the delend the Social Services Workers Association. from Healey's savage spend- Last Tuesday demon. stration of 80 TASS mem- ing .culs Certainly the jobs must GKN's head Dels outsce Whichever way you look ' that does not shrink from even at the struggles and prob- naac -on batties tatne exisı- ing leaders of the working class lems facing

POW

the whether these be opbouright right working class world-wide, windees one thing stands out above Stalinists of the Communist Party all- the need for Such a policy has made us cipled leadership capable of Trienos in Ine tade union leading the struggle for state and bureaucracy, power and the establish- offered the ment of a socialist society.

most powerful lead to workers in servetle. Indeed the strength of our The Workers Socialist movement lies precisely céợuz v nv movdv n Britain that fights patiently and reecon o eny cenol to tine "short cuts" around the necess- relentlessly build sucl fight to construct a Marxist ary party ine oRsIs

OTI

The Trotskyist Transitional Prog. lecoersno in te workime bidss In these battles we set out to We alone are the movement prove to workers botn in.tneory

NON ARE-

ACT THE 4 TH

IERNATIONAL

"ALIST REVALIMIN!

NEWS

works drawn ' up-but this demands the not class- collaboration "tri- partate" committees, but a full-scale trade L1110I inquiry, which must ulaw up plans including not only existing arms factories but also demand- ing the natosatisation, without cul oclisalot private arms supplies such as and Decca, Lucas. Vickers as part of a planned, socia- list economy. 'left' Martin's gesture offers no such perspective.

GKN jobs fight office demanded the opening of the books and the dropping of the closure threat. The demonstration has been used to mobilise Coml Emell maustlla. support of jobs aciun other TASS offices in ITOlI

GKN.,

members have thrown out a pay-off deal of up to £4,000 for 15 years service" but find alternative jobs, pressure for growing. seluemeri The coming week will see whether the promises industrial action be wall made reality and the dispute escalated to a level where GKN can be forced Lo back downl. end in practice the necessity for leadership and for new oroarammt wans/tonar •emanes win ich. starting trom today's problems and consciousness within the work- Class 1e8d workers struggle to grasp the need for socialist revolution. ГО Teason. neden are maller than some self-styled 'revolutionary groups, the

WSL

has featured in the forefront of struggles in British Leyland, in the fight against the sale of jobs

TUC

by leaders, the against cuts, surucele Tite unionisation struggles, fight against bureaucrátic •iclaro sir• within toe unions I nis method of approach rejecting any descent to simple tact antol miltancy. ane any the

TOTA

concession counter-revolurionary reformist or Stalinist bureaucracy - is of course essential for the workino not only Britain but More details Send me more details of the Workers Socialist League.

Name Address Trade Union/occupation The need to step up support for the Garners strikers especially within the IGWU has been emphasised by the events of last week. On Monday 5 February Inere was a mass meeting of strikers which decided to add Brother Chaudrey to the strike committee. Chaudrey was Drolnel successful on the previous week-end in his legal action against one of the sons of Garners' boss Cyril Margolis who actually pleaded guilty to assaulting him. Perhaps needless to add Margolis junior was fined but €25 nothing incurred costs together with binding over So it will cost him £100 decides time he hospitalise a picket. On Tuesday 6 February there was meeting between mem bers the support group originally set by the Westminster up Trades Council, members of the strike committee and TGWU Region 1 organiser Les Shorter. Very little that was new was discussed in this meet- but it was done so at 118 great length. The support group put forward a series of proposals for stepping up support for the strike, all of which were virtually without exception rejected by Shorter. He used every argument in the book to blame TGWU members for not supporting the picketing, Ie musecI consider any definite day of action, subsistence strike pay for the strikers, or even

TGWU

delegate confer- internationally i taKine issues the WSL points out. not only the obligation of Britist workers the Irish Heerauon saruce and evett ionary struggles such as those in and Southern Africa, but for the recon ds e deccall STrueTiOn

C SKVIS

Fourth International as the org.

the world of socialist revolution The WSL is not the biades movement on the left in Britain is it the nor easiest memer or. but in its aeorode to both theory and practice it is only really. serious revol. utene movdnc

WHY

NOT

JOIN

US? Fill more Torm

ITOI

dotails, approach your local will gladly supply branch, who information

MOLO

programme, and por. policies spectives. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979

GARNERS:

GET YOUR

COPY

Call to step up pickets budlon Tro tesey ReYo Lon Posl-man com ence, originally proposed by himself. Shorter also revealed that the will be seeing officials

ACAS

Wednesday on 14 February and there will be a meeting on Friday between National Organiser .Todd, Regional Secretary Staden 'Communists' and Shorter himself. Against Rev- olution The support group after- containing the Theory wards decided, in consulta- important of .with the strikers, Structural Assimilation' by t10n Tim Wohlforth, is the book step up the picketing during this week, on post-war Stalinism that specifically Wednesday 14th Mandel and Healy would A further meeting of the not publish or discuss group with strikers support Make sure you get your Saturday available at £1.75 discussed copy tasl going ahead with calls for a plus 20p p&p from : day of action in mid-March NSl, Bidon N h ark

WSL

for strike pay of £36. The strikers now go into thıs imoortan1 with week strengthened. determination and policies to win

FINES APPEAL

The police onslaught on of course We are • fighting Garners pickets is now taking a through the London labou montten lin ts agand seris movement adeauate fund weeks a. strike to be made available to support trade unionists fined for picket- commalict memeci was mined £35 and f100 costs despite the ing at Garners. clear evidence of three But is now orooien witnesses. urgent. Socialist Press therefore appeals spadars for supporters Ano a vol memoer touno and guilty of obstruction has been donations fined a staggering €120. . Police comrades in paying Ines have even arrested a 15-year old savace nines Donations should be markeo Garners Fines Appeal, and sen members alone, as a result of being the most regular Press, 231 DoCTals Dartmouth Park Hill, London sumr cis on ocker unes totalling

NW5 1HR.

пои

TAC:

tiner hundreds of pounds.

THE KEY TO THE CUTS FIGHT !

The booklet which spells out the policies

ENNALS OUT

for all-out necessary struggle against the cuts,

NO MORE

C drawing on practical ex

L HOSPITAL CUTS

EGA

: périence at the and the Oxford Nursery Occupation. 30p plus 10p p&p from the WSL

A WSL

31, Dartmouth Park Hill How to fight the cuts London NW5 1HR. Right at

WORKEKS

SUALIST E

the

PRESS

forefront!

DEFEND THI

SU TOOL MAKIS

GET

DEFEND TE

SOCIALIST

RIGHT

PRESS

minel I would like to receive

EVERY WEEK!

issues. I encioie the sum o!

I..... Name S issues .£1.10 Address 10 issues .£2.20 ..£5.50 25 issues Dart ou Soraliat Press, Hil, Dartmouth Park 50 issues .£10.00 London NWS IHR

DUNLOP SELL-OUT. LOOMS

meeting in At Coventry of Leyland Stewards Senior on Monday the decision was taken not to call a full Leyland strike but further" "negotiate to on parity payments. The convenors were meeting the concer by a two to one rejection, majority, of their call for action force management.to implement in full the terms of the pay and parity corporate bargaining package accepted by ballot yote in December.

The strike majority does not in anv way repres- ent support for management policy. What it does represent is complete the confusion created by Derek Robinson, Communist Party convenor of the Longbridge complex.

Acceptance It was his support for the as convenor of the package. factory and chair- biggest man of the Combine Shop Stewards Committee which secured its acceptance. solo lie •package lo the Longbridge workers whilst the shop stewards in plants such as Cowley and Jaguar were explaining that the package contained many "ifs" and "buts" that the parity wayll wills promised in it would never be paid. In Cowley, stewards had conducted a long campaign against the end result of the package-corporate bargain- will ing-which they believe pụt BL workers in a long- lerm wages straigntjackel.

Therefore the when came, workers in sike call factories where the package presented had been as good thing found them- selves a very different 1n position workers factories where the full implications of the package had been spelled out. Support Many militant workers had the who rejected package felt they were being strike for asked to go on something they didn't want.

slewaras in te cowiey Assembly Plant approached problem the with a policy which called for support for the strike recommendation of coupled with a policy

UNION DUES

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 14 February, 1979

LEYLAND STRIKE

CALL FAILS

for a secret ballot the next day This produced a two to one majority against strike action. During this meeting calling for the management pallage of the me aborted Fryet as pusSed off the pushed and individual plant claims platform "moderate" resubmitted to the mánage- AUEW member. ment. As we go to press, right They argued that despite 'to wille gel contradictions the Longbridge have the return at situation it was necessary to lalca and a mass meeling 1s manage- strike against the expected later in the week.

ment's manipulation of the Whatever the result the package agreement. company has received a set- that they have nack Premium rates forced to been come out with their real position, In the that they demanding are management made not only speed-up to pay for what stage parity pay-for they want. Cowley workers about £2.50 a week backdated to November 1 last year, but also. the national agreement on premium rates (which increase the base rate used for the calculation of night shift overtime pay from 90p The second mass meeting hour to (1.50) per con- at the closure-threatened ditional producuvity Dunlop Speke Plant where criteria. 2,400 jobs are to be lost, when the company DuL disqualify decided to produced no advance on the yay" ment they did on the "action" So six-point plan of basis of the previously com- accepted by the first meet- pletely unknown criteria of ing a fortnight earlier. 6.16 cars per employee per The platform line up y val included TGWU national chair.

This figure was man Stan Pemberton, the three negotiated with the unions convenors, about half a or even seen by them prior dozen convenors mrom une orner the announcement that plants and The Combine the twenty or thirty officials from payment was being the various unions involved.

withheld. Faced with this, the rennerton race - ing part of the leaflet put into convenors on the Leyland by Workers Cars Joint Negotiating Com- Socialist League which sharply mittee and the combine attackee nis own role in The called tor strike closure. The paragraph read out action two weeks time stated: in giving the management and "Pemberton accepts that the the media the chance to of the company must before jobs of the move with threats of 1n closure, which they quickly members he represents presence here is to "als make sure that no occupation On top of this the right takes place, by usuK nis lone leadership wing the company and service with the Cowley Body Plant opposed his position as chairman of the called strike and The normal working the "principle" that they opposed corporate bargain- ing. Militancy The Longbridge stewards call were correct to for Robinson

THIS IS THE NEWS-TODAY, PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKERS

HAVE CAUSED DEATHS AND MOUNTAINS OF REFUSE...

ME HEARD OF PAY STRUGGLES, ALAN

BUT TRES IS RIDICULOUS!

AT THE TOP...

MYSELF, I BLAME IT ALL ON THIS

HIYA WALLER WAATSISNAME... HE'S

JUST GOT NO DEA!..

Stumock 4 • Омона TGWU Executive Council, to COn Ine members into thinking that he is fighting the closure, in 'corridors of power' on their behalf." rem berton launched into ar ear piercing attack on the WSL, saying how 'unpolitical he was •ane now wa. merely executing the decisions of the mass meeting. into the Workers falc Socialist League for being Trotskyists and for being "polit- ically motivated' mention, how-

TANIAC TO

that he had spoken at, ever, Socialists Labour Party Young orecase Tne Militant Group a week earlier; Statist-inspired unto sog ok ahe r that he was due to speak at a versevsioe Cam balan Unemployment" two days later!

He also did not deny in any The suostance The criticism contained the leaflet. "non-political' instead. Inis "neutral" and demagogue proceeded attack imports of cast curopean Tvres. echoing reactionary chauvinistic management propaganda. stood in Pemberton's speech snaro contrast to the ine ot the Pemberton

WSL

which argued for combine-wide action the Pem berton the enced Dasis or work sharing on tuf oat meeting with plea for and argued the necessity for Callo supering action or action melnig to back Ine talking and lobbying strategy the convenors gave : a further seas. "Full support" aboul elements' Pemberton was clearly explicitly condemned expecting interven demands for import controls tion from the floor in favour of which would merely shift unem- immediately adopting a policy. ployment overseas, and sabotage of occupation,

WSL

any possibility of united inter- leaflet had advocated national action. However, in the brief period The next speaker was Toni for contributions from the floor Lane, a lecturer from Liverpool was one. speaker University-who read a poem by crying need for Bertholt Brecht! political leadership in Dunlop convenors trom otner diants was very evident as Pembertor then pledged "full support" but numedly and thanktully closed not one even mentioned occu.

the meeting. pation.

DON'T WORRY, O'FISHALL -IT'S ALL UNDER CONTROL-

IT ONE ELITATEW OUT ALA TIME AND TT WILL.

ALL BE OVER IN A

FEW MORE WEEKS

YOU WON'T CATCH

MY MEMBERS

TRYING ANY OF

THOSE TRICKS!

BUT THEN, WHAT ELSE CAN ONE EXPECT

SOME FUZZY-WUZZY FANATIC WITHOUT ANY

EXPCKIANCE OF HON

TO RUN A DISPUTE ?.

Page 11 Leyland mass meeting The 'Militant'-inspired

LPYS

public meeting Friday 2 February in Speke, called to rally a fight against the Dunlop closure, predict- ably succeeded only allowing local 'left' MP Eddie Loyden and TGWU Executive Council chairman Stan Pemberton, to gain a little badly 'left cover. Secure in the knowledge that They were sate trom any nostile criticism from the •sycophantic hand of the rags 'Militant' fake lefts wer given free rein to sound off, in so or grant lick of back-slapping and about what They were come to co on dona of the members. Unmoved The CP-inspired Merseyside Campaign Against Unemploy. public meetinc February continued in the same vein Pemberton the platform Stalinis alonesiat of Liverpool Trades Chairman Council Barry Williams, Stalinist national and oreanise COSTeLLO local Stalinist District Secretary Roger O'Hara O'Hara of hi SOBAL HOst defending Pemberton SpeecT against the WSL leaflet which had attacked him at the Dunlop meeting earlier the mas week. He appealed for unity and end to "sectarian" and for ar "'ultra-left" criticism A WSL member pointed out how Longbridge Stalinist Derel sold out the cooinsor Triumph closure through sionary that this being repeated at Duniops But the small audience, consisting overwhelmingly Stalinist hacks, was nara-ine predictably unmoved.

MEANWHILE, IN IRAN, RIOTING MOBS OF EXTREMISTS...

CHRIST, IT MAKES LONGBRIDGE LOOK LIKE A PICNIC!

AFTER ALL-ANY OLD FOOL CAN GET THEM OUT

WHAT REALLY TAKES SKILL & FINESSE, IS GETTING

THEM BACK WITH NEXT-TO-NOTHING GAINED!!!

TO SCAB ON LOW

PRESS

The decision of water workers employers to concede a 16% pay increase to their 33,000 workforce has driven the Tory press into new paroxysms of blue-faced frenzy. Determined to ensure every other group of unat sector workers remains low paid, the media has thrown its full weight behind every strikebreaking

TIT-

move made by local author- ities, hospital management or the government. Westminster Council's decision to bring in hugely expensive contract labour to scab on the dustmen's strike was hailed as a major step forward: and wel-neered Wiard Revorl anti-union middle class volunteers" been have herded into hospitals to offer their strikebreaking services Selective Despite this the public sector bureaucrats union doggedly by their half-hearted dangerous stratective of strategy only calling strike action, and continue to water down There must be the €60/35 hour week policy that all claim. once withdrawn The use of scab labour labour is used. under the of pretence here are "saving lives" and the need severa for all-out strikes being adopted. At both the hospitals and every public Westminster and St. service if the full claim is to W9 hospitals in London, the the Esso tanker drivers TGWU question of workers control branch' has of emergency services. hospital workers that The Workers Socialist pital League has consistently monitor oil levels, and that argued that such emergency they should be the ones to run and authorise necessary supplies.

services De controlled by strike com- And at links and bulaing some wherever possible with the dustmen's local labour movement and have agreed that refuse will with the unions in supplies be collected only when hos- and contractor firms. pital stewards Picket at Queen Mary's Hospital, Hackney Road, London 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.

SOCIALIST

RATS CALLED IN

PAY FIGHT

NFEDERATION

SEFTON

GENERAL

HOSPITA

MPL

IVERP

Low pay demonstration in Liverpool a cleat necessary for health reasons.

cover is at These moves, themselves smail but essential beginn- SCan ings of workers' control of signs that in the public services, must be areas this policy is extended and developed alongside the fight for all- Mary's out strike action. Councils of action agreed with And the public sector hos- pay fight must be strength- shop stewards should ened by the fight in each area tor the establishment of united strike committees.

labour movement LoCal the koyal Free bodies must be called upon other hospitals, send delegates to form leaders councils of which acuor will strengthen picket lines, forge links with other trade declare it unions, and, crucially, provide a political within which a political alternative to the sabotage and betrayal of Fisher and other union leaders can be argued out. Such strike committees and councils of action must also put down firm demands that those Labour "left- wingers" who claim oppose Callaghan now take up a fight for an emergency

LOW PAID

Labour Party conference to and his right LeT ven PHOTO: John Sturrock. Report

(NOWCALLED

wing cabinet and to adopt socialist manifesto for the General Election.

MADALS

For workers at this stage demand their left'

FABOUR PM

leaders put their words into practice is the quickest and effective most way exposing their completely fraudulent character, the need recognising for new, leader. ship to be built. new TUC-cabinet dat' than Margaret Thatcher. •ocument. closed doors by date Trom: their members completely interests, Is a Tory propaanda last weekend include to 5% a year by 1982. *No-strike key grows of gers

TUC

restrict Dickering *Secret strike action ShoPE negetic unofficial strikes the strikebreaking cabinet tarily the anti-union Thatcher legislate if reeiected. very coolinere ably their reject such clas working conditions. Seldom between determination uphold exposed. The Leyland Toolroom entials" and Committee's meeting on 8 treating this like a breath • February passed the follow- fresh air. ing resolution: "That this committee invite seen by all craft members to support a toolmakers in claim for Toolroom allied and they are duld per Cravtsmen „LO Dalo time ever from 1 March 1978 in :: meeting worktrs ill with week accordance with the skilled common Body Plant rate contained within the COn pany's document and assurance The Leyland given by national officials, June have lost 1978. Further immediat company's retusal to pav pariti National The Agreement". This is the first time that this the most overtime committee. lea by noy rraser has actually come out with figure. «Atter two. vears ot.traser's shadow.boxing about have been lucky in subscriber to the paper. total Our Fraser 1HR. "Concordat" paves way for Tory come-back Nobody could be more Union officials and reformist delighted the politicians wretched proposals of the their privileged positions are as terrified of the the 'concor- movement as are the Tory leader one reason why sooner than map out The whole content of this any socialist answer crisis, drawn behind to the bureau. wasee ThE necessity nationalise major industry with.

crats without the slightest man compensation and workers these their bureaucrate bosses carte lamely echo bureaucrat • całulalo -the Tories The draft proposals as leaked his latest betrayal, on to of Callaghan's years of sustained * Agreement To cut pay rises attacks the workers agreements for l, can only serve as a Turne a massive working quarantee or abstention this year's class General Election ballots Now noone can disoute tha prior the only way to halt these Ton *"Flexibility" on the closed plans is to fight for the curva LUte the Callaghal canine witl action to end struggle in each to press forward the public # orner woras the lUC anc SoCioran Callaghan mass Dav Strikes with picketing and the building of councils of action. almost undertake policies that has pledged herself to Rejected All this takes place at the millions workers have shown unmistake- determination collaporator and defend their jobs, wages and Contras the willingness of the working class to fight, and the Then trao e union and political "leaders" to interests ween starkiy Thatcher Toolroom £90 claim "parity" the sections like toolmakers joining with the committee but skilled workers in Leyland are of Joint mass meetings with other skills are widespread. Already the response can be the willingness of the Cowley to strik€ Defend Dave Stevens! now. for the firsi holding a joint mass Anti-fascist facing charges the Cowley of assaulting police skilled

PICKET

most out of the Stafford Crown Court (in Cowley, E10 a week) and the Market St., Stafford premium rates, because they do Monday February 19 10am-3pm This is the case in all the Leyland plants and not only are

FUND

The New Year inevitably brings with it the announce- ment of price increases for the materials and printing costs involved in the production of newspapers.

This year we that these price increases did not become effective at the beginning of January. But now they are beginning to be implemented and as a result we will inevitably face increased costs over the coming period.

All the more important therefore that the fight to raise our f600 monthly fund is given adequate attention by readers and supporters of Socialist Press.

The last week brought us £109.75, including €4.50 from a NALGO shop steward from Rochrster, Kent who is a far this month is now £251.45. All SO donations to the fund should be sent to: Socialist Press Monthly Fund, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5