Socialist Press no. 153

Prices soar; jobs under threat

OIL CRISIS HERALDS

NEW RECESSION

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 153 * June 6, 1979 * 15p chronic, insoluble The crisis of world capitalism- crisis that has already world given _rise lo two wars, the horrors of fascism, and the Depression of the 1930s, and which currently unemployment, brings poverty, repression, disease and starvation to countless workers and millions of their families across the globe-has new develop- ments in store. The growing shortage of oll and 50% increase supplies, in the first in crude prices , six months of inis vedr noW threaten workers with the consequences ot: rise in inflation *a naway on a world scale, dwarfing the ousted upheavals that The already upward trend in prices; butcher Shah from the crucial recession in manufactur- oil-state ot tran ing industry, bringing wholesale ripple effects ThIS sackings; crushing defeat for one of the openly cut- *a growth 01 world's most selt-contident and throat competition betweer ruthless tyrannies are still being national groups of capital- rival throughout ists. leading to trade war and the of the Middle and despotisms threat of further escalation; EastAnd the loss of lan at r *an even more ruthless spate living of the Jobs, bulwark major stratedic standards imperialism in the Middle East, conditions of workers in the coupled with advanced capitalist countries; barrels a day cutback in Iranian economic devasta- *further oil production, has tion, repression and misery shattering blow to the economic the millions in the underdevel- and political stability of capital- Latin 0080 всoлоsics ism. Unlike the 1973-4 oil crisis, The Tories and the a common when supplies leaders, who were eventuaily fully restored, following a four- British imperialism support for and the crisis-ridden fold increase in crude or prices can talist system, will of course argue that the new balance or torces Iran that oil supplies their means IniS CrisIs none but 'brought must inevitably remain cut back aouT outside by Arab oil for the forseeable future producers But the fact is that the entire world capitalist rests on the SVSTeM and exploitation of the colonial ex-colonial countrieș as a and of cheap labour and raw source materials for the nianiy oroTt able manufacturing industry of Western capitalism Lynch-pin Foremost among these raw oil, materials course. which has emerged as the lynch capitalist production. yet the anarcov or ine inter- system and falling competitiveness LITe of US capitalism - protitability compared with its eurobean and Japanese rivals have brought the value ot dollars paid out in exchange for oil supplies. same time the grow- At Ine ing resistance une WOrKInU class throughout thA world to the ternatha capist had Cavital reached its peak in the massive Since the capitalist market's demand tor oil has Increased Dy around 4% during the last year, effect a drastic meds in curtailment of supplies. Recognising this, and seeing revenues which they hope Will help to stabilise their reaction.

nationalist arv Teuddi and regimes against popular the Arab resistance, have moved procuters increase their prices. Zionists Through such policies they at home by posing active US-backed of the opponents Egyptian the Deace between bourgeoisie and the land-grabb- ing Zionist state of Israel.

the anti- neeed suCh imperialist mass pressure that even the feudal rulers of Saudi * Abadan oil installation, Iran felt. unable Arabia have their once with огосееа tentative offer of increasing oil supplies to the West by 500,000 barrels a day for fear of allying themselves too openly with US imperialism But as the crisis, createa Dy imperialism, creates mountil amongst motorists, soar- panic shortages, and Ino tuel onces each national capitalists is beginning to join in a mad scramble to corner the available supplies Carter's US Last week administration decided to intro.

duce a 85 per barrel subsidy or imported heating. oi -in a bid to corner a share of the market. Enraged French, German and EEC officials have respon- ded with a chorus ot protest and demands for a special session of International 20-nation the Energy Agency.

SUPER

1.02

DIESEL

99.9 Diesel pump in Germany

CROSSROADS:

The story behind S. African state climbdown

CENTRE PAGES

INFLATION-

EMERCY CRUNCH

their talk of a "peaceful road to But no amount of talk of a socialism", through parliamen- "anned solution can disoulst the fact that capitalist compe tary reform. and the drive for profit Transitional demands such must invital teac dog-eat-dog measures Socialist The Workers rival groups of As long League, as a Trotskvist party are left to squabble fights consistently for action on Cantast among themselves and transitional and following force their attempi anti- merit demands opponents to carrv the brunt 01 *Defend living standards' the crisis, the real loser in every Wage increases must be protec- be the working instance must through Ted against of the cost-of-living clauses giving auto Class i very cly world. matic rises in line with a trade union cost-of-living index.

Speed-up *Defend all jobs! Occupy to redundancies! Demand stop work sharing between the whole Galloping inflation will gnaw inadequate packets: existing workforce without loss pay frantic speed-up and 'rationalis- of pay for mass action ation' policies by the employer.

*Fight will slash jobs by the thousand: bring down the job-cutting ory of employers and government and these attacks will be accom panied by an onslaught on hard bankers. oil rights *Open the books of the trade union monopolios. along with the working conations major industrial firms, the banks Certain sections of the capit- alist class-driven to desperation and the insurance companies to elected trade union committees their profits The Enredl This will prove the case for their may well begin to contemplat of outright war to the prospect nationalsaron without comper sation, under workers' manage- secure supplies of oil, to elimin ate capitalist rivals • even to controls! the reconquest of the deformed and degenerated workers' states Create new jobs through a crash programme of public works for whose relative under industry nationaliser relations workers' management property *Immediate withdrawal planned economies To fight back in these con- of the working overseas ditions crisis, with slave-labour raw material class must be equipped with c contracts with ex-colonial coun- transitional programme which, in offering an tries. Renegotiate trade deals on demands equal terms. answer materia *Der with earnere problems, point unmistakeably : the revolu- Sadat Beain to the necessity Middle East! Full support to the tionarv overthrow of capitalism Palestinian of • liberation! war and the establishment Build Trotskyist parties in Iran planned, socialist economy management. under workers' 'and every Middie cast nation t spearhead independent The the Labou leadership- Arab masses! of the whether left right-offers i struggles workers such programme. " Reconstruc us I roskyIs Nor do the Stalinists of the Fourth International the World Party of Socialist Revolu Communist rartes. woose comm promises with their "own" tion, with section. evcr are coupled to country! capitalist class

THE BOAT PEOPLE: THE

FACTS BEHIND THE CANT

Arabs fight Iran tyrants Pigt -

-INTERNATIONAL-

We already have 1,500,000 unemployed, severe inner city problems and long queues for hospital treatment.' This is not an extract from some kina or piea tor socialism These were the words of a Tory MP, arguing against the entry of 'boat- fOre vietnamese people into Britain. But Nicholas Winterton, and the group ot extreme riaht wind Tory share his racists who ahead of position, Thatcher's leadership The doinet itselt nas reac. ted to this new crisis with a far more, sophisticated response.

Hypocrisy Of course the bourgeoisie does not hold a monopolv as this example shows, they easily dominate a lively market. At one level. tnere has been a straightforward double-stand.

ard which separated Viet- the Thatcher's namese fugitives TrOT orants week Guardian The been LaS1 reported how: "Tory MPs, on the Riaht a capitalist not like the Well Lett. of the notion of especially numers from Communist accepted into Britain. regime being compared to immigrants" With Anti-communism satistied course the force which led to "admirable ment to its own advantage: covernment's and morally cleansing" decision "Nor contrast to the Tories' refugees now intendon step up immigration controls. nam reactionary govern. Citizens ment in France has openly wel. greater numbers of comerer them are coming Vietnamese, at the very moment WErE

LOO

when it was trying to introduce against measures immigrant workers. Vietnam. As the religious and ments dominated by religious bourgeois leaders struggle to bigotry. impose their dictatorship on other levels the Iranian revolution, they instai a bonapartist dictatorship are confronted with growing controlled by the Islamic clergy with himself as a powerful head opposition from huge layers society still or state. Fromises or a Constitu ent Assembly have been tossed throes of transformation.

aside. Ine various sections of this movement have arisen new constitution to be latest separațely. But they all share a by a 'selected' democratic basis that ented dsselmoly betore passing to with continuing a referendum. COnTACT The repression Khomeini's and Bazargan's divided regime.

has or uranian i awvers. Reign of terror protests will be only the first to be heard. A fortnight In this new stage the reign of

SUCTIOT

Operated the gathered in Tehran to demanc Courts and nevolutionary an end to media censorship and Guards will directed soon away from the Shah's press inel clalms tor the demo accom cratic tingside these right henchmen towards the left wing and democratic opposition. Tacos attempt to integrate the loyal Wider attacks on democratic Revolutionary rights have already been fore- shadowed The l by the attacks into gays- wo more gay men were wielded executed last week tion. mullah's campaign against Orders disobeyed homent has now derrear those who "insult the ThaT clergy should be punished by There are the CourS. vanous directed against all soldiers in the army who refuse ngove dissidents, but especially against to obey officers' commands and the left. InSISt self-styled 'Marxist' decision after forces of the Fedayeen have sion. recently been attacked by large But mobilisations of reactionary ele- before the clergy and the bour- Devastation in war-wracked Vietnam: and another cargo of boat people 'Another reason for their seit Tienteous demand that other states should leaving country that do more to share the burden has they are people of resource alla will olece •eterminaton. hypocrisy which outraged other probably prove to be among the governments, small businessmen of the future Mirs. velatively 'boatpeople' hopes for so much." happý little picture liberal does not sauare verv easilv with conscience Guardian the scene in Hong Kong, While moved on to advise the govern- imperialist beat-their humanitarian breasts. the capit- are busily alIStS in the colony any other government fear that scouring the refugee camps for coming from Viet. labour LO WOrK dre would be idle or worthless super exploited in in the sweat- shop conditions of Hong Kong ""A main reason why most of industry. is that they Dut the bourgeoisie has been its

SUCCO STU

Viet- capitalisis. To suit the Commun.

the ist designs of the government of namese government for causing the refugee crisis. Khomeini has pressed ahead with alan. • ne latest proposal is tor the ratified and totally unel. This mockery of democracy already provoked the anger their ago a cemon 100,000 people free speech. problems In Guards and the Shah's army geoisie at the moment remains one massive weapon to be the militancy for the counter-revolu- ot the walloid Sanandaj, with attacking neadcuarte Revolutionary Com- fOCA mittee. TrON areas offrank and file For the first time, the large Arab the south. western province of Khuzestan reaching a collective has also come into violent con- internal discus- of the with the forces central government obstacle At Khorramshar (Iran's greatest largest commercial port), a clash

. OU WIL!

HINE ARITYONFAS

ȚLETUS LAND PLEASEWE. ARE LO

The Stalinists of Hanoi have certainly followed policies which aggravated the situation . leve All this But the Vietnam Crisis • WITnIn caused directly by the imperial ist dominance and exploitation north too, the toll that increased daily of the south, and the protracted imperialist war to protect those WITn south, the tasks economic, strategic and political interests. escalation The of the war wu be lackied transformed South Vietnam from bleeding a society with the ravages of foreign, imperial- uner owr ism. mernoos. pursued their Collapsed neighbouring cracie: The structure of agricultural Kampuchea The production collapsed: industria was directed develo oment towards the war effort and the in Vietnam today. speedy profits of entrepreneurs; Kurdish guerrillas in Sanandaj Guards Recent developments retween Revolutionar and strikers led on to a violent!

shown the anti-Arab demonstration Khomeini and nevolutionar Suroud The tion in violent The same been revealed the will of the Iranian masses to resist the imposition , with of a prepare o lore or me damo tenacity troops to seal off and guard the refineries in this major cratic rights nearov oil producing area of Iran. Some denied by demonstrators tionaries who have replaced the were neo hundreds more seriously Shah.

WITA

injured. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 6 June 1979 Kampuchea and the war of against China have •etence demanded a heavy price from the Vietnamese workers ano peasants Beyond the cost of financing the military operations tuere nas been an almost total disrup.

tion of the programme of recon Sections of the massive armv had been sent as work-forces to develop vital projects. With the renewal of war, they were with- arawat to une tronts Abandoned The building and rebuilding of hospitals schools and power plants was abandoned. The sites desperately-needed dams were emptied of workers. ror an agriculture based on consequences incation The have been disastrous In many areas crops not others ween planted; in many they will fail through lack of proper irrigation corruption and the black market A situation of general hunger vane to rule exchange at every become a catas inreatens trophe of mass starvation.

was in addition to In these the more general social disrun.

Conlon tion caused by the war. In the 'Vietnames: Stalinists have waged a campaign the exacted a against Chinese opulation Ivian) the liberation of the uninese in vietnam have beer • of reconstruc- merchants and small traders. tion were an immediate problem heavily involved in the black Fill Kol But the Stalinist leaders of but the Hanoi bureaucrat: Vietnam approached these tasks have exploited this class charac rather bureaucratic unal based Inel At the same time they actions on It rivalries with the Conflict Stalinis oureau China and Their motivation has been to develop the conflict with their fruits of their rival brothers in Peking 'communism' are being gathered Al reseat tnere is no wav o disentangling the reality The war of intervention in the propaganda of bourgeois reporting of the But it is difficult to believe that such large numbers can. al be Chinese capitalists. Already ½ million have fled China alone; another 40,000 in Hong Kong, where 3,000 arrived on one day last month. The Chinese Stalinists claim that ½ million refugees have left Vietnam since January, and that the Hanoi intends continue here at re 10.0000 People ter Virman my pail people' in April but that only a quarter of them survived the journey It is clear that : tens of thous ands these reTudees. What their origin, will pass into ever lives of pauperdom in the imper lalist colonies of the Far East Hard to assess The part played by the Vietnamese government in thi remains the most exoou difficult to assess. We have absolutely WiT pliaht of capitalist who have been stripped of their property before they car leave vielnalt involved, it seems certain the numbers must have been olner lavers drawn into this technicians, peasants, fishermen have fleeing in _desperation from the determination crisis in Vietnam his supporters Such his a deemense aria development coulo Iranian revolu. only black reaction problems prevailing in Vietnam period and hideous bureaucratic ause The deformities the Stalinist clique and the more sharply th reveals urgent need for the building of independent revolutionar promised to overthrow by political the counter-revolu revolution the Hanoi gang of dictators and socialisin

SPAIN'S TONY BENN LINES

UP TO STEP INTO PSOE

SOCIALISI PRESS. neinesday 6 June 1979

INTERNATIONAL'

LEADERSHIP

Stepping up street violence-Fuerza Nuevo fascists In an atmosphere of It looks fairly clear that one of the major contenders mounting political to replace Felipe Gonzalez Spain, with tension in First Secretary of Lne fascist bands stepping Francisco party Will up their street mobilisa- Bustelo, the best-known of tions and calling for a the fake "lefts' who lead the Madrid of the tederation military takeover, the

PSOE.

struggle for the leader- Parallel ship of the Socialist Party

(PSOE)

has There is a certain parallel begun. between Bustelo and his Student riots shake Nepal tyrant Tyranny is under threat Their democratic demands symbolised the popular in Nepal. The autocratic have discontent with the political and rule of King Birendra has economic system of the Hima.

been challenged by the layan state. development of opposition Poorest which has been spearheaded by the mass student demon- Like nearby Bhutan, Nepal is strations of the last two among the very poorest countries in world. The the months. Now in English, French and From WSL, 31, Dartmouth

AS RAZON

Park Hill, London NW5

CONSTRUCCION D

THR

LA CUARTA INTERNACIONAL

WSL

document sub- the mitted discussion of the XI World Congress of the

USFI.

basis of party on the declaration of principles even harder than the one we just adopted". 'Marxist' He was referring to the declaration of the PSOE as a "Marxist class party" which closest British counterpart passed at the recent PSOE congress by an over- Tony Benn. Both men are self-evident whelming margin-despite Gonzalez' pleas ponucal opportunisls. Both are limbering up for It was this defeat which pushed Gonzalez into what a snot al tne leadersmo al a moment when the existing he clearly be no was to leader has lost prestige as a than a more temporary and resignation. "If But, warns Bustelo, accuon cereals. Both men have for years he says today he doesn't cultivated a 'left' image des- like those principles then it pite the fact that in be because he has a must have in his head which he terms ther plan COnCICle along with gone every policy right wing leadership. And both are now justi- fying their treacherous past but saying their parties now need a more left-wing policy for the future. Same thing Bustelo said Week. last many words For the last two and a half years, he admitted: "I would have done the thing Felipe same Gonzalez." For those years, he went on, Gonzalez: had led the head, by agriculture, tourism Sale lira. product of Eton and Succeeded seven years ago to his young father's throne as the incarna- tion of the God Vishnu, King of Five Godly, Warrior and Divine Vatorous Emperor This panoply of names rests On The 'non-party' elections to a power- Interna- Amnesty assembly. tional has launched a every Desioner to interrare layer of Nepalese society for the campaign collaboration with the • plans of immediate release from me ranchivil jail of almost the entire system has met with deepening and broadening criticism.

leadership of Tunisia's faced with birendra Is now trade union movement. imposed on the terrible choice so y tyrants by the develop.

Twenty four top union officials ment ot mass opposition. were jailed last September for terms ranging Repression from months to ten with hard labour, years With tee sans tare unforgettable warning, Birendra following the one-day must choose between methods Strike General called the General Union oT repression 0I spur opposition stad methods on the determination Tunisian Workers

(UGTT)

on January 28, 1978. the wil give opposition increased strength and political opportunities.

his prime minister has been forces to resign Birendra himself has resorted to the time honoured device of a referendum on consti. • a now tution-revisec bụt still anti- through and damocratc through Vishnu does not come to as the vivre enaceror and have to fall back for more thar moral support on the loyalty of The Gurn... self by the open-handed gener.

osity imperialist: their most Tunisian premier Nouira only valuable servants. still hasn't told us about."

Bustelo referred particul- arly to a possible plan for a coalition government with the right. months after enter-

SIX

ing such a government we would have call the police to defend party head- quarters against demonstra- tions of unemployed workers" But Bustelo's defence of "Marxism" and opposition to coalitions remains on a formal level. Refuses to fight He refuses to fight for a of programme socialist policies. and file militants Rank of the PSOE must reject Free Tunisia's union leaders! The strike-intended as a token protest-had followed a wave of unofficial strikes in defiance of a reactionary no-strike "social contract between the UGTT agreed and the Bourguiba govern- ment early in 1977. Armed police It was met by masses of armed ponce and tne armeo forces took to the that streets and occupied strategic positions advance of the strike Over • 1,000 arrests took place and hundreds were killed wounded The meted out savati beatings to many who were subsequently released. And Amnesty quotes Le Monde which reported that afterwards over 150 people were tried in week one alone and sentenced prison terms ranging from three months to seven years.

But the trial of the UGTT leaders was a particu- lar mockery. Held before the State Security Court, closed the trial was to defendants' families and to an Amnesty observer. Page 3 Gonzalez-in happier times this crass opportunist attempt by Bustelo to gain the leadership. The Bustelo bandwagon is not negligible. But it be derailed must and substituted by principled fight against the rght-wing leadership based on the fight for the Trotsky- ist Transitional Programme Now jailed: UGTT leaders All 76 defence lawyers withdrew in protest against the conditions of the trial And when the court appointed 18 replacements they, too, stated that they were unable to defend the

UGTT

leaders since they had no chance to study the 4,000-5,000 page case dossier or to consult their "clients". Following predic. the table 'guilty ' verdicts, 16 of the accused were sentenced to a total of 98½ years in jail. Torture Amnesty also report alle- and ill- of torture gallons treatment 'made by defendants in court hearings in Sfax, Sousse and Tunis.

Its campaign circular calls British trade unionists to fight for the release of the UGTT leaders by passing resolutions in union branches and trades councils; calling union on send high- executives to level delegations the Tunisian em bassy London; and publicising the issue within the trade union movement

Page 1 arms to RUC Once again the continu- of liberation in ing war Ireland has been brought into the headlines by statement from leading US politician "Tip" bourgeois O'Neil, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

O'Neill; whose ludicrous Ireland remarks on Dele 'political football' • Britisn politics were angrily refuted by both Tory ane politicians during the election campaign, this time hit a more sensitive point by pressing for a State Department ban on arms sales to the RUC. the RUC He argued that part of the armed backbone of sectarian Loyalist Ine -was seen ov many and that for the US to sell arms to the RUC would look like sup- port for 'one of the tactions in Northern ireland. This stand has, more sur- supported by prisingly, been Michael O'Kennedy. the Foreign Minister of the pro-imperialist Irish Republic, and the spokesman on 'law and

OLES

order' Michael Canavan. The arms in question include and Mauser pistols M cardines -known colloquially. Ine 'Dirty Harry from the gun, injuries they of the savadery inflict. But it is significant that yet British and again the The police rebression oT une nations alist population by the Norin is highlighted by sources outside education of working a wall of britain. and Tue! youth silence from the leaders or me last British la stopping met. the National Association of arms 7 ne supplies the brazen/v Head Teachers.

RUC

and the sectarian Education occupying British army should Carlisit not be lott in the hands of US office was bourgeois politicians, but taken grammar the British as a task betore "11 plus' Tonaly working class. financial aid to local Such a struggle is an essential wanting send force the fight independent withdrawat o british troops and olans to lower open the way to the self-deter- ing age from 16 to 15. mination of the Irish people as a view whole. massive increase

PTA

une begin to bite this recession, good sense tor the Why spend -torture the youth for could be money from the tax business? victim of the Latest Prevention of reactionary Teachers cut Terrorism Act is Jimmy Scanlon, a member of the also Carlisle Republican Socialist. part of the Tories' spending cuts • Irish Party. He was picked up by police number or teacners 'We hope assassination of investigating the will try to i ory mr Airey weave We at 4 numn ders. His house was raided follow that line', he declared.

by o'clock in the morning an armed police squad on Tuesday in operation 22 May. He was dumped in a cell at Paddington Green Police

CUTS

Station where it is Cheshire County Council. kept awake for 96 hours was Plans for a the police who (4 days!) by back include brutallv interrogated him every 547 teachers half-hour. Now the state thugs, ministrative wres their inability to catch The killer of Neave have decided to deport the coming Tory budget ocation. Despite daily pickets to get that seems the police him released, extension of their ahead an requested powers from the Home Office, which were granted. On Tuesday 30 May a picket was organised outside the rome Office where the police limited six people in a the picket desperate attempt to minimist its effect. CheT Association and the Authorities politan

LONDON UTOM

That neao masters Demonstration in citizenshabiy Saturaay 16 June Presum Assemble Speakers slides of the Corner, 2.00 p.m. Grunwick bel are! under The US call to block Bourgeois spokesman- "Tip" O 'Neil Tories put schools under the axe of the leading police all-round offensive pictures officers convicted on corruption the Tories against the charges order convince class school students of the case for was highlighted "law and order" of week's conference Organise now! It is more important than Mark school students, Secretary ever that first move teachers and mandal d istrative workers are fully Örgan- reorieve existic schools and the reac ised now into unions and wage a exam and give action to halt oint structie tol the Tory war on working class children jobs and on the education, revealed schools, basic rights of youth. school leav-

TNE

the inevitable in voutn unem ployment that will take place as policies economic the growing policy makes ruling class.

OUT

e•ucale dole, when the and cut saved Schools butcher Thatcher stressed that will include a reduction in the authorities osal keop down teacher them to expect One example of "that line" the swingeing education spending planned by the Tory-controller million cut- Workers Socialist League dismissal supporters are in the fore-.

tne manudi workers and 114 clerical and ad- front of moves to take up the initiatives of the TUC Such cuts can be expected in bureaucracy on the question area after area, particularly after of nursery provision. But one area of "education" Press Socialist has already Report the TUC's certain Toroe sootiented increased budget on the Under Fives which came out last year. under the Tories is the interven a time when increased tion of the police into schools.

cuts threaten even me existinc meagre provision it is vital to Police in schools about movement who refuseho those leaders ex•ost A report at last week's joint take up any real fight to defenc conference of the Association of which they give the of County Councils Association of Metro. has The whole movement must should for the be tight moolised maintenance Torced to allow porcemen ito ane ektension schools to give children "lessons nursery education as a key step towards combatting the oppres- will show sion of women ano

SPG

murder 5. them into the organised working Blair Peach the breaking of the • on June 16 the picket line, Ine nicester black youth Trades Council has called a con- 'Women's Right to

'SUS'

and terence on laws.

PRESS

GANG

If there were competition between on pageantry 'proof' of the superiority of hand the the one capitalism bureaucracies of the degenerated and cunningly intertwined in the workers' deformed reports, states and on the other the ground Polish guard and then held a the Catholic Church to Warsaw's MaSS find which has carried Square. out most crimes against Sunday The whipped itself into religious class then the working ecstacy (the real religion in Church Catholic the being would have to win the capitalism). ribbon if for no other "Two lined the road taking him than it had reason several centuries start- from the Warsaw, threw roses, which advantage an tions and irises into his path the deepest dyed even and cheered "Long Stalinist would have shouted Pope"... trouble wiping out. •Many wept If Popery has not died in the Pope climbed the raised Poland, that is not a tribute dais to the altar and stood the stayıng power religion but a condemnation 30ft cross which was draped of the Polish bureaucracy in red stoles which has vacillated You could be accomodation …TO Detween for thinking that this was a the Church and petty revolution without ever narassment, described, challenging the social lie on based. is which The visit of the Pope to earth. Poland, though prouubing The Sunday of the events worthy name or 'news' was seen by every the capitalist press in Britain crowd at a glance. the most important of the 'SYMBOLIC event week:

SYL MEETS - ONE

"Workers and youth are fighting back. In Ireland and Zimbabwe they do this with!

they guns: in Britain are fighting through strikes and demonstrations. lead to socialism." 'The problem is the leaders So spoke of the working class, who betray National We have to figh Socialist Youth These strudeles to get rid of these leaders and annual conference them with revolution- replace introducing that thes aries who will ensure draft resolution struggles are successtul and will in the the Fighting for cabitalisit had nursery care

WAITEROTOT

Islington, from Scotland, Miolanes Oxford as well. as the and the Work Need for Day dice Sunday July Care" and on Council the conference a races (Glasgow organising a day conference or Jones TUC Report readers wve urge Socialist Press to fight for dele meetings as a gations struggle for basis for taking the nurseries into ine labour TOVe ground be Only doing this can ment. defence laid for against The

CUTS

and TOr strength of the trade unions to both deployed against Tories ana ine retormists Similarly the "Care of the Under Fives" conference on 30 the Soutt January organised by East Region TUC. will provide important platform for of the outing LItt dulliuis Report on the spot. In particular delegates from the Oxford City Nursery Cam- the taking Daren lessons of the struggle to save the South Oxford Nursery need for occupa- stressine supporting tions and

SLEIKI

action In describing the feudal and massive display of love and pride and joy-the sort press found of welcome never accorded by the man in the street in Eastern Europe to visiting two strands were Communist leaders. as the Pope kissed The Observer, which inspected the marked the visit by turning over its colour supplement Victory studies of Stalin and 'Pope John Paul's Poland' Telegraph also carried the visit as lead Not content with this, it article carried further of course that the state stressing found religion an impossible people million nut to crack. other "Visits to any airport into that might • have places carna- shown the working class roots of Polish Catholicism and clapped were vigorously resisted by Live Our local party bosses who for beating have been years openly as the their heads àgainst of Polish faith. obduracy his return "Doesn't to with open arms before the Pope mark the Pear of bothe the Polish Telli Church and Poland to world forgiven history, a return predestined the first Polish king that was being was baptised a thousand not the visit of years ago? the head of the most reac tionary extortionist gang on So in tones of religious mysticism, does the press of Telegraph the capitalists delight as the reporter, John Miller, took Polish heads of the of the workers' deformed state bow and scrape before the "It was not a Communist symbol reaction and exploitation.

rent-a-crowd but a genuine

YEAR ON

faced by youth can be are rad racialism and low Moore, Secretary of the onlv by revolutionary policies A number of supplementary League strengthening the amendments draft resolution were moved by the four page main

SYL

members: topics Tine covered included the struggle The resolution stressed that against Stalinism in the Nationa mounting crisis of world employers were anion or senoo students. alr the fight for equal rights, union determined to keep up their rate abortion anc isation and free sit ping it and this ontato inten demand for exploitation Contace lion girls and women. workers, in particular the youth The 50-strong audience that New film the Youth Centre, strengthened

SYL

included cel ecations Yorkshire, the National Committee was elected and and the conference saw Avlesour film London covance breview or a new being made about the SYL and its work They. had been welcomed by A showing of the film Blacks . Chairmar Matthew

SYL)

who britannica Tolowed day ended with successful , remarks disco that the problems of unemploy- SYL National Secretary Phil Moore speaking at conference

GROUP CALLAGHAN'S

FAVOURITE MARXISTS?

PARTY YOUNG SOCIALI

Militant supporters allowed to rule the roost in the LPYS, while Socialist Press supporters are hounded and expelled

THE 'UNITY' FRAUD-

SOCIALSTERESS.

WHY ARE MILITANT

We reprint below a letter from a supporter of together with our reply. The letter has Militant, been abridged for lack of space, but all its political points remain. Bradford 21 May 1919 Dear Socialist Press, vou'll agree from "just a sure back-stabbing attack on the "tame cat 'Marxist' of As a that did for strikes occur, annur's roud was interested to read the whole suDooseory camane Labour s (!) which you devoted to election chances" as you claim Dave in your article. Socialist Partv Yours is not the method of a Press no. 150 (16 May 1979).

Unfortunately. contained revolutionary Marxist tendency, but that of a hopelessly sectar- of distortions about a number Militant's role in the Election croupiet. desodil and afterwards. at its inability to engage in real, scientific polemical criticism of 'auote"

YOU

senilelice which appeared in the Editorial Militant, a tendency which is a Militant 455. The thousand times more correct in of issue perception of Marxism sentence denne. Trotskyism than is the WSL, has "Sections of the middle class •istortions, *tes and fabrications, in order press's hysterical PHOTO: Mark Rusher. IF attack Militant, presumably winter's advance the theoretical level' aenunciation strikes and particulariv ot me ItS revolutionary caores unskillful tactics occasionally Any fool, and 'fool' is the adopted by some of the public operative word can omit parts service workers wno nao wtue or or a sentence. ao nis own into no previous experience of strike duction, and then interpret the 'sentence' in a totally contradic- than However. ratner TorV • manner ITSe orrella quoting the whole sentence, you meaning. However, to try quoted in phas ed build a revolutionary tendency added to which was it is bound to be a disaster right pretix: climbing down to ¡ nis appears to be wnat you are wing attacks on the winter's pay to do last week's trying strikes Militant even lashes out Socialist Press. I. whal astonisiny describes as: land then the your attacks on: concentrating the ningue of sitan about 1) The Labour Right insteac of Militant Group ins more man imones mat Maturd от Ine Lett ano rseudo-Lett. we are blaming last winter's portics. when discussing the Labour strikes for Labour's defeat in We began by challenging the Party. Militant's pathetically ine erection. 2) The Tories, our ¡ his is a compiete and utte charactersation when examining the of our position, Callaghan government not distortion "fellow broader political spectrum thoroughly reactionary, reminiscent 'concentrating' Note-I say travellers" desperate HE Tra- workine class covernment but as "wholly devoting" to the leftist distortionism, the WRP.

a "failure". To quote from the Editorial croues mentioned We went on to query how You obviously not have article in which you "Marxist pape Militant se tsuviee forgotten your WRP past. claim to analyse: could find itself describing some Fraternally yours, of the "But Labour's rank and file pay Aodul sheir utterly repudiate Stroes or last winter as Bradford North LPYS and attempt (of the Right) to blame skillful tactics" Militant supporter. of defeat on the workers who were question we asked pushed the militant Group. and which Governmerts own policies into taking indus- Brother Sheir refuses to answer Responsibility in his lengthy letter was:

WE REPLY

trial action defeat Sheir's indignant that the for the lies to believe with Ine brower Labour right's pro-capitalist letter sidesteps completely the the manoeuvrars policies." political point that was being Militant editorial offices could have found a way to take strike.

A million miles removed, I'm made in our original article-and Militant is not the only Militant's vague declaration that Morning Star. He looks enthus- ¡astically to an all-class popular left wing paper to make the "socialist policies are te way. unite to fight the Tories" (front trontstvie moonisation deceptive call for 'unity" May "millions well outside the page, against the Tories and evade : of the labour IMG spokesman Rich Palser normal compass the fundamental problem of movement can be brought into actually deciares inat: • the fight to unite the setied for the Tories many including who working class leadership.

labour movement action Challende DocIalist Ine on to adainst cons the International paper advocate: political fight against the right Marxist Group, has echoed the " (31 May). "A broad alliance of demo- wing. extensive as the And cratic anti-Tory forces' resisting Thatcher's uncritica interview with newiv mear.j of elected Labour 'left' Ernie attacks. Challenge Roberts, Socialist Stalinists have, of I ne uncritically supported revels in nis cal tor unity or al course those on the left." Benn in his opportunist moves left' How • this "left" extends his image tar reconstruci in preparation for a bid for the towaras ine rot no can seen from the fact that Tony Labour leadership Chater, editor of Stalinist the real content of CP the the More awas even extent space supposedly National Union sive The students- Trotskyist' Socialist Challenge where the Broad Left has now (May 17) to present a tarted-up common front to a cavell way тете тасе tor the communis including the young Liberals- Party te ASTMS, where a sizable ano n Cr mobilised at the Stalinists' real presence was

TOI

acainst une Tne union s conterence Tories was spelled out more 'support of a package of right by CF General Secre- policies handed down by honestly McLennan the NEC tary wordon mcLennan in tne action in a noseira winour frenzied Tory press witch- hunt?' The answer is clearly "no" It is not possible tor marxists te the themselves from of the hos- "unskillful tactics" pital and public sector worker in effect separating themselves from these struggles as a whole. Concordat Indeed, it was through their willingness concede that effective picketing and the solid austrial action pay claims throughout Tne winter "problem "To be ed "Solved' to be that time leaders wound ur the reactionary endorsing restrictions of the Concordat.

Unity in class action against the Tories will not the cudeline Stalinists or capitulation to left' talking social democrats: it can be Orry achieved struggle against such torces tor a principled programme of action jobs, wages and defence cemocratic ronts This is the lesson that the IMG, like Militant, is unable to grasp. Jenkins

LABOUR

For Militant to use the term ''unskillful tactics is uncouot edly a climbdown in front of Tory right wing attacks and and ar oress campaialis. on the struggles that did take place fact that this Wd. dressed up the ett Brother platitudes quoted by onel about "pushed into taking industrial action" by the "Labour right's invalidate our basic point ina Militant, by this tell-tale using echoes the positions of the bureaucracy. Rather than railing at Socialist Press Tor neolid evidence of such am bureau cratic approach Brother allant ledgershio Sheir would do better to investi- gate how it is that the paper he refer supports could to these major struggles of the working as embarassing details class only Our article went on to point out that: "Militant says nothing of the importance of these strikes in the basis of a fight preparing against t ory attacks 'Indeed it is back the and the parliamentary arena debate, than inner-party political developments from mass that hope in the Militant looks for future... Indisputable Sheir Brother does not Nor does he try to refute our that Militant criticism has consistenty covered ur capitulations. of the Parliamen- tary lefts including Tony Benn ana remains demand for the kicking out of Callaghan and the right wing leaders. indeed he himself demon strates exactly the same approach when in his letter h us. te concence attacks on the Tories and the right wing rather than crucial to the preservation the Callaghan-Healey leadership

PARTY

"anti-Tory" line current issues of Militant show unmistakeably the way in which approach blunts the an struggle against Labour's right wing leaders The editorial Militant lon the Queen's Speech), 456 concludes by

TOI

example arguing that • working class must be

LUC

mobilised and united arouna a bold programme for the socialist transformation of society.

How, Brotner sneir, is such a programme to without emerge ot the right wing anti socialist Callachan bliaue?

And how they to be removed without simultaneous- exone the sonneressness o the 'lefts' who tamely allow the right wing to rule 'unity' at i ne centrd call Toi this stage, with Callaghan declar- ing outright opposition to mass positica duditis Tories, can only lead to impo- tence and surrender to the reac- of the policie wing Best equipped If thi view of ther Marxism vistant certainly the organisation best equipped to satisfy you out it also satisties canadnar and the Labour bureaucracy, who allow Militant free reign amonest Labour s vourn in tne confidence that it offers no rea alternative and serious chanence to unen control Socialist Press supporters, on the contrary have faced bureau- crate attack vication, exoul sions and exclusion from the Labour Party as a result of their Tenacious strucie acainst oota the crypto-Tory right wing and the And it will be our supporter: -though present small the toretront OT thi struggle comino monios tor the modilis ation of the working class, not pure election fodder Labour Party machine the mass actions that are needed deteat the Tor and construct a principled revol utionary leadership.

Crossroads: black wor defy racist state Since 1960, 1½ The current acute over been million people have the world- phase of removed from white' rural wide crisis of decaying 2 million and al cas. forced capitalism has from the cities. the bourgeoisie in all They been forced have into the Bantustans where to attack the countries the shortage of land, mini- living standards of the mal social services and working class in an unemployment al c effort the to restore worsened by the corruption falling rate of profit. of black bourgeoisie the and petty bourgeoisie which In South Africa the effec 'governs' them. effects of the crisis and the Life there has become capitalist attack have been literally felt with fullest force untenable: at least what the capitalist-apartheid 85% of families live below calls 'homelands' the breadline and state of all children die before 'Bantustans' and which are, they are fite years old. fact, poverty-stricken labour reservoirs for of this has black One been a 'white' capitalist industry.

continuous move- The bare land of the ment THousanes Bantustans is totally unable people from the misery of the reserves into the cities, to support the overcrowded and unemployed masses cast aesperate altempt lo out by the capitalist system: evade starvation. Legally, only workers already recruited through government agencies allowed to work in the cities migrant contract labour, living in segregated hostels and going 'home' for a few weeks caca veal LU families and renew their their contracts. All wives, old people and unemployed workers the 1n required Bantustans, largely depen- their survival dent for the of inadequate wages those in the cities. For various reasons the Western Cape region, of Cape is the lown industrial heart, has been most convulsed by this symptom of apartheid capi- talism. In Cape Town itself there is a chronic housing short- according Even to age. figures, in 1975 official of there was shortage 1440 houses for even the black families legally in the area. Yet in the past ten years for hAusica hae been built Pied to live legalty in those qualified to the area. In addition to this (ie mixed race) coloured and their families WOrKerS have suffered mass removals 'white' areas. from 250,000 About squatters mostly coloured, have built their shacks around Cape Town. The largest squatter Crossroads, Call y of families black (African) who have left the over- crowded township ghettoes, together with the wives and children of contract workers abandoned the who have

SOCIALISI

Housing conditions in Soweto-the ma By Jim Farnham the number of black Bantustan death-camps and and the become "illegal immigrants' workers contraci bread- Western Cape has, in fact, live with to member of their increased thi

OVOI

family. past ten years them fact, in 1966 the Many In OI lack of apartheid forced, by the capitalist Sualt the housing and illegal declared its intention to status of their families, into 'de-Africanise' the area, the largest the squatter camps'. which coloured workforce in Intimidation Africa, Of the 3,000 families at part of the ruling As 100 are class strategy to divide the Crossroads only They black working class and to legally in the area: have been subjected to con- privileged-hope- licale collaborationist- tinual police intimidation- fully the notorious sector within it, the scheme raids out African laws'. evictions and "phase "pass was to the demolition of the shacks by workers that are their homes ruthless enrorcemenl resi- influx control and job reser- Some Crossroads dents have had their homes vation, leaving only demolished on as many as coloured and white workers.

The plan proved a fiasco engal cass By June 1976 Africans poured the when Crossroads was declared an area seeking employment;

SOCIALIST PRESS. Hednesdar 5 June 1979 erial basis for the mass revolutionary upsurge in 1976 ‹ers and emergency camp could be more structures built there were over 3,000 crammed together lovers under intolerable conditions. In those 3,000 dwellings lived 22,000 people-some- thing under one tenth of the of estimated number squatters in the area around Cape Town. The services provided by the Cape Divisional Counci after Crossroads was declared an emergency camp consisted of eight sources of water, the removal of nightsoil and rubbish, and visiting clinics.

•In the wake of the black 1976, of which uprisings sent chill death-wind bourgeoisie; the state inten- sified its campaign of mass Crossroads against and the other working class squatter communities. First Modderdam (in then August and Unibel Werkgenot (in and January 1978) were razed the ground, leaving at least 25,000 blacks home- Most of these moved into the overcrowded official townships, OLnes moved to other camps and built new dwellings. forced Some were return to the Bantustans and desperate The attack of the bourgeois state toccussed then Crossroads, the remaining major bastion of workers' resistance. Back down Un April 5th this year, against the background of a concerted state onslaught against those squatter com- munities where the level of class organisation low, and general was tightening up of the imple- the pass law, mentation O1 came a surprise announce- African ment bv the south that had government decided to back down from declared repeatedly intention destroy Crossroads. Cabinet Minister & Piet Koornhof stressed that this climb down was once- hoc, solution to a 'delicate human problem be accompanied by measures to prevent similar from arising the Ones A brief chronology of the struggle for Crossroads

AUGUST 1977:

The nearby

FEBRUARY

•ent ranske reserve rerusco lu 'so-called Transkeians shanties are built in the area- Modderdam Road squatters accedi camp housing 10,000 people is expelled as Crossroads. trom the so uattel to become known The Cape Town City demolisnee Council and local capitalists, Bantu Adminstration

JANUARY

Affairs me snacks Board (BAAB) 10,000 squatters are des- serve eviction and awvers supoort aooed 101 and Crossroads not to be demo- Werkgenot orcers on resicents lished until alternative MAY 1975: The first of a series Untoe Crossroads;

FEBRUARY

1978: resi- accommodation is found raids ОП warned that if they do dents MEMBER • A series ou arrested on Clarees the attacks thus the rent levy of trespass and the 'harbouring not snortiv Day Cross- launched against of wives' their homes will be demolished

JUNE 1975:

The Deputy Minister of Plural Some demolitions roads rour are kured Development and over thousand arrested Relations and in terms or the March eviction during the raids, carried out by orders takes place. Squatters ororgises ever obtain Supreme Court interdict available to the government will armed police and be used to make them move', BAAB officials with dogs, , tear. that court orcers are required gas etc. The police chief blames before any demolition, but a and it is announced that Cross- roads will definitely subsequent amendment to the on mne soualtel organisations and their 'spirit of demolished before the winter.

Act removes the necessity for resistance'. The government says this

APRIL

Foundation newsletter appears AUGUST 1975: Wives of men it is cetermineo to cear uross roads of people by the end of legally employed in Cape Town in une came: , to year-whatever takes sent back to homelands' 1978: Crossrodos rest

WITC

1976: dents receive notices ordering

JUNE

Residents appeal will determint down what method we will use'.

them break to nave crossrodos ceciared ar 'emergency camp' in opposition nomes reserves Some shacks are attempt demolished. demolished as a 'health hazard' 1978: Hundreds

OCTOBER

1978: The Cape As a result of their success, minimal water facilities, refuse people during con- Divisiona Council announces it.

raids intention repeal the are laid tinuing police rem ovar ano sanitation 'essential on-for levy which a montly of R10 (£5.00) is imposed fire shots to stone ano to cemorsn Ine nome throwing A reprieve is those more than three months The so uatters

SIZE

The SA Council of camp frozen. school; built the Crossroads resi- after winter Churches promises aid in paying by

AUGUST

The "indepen- Hundreds these arrears. cents. Is opened. defend, develop In the pointed to fact that and To back carry ment was ment of which has specific apparently localised Cross- 1976 and form struggles abs ulle roads, of national else not international pressure of and struggle resolutions, interests. since and mass struggle the struggles roads ha all but only be country when and provoke. of the IS With extremely rest the partial vigorous economic important 'liberal' of the sents an ruling class and its black allies, the rebellion petty has now government the South where 'New enormity strength to the struggle Crossroads'. obscure from bativity to erupt, and open levels of the Cross- wall cation. but that capitalists iSow eto,

TOMON

or abstract of and the and formal human in no way Crossroads im por- Soweto rest of South erupted residents because of essentially objective rights to remain material political of the Crossroads. issues • housing, rebellion-the

BOWEL!

that 2,575 homes are to be demands and built at New Crossroads- satisfactory absence clearly inadequate OT more than 20,000 officially recorded residents. housing will be Ana n0 The facing provided for those men and existence. is the their families who fall into one of the two extremely defence stand in danger as a result through struggle broad categories: of the mabilly with criminal (1) those class to working develop ship, (fines exceeding records of its own accord beyond expressed about £300, or prison sen- spontaneous militancy tences exceeding 6 months) The lack of leadership is Crossroads. (ii) those who have no compounded by the diver- As soon as it became means of support of the sion opposition that the clear to In addition, the govern- movement by the reformist will ment 1n capitalists and professional endeavours vigorous people who make up the a national strength 'persuade' people to return 10', 'Soweto as well as the working solidarity to the Bantustans. failure of the traditional pursue nationalist movements to Material needs South government provide any way forward to forced to shift was the masses in struggle. While the plans are strategy. But despite the assault of totally inadequate for Cross- struggles around the state roads workers, on the issue strength of the Crossroads these underlying issues still of the right to live in workers the level of 15 the persist throughout area, they do nothing at all which class independence country. meet they have attained, sections tive of material needs class Stalemate ruling nave workers-in relation aimed, not at persistently unemployment, this situation of wages. In the physical destruction of and adequate temporary political stale- cheap the community and abolition of housing, mate, the organisations, but sale nan at the pass laws, and the been unable to smash provision the political destruction of their of a system of social services torward movement of the independence. and education. class, and the working Throughout the history The Workers Socialist working class lacks the of the Crossroads struggle League has consistently leadership and Page - camp squatters arrested of East coastal city nedi London NOVEMBER 1978: Thousands Winterveld la arrested squatters' camp neat rretoria. by the police of Bophutatswana 'independent' black 'homeland'); house bUU demolished near Durban; demolished at Germis- 60 arrested ton Jabulani coloure•-Aurican camp at Cape Towr JAN 1979: 1: The Urban Foun dation la group

I OT

white capitalists with black lackeys) raises bourgeois

OCLL

K4U millon common. one fifth of which to be allocated the Cape Peninsular. government statemen Crossroads is to be demolished 'any day now 1979: The Minister

APHIL

Plural Relations and Develop announces that 2,575 homes ofe Koornhof, ment to me out tor crossrodos in c to be designed by the will Urban Foundation-which nominate two

OUT

allowed rehoused TrON crossroaos Moves get greater private sector involvement in housing.

tent by and to pose as tne allles Crossroads What ruling class feared the national extension cas struggle an all-out Divisions within the ruling revolved the -how to stem the resolve

WUIKCIS

the national of the that working those out assault In this situation, the off and working efforts al C being by the the concessions, actually by the mobilised underlying fact the •co good operation with capitalists. black and black white of the Urban workers in their struggle racist capitalists. Danger The facing danger workers at Crossroads and throughout the country that the significant, but totally inadequate conces- sions which have been won from the state will now be manage- ment of the liberals, to do what police attacks, govern- ment legislation and church conciliationism have all failed do-divide, demobilise and destroy the Crossroads struggle.

TUC backs computerised jobs massacre The Labour Government, shortly before its election a public defear called in boost relations agency to the introduction of micro- electronics into British industry. a budget of with Armed £10m the company has the task 50,000 contacting the top in industry decision makers and winning them programme the rapid intro- chip the silicon

OUCLOT

industry, which reaches acco every corner of the labour markol What is particularly interest- ing is that the 50,000 "decision makers" not only also trade manacement

DUL

union officials. the

TUC

Judging published and launched reoort week, Employment anel Technology. not a penny of this monev will be wasted. For the TUC has come out chief cheerleader jobs inter- biggest attack nationally this century. document produced by "interim' study Ine vl ds stands one Ine

MOST

acts of betrayal that yet managed to this body has produce. Under the guise of 'responsi- ble trade has unionism firmly ceclared

DOSITION

against any section of workers seeks defend jobs. that Yet the massacre of jobs a scale that most workers nave not yet begun to comtemplate, is not something tor the tuture.

It has already begun. Invaluable report (Published The bv the Trades Union Congress at 75p) should be read side by side with a report from the Counter The New Services Technology. ¡aso invaluable guide its real to eTTeC IS Although produced before

TUC

report it effectively the a compendium of exposes it as , half truths and distortions.

Silicon chip technology It has reduced not mvsterious. the computer to a tiny, cheap.

mass-produced item which can be use in a mutual dways The major uses planned and into effect cover being put and industry every most jobs. the industry, the print to the capacity has do away with composing rooms with written words stored on they be where can recalled "TO' eating ane sel automatically. telecommunications the elec-

FOST

lans a tally tronic system (System X) which dispenses with telephonists for calls and which routine matically prepares accounts. would drastically reduce of engineers. ene number word

WOUN

processors now can

CUT

Ene of typists by 30% or number forced with More spend much larger percentades of their time actually typing. Correct spelling Computers can even correct spelling and thus do away with corrections. be transferred automaticaly between word processors, hundreds or thousand of miles postal out cutting auail, system Since women workers work at office work, banks, insurance wnetner companies, council OTTICeS firms, this, least publi- private of new technology cisea piece can be expected to nave a savace effect on unemployment among women German •trace unions mave 199* Technician inspects microprocessors at Bell Labs Micro-electronics threaten millions of jobs trade million of estimated that two providing union that country's-five million secre- the laries.

LOISTS

ana clerical work. Key Fully compu- The to model terised. stores now Tuny The Ine operative. campaigns according be 1971 Relations

COT

Bill, recent about the HSC's Representa- Production #nes Committees. Lives "On occasions, Already robots ThE jobs. teaching and

TUC

assem oiv on the market techniques Hearnine professional full fall. Leyland

CAC

extensive train officers. •rocuction line at birminanam and Leyland has also announced numeri. a major investment Calv controneo machine tools computer aided design bureacracy system programmed by a draftsman can reorolice desions used to produce the tools themselves) cost a company The polvaent On f also challenge worker's for 900 years. the that There 1978 it costs But in challenge same worker's wages for just 13 duction processes years. That is not an exceptional cecine CoST TOr com oute. technology. Silicon chips have brought about a position where "Equally manacements Can excell recover the costs capita ogies also offer great opportuni.

equipment in very few

TUC

ties-not just for increasing The shy Is not competitiveness meanced propaganda campaign government industry but for increasing the financed of working life and for intends quality providing benefits newe headed Trade Union Educatior working people." we read: Of course the TUC has long "The Government has agreed SePRtis as ls role as mcreasino the 'competitiveness of British to fund a programme aimed at

ONE COMPI!:

industry'-or to put it another reducine America and IntrooUCtIon could Inmos, new several millions pamphlet. viable and and capacity systems." Government to cern The resulting support the shorter or year deterioration sundares. The new this mixture Peter McIntyre reviews the new TUC Report on technology and the CIS Report, The New (available from CIS, 9, Poland St., Technology, London W1. Price 75p). TUC leader Murray experience shows that positive "If the British economy is to trade union action is essential ir benefit fullv from technologica change our [!] industry must be the maxmum in a position to make the right for employment from Tech with right nological change. processes, acut une This 'trade union action' "Broadly speaking conists a pointi out nev 'successtul' 'countries are those markets, quibbles over with corporations or industrie health, and desperate pleas to br that have developed strategie.

taker Inte manacement s based on high output, low unit confidence and a high rate Managements the and plough-back IntO nev not been slow Government nave machinery, research and to seize on the TUC's desire to and product development co-operate in creating mass un.

innovation. em siovment The TUC also promises A Department of Industry the Government identify help predicted that the report on growth and "the constraints would increase un. improved performance and employment K BritaIn TrON towards removal". work between only mean Cal collaborating remove Ent 'obstacies' of workers' opposi- the five million tion The UPW formal las

MOST

position of opposition hope for by X-the all electronic system could exchange system reduce jobs by between 40 and the future 50% precisely The TUC report however uncertain the blithely accepts that this system because Know introduced, Tom effects, there is no Jacksor who

SIT:

Ine vivid General Council, last year gav rernao. the Post Office full permission : TUC approach given comes demonstratior take natalist. ACRE and CIR (computerisec not in report is that directories) around the country and to paint it in glowing light capitalist to telephonists who were paid recisicl overtime to admire its perfec- 100,000 jobs by garage LIOn one This was in order to sell it could equal the membership before to oractore lost by their last Council. Special Conference year reducer where was Jacksor J01 trials ahead and for go ; out that the policy 22 by nine word Conference previou. number 01 tying

POS

UTTICI

brucessure shorter working week before cedartmen 4,000 took place being over- Turned will run Statistics can a year. devised sector to show the sector by that jobs man- kind of cut in agements, lashed on zov combe tition are contemplating When machines were section on the bUT _Ke y unverted. womer department, who were "The Trade Union Response devels y Technological Change", the members of NALGO, wanted to financed TUC says: fore. They could not get support •eveto•ment "Clearly no manufacturing of the affects however their casts employment can be drawn from lancel Decdust one these considerations. On the one senior branch officers had been hand the extent of job creation on working party which their introduc- part on factor wi degeno u recommended the overall tion! such demand the economy, the Now the council Wants le speed at which new technolog!

introduce the word processors more widelv. with a loss of 200 our [!] competitors. jobs in the education depart- "On the hand the ment alone. other Employers are driven on by and destruction of iobs can occur in towards sudden, concentrated competitior The most Trantid more and substantial manner than the between the firms which pro.

month week, in which technology, with no ot creation in living jobs, through the development wore leader. their position through massive of new products. US military budgets "This is by Want to break the for also no means Privat manuracturer. inevitable however and

The mammoth Leonid SOCIALIST PRESS, wednesday 5 June 19-9 There were queues at Earls Court last week to see the uniquely preserved ice- Jackson age baby hairy mammoth monopoly on supplying private

USSR

display at the exchange systemns. National Exhibition. 1976 Labour monisten had But organisers Eric Varley, sat on a committee ThA show and manufactuers om ittere dankers less ancient hairy relics of the which recommended Tine far more that have of this nationalised отакіну reality relevance Tne monopoly. today's Soviet Union. The Labour Government, at One, course, was the late time launching the sollic Joseph Stalin, whose name (and

NEB

own the Throuch that

AIS

successor Nu Kila capitalist chip inoustry Kruschev) was tactfully missing provided such cushions for from the proceedings, though he that

GEC-

industry onvate to build a woule nave Deen wel edoea managed Fairchild with the method of approach.

microelectronic factory entirely on grants. Sycophantic Cheshire for the land! They pala only And the other was Leonid No cha gee manua re manufacturers Brezhnev, whose personal vaccuum. one of the glass each other out o absence trom seek to orve business. Buyers of the equip- cases was compensated tor Dy a ment hope to gain an advantage veritable barrage of embarrasing- ly sycophantic references to him over their competitors. They are driven on by the forces of their almost every conce vabie leaflet, brochure and sound class. commentary. Unplanned resistance indeer despite the solenooul Exhibition some of the exhibits, the could best g In the same way the working driven The Leonid Brezhnev resist. This class entited resistance comes

TIO LI

Vothing escaped his shifty oece, Workers on The Timed planned. seel no and attemptec averee slalt benign smile, whether it be the Workers pieces. working models intricate tignt to noid the line acdinsu automated petro-chemical inputting, while the

TUNIY

Mirror, production, cross sections monaschicil reactors, bottled introouces echolocy colour television sets insisting on direct in- etuis. putting, biding its time until its mec ical ecutomenl Luxurious nl-Tl poliomenu next attack on tous bedecked with copies aver abstic of this era all jobs L.I. Brezhnev's racy best-seller defence demand. It is transitional The UreTE constitution (Fundamental ine staring point or many workers Union Soviet Socialist fights yet it cannot be achieved Republics and the Results of the capitalist under Nationwide Discussions on A DOlICY or work sildfilig Draft. tull pay where workers demand Lada cars, moon modules that jobs kept without and space exhibits all boasted a and that a shortel loss ot pay. profusion of pamphlets bringing week is worked can and must De greetings from Leonid Brezhnev.

fought for. But it is incompatible with Gagarin the owners' drive to cut labour costs. also conven- Brezhnev was mobilise with workers ViTO shaking hands sentiv support of these demands Russian soace pioneer TUrI be won to an understanding that Gagarin, whose historic flight in •using 1961, took place of course in Ta к от technology improve workers' lives the era ot *ruschev utopian waffle under capitalism.

But in case anyone should that demand lavishly illu- vvor kers tust ask about this, the full plans and accounts of strated short Life of Leonid the company-who always Brezhnev explains how, disguise their job cutting plans- Secretary of the CPSU Central are inrown oven io committee.

it was none othel committee. challenge the concept than ThA HAnCHITOUS conis confidentiality and business Brezhnev who was actually res- •usiness secrets. space consiDie Any challenge to job cutting programme! must widen workers' But it was not all light read- The internationdi suare. who found ing. tnost problem is not 'Japanese and Brezhnev's The Great Octobe American competition' but the Revolution and Mankind's competition between all capita little flippant for rroores. lists and the exploitation of all their taste, the enith camera workers. equipment stall offered a free Marxist International 20v-080t oook, Dialectics wilch straight-faced Stalinist theoretic- Microelectronics above all lans reel out sentences like: other incustres crosses natondl An impetus Tune frontiers seeking the most sections highly exploited workers Workers caught ThIS vice see that crushing of it is the end soueezine one leadership of the unions. A fight for jobs requires the breaking of stranglehold.

TAIS

leaoersnie s Only planned socialis international economy scale can noD!

USE

technology to improve the of the masses. outoi ry they capable ot revolutionarv •arTV casable ombatting the betrayals of the e over aroe nd TUC and the lenolno overtrow capitalism is the number one question for the working class. middle be ground between the employers and the revolutionary needs of Ine wolkers That is why the TUC have their lot in cast emaiovers Brezhnev Show gence of neoconceptualistic and neonominalistic conceptions in and logic must matweals the nave Deen orver discovery antinomie Kantor's theory of sets...

these bureaucratic Aionestde professions Marxist orino- doxy and Communist dedica- wealth of

LION

Callie d ganda designed to establish the 'democratic' credentials of the Union eyes of Soviet bourgeois public opinion Seeking acceptance Booklets entitled What do People Discuss the USSR? Religion the Church ano and How ine varionar Question Was Solved the In dooRsic retiect tne piedorne the Stalinists for political The Exhibition was in fact through with the same SnOT contradiction that characterises Soviet societv ano deformed workers stales Europe, Asia and Cuba. It is the proaressive. social- ised property relations that have possible the astonishing Tiduk economic crowin technol- ogical advancement Tne Soviet Union, its virtual elimin- ation of unemplovment and Its striking development of medical care and the social services the socialised means of DUl orocucTIon rema saoee dro restricted in their further devel- by reactionary soc aiv conser valve anur parasitic social caste-the Stalin- ist bureaucracy. Inept that It is this bureaucracy the blamed

MUST

incessant and inept attempis of Exhibition to combine the crassest of political propaganda

WITN

tne oromoron or a tange consumer of luxury goods- Er ... let me guess: ... Leonid Brezhnev Ubiquitous-Brezhnev through carpets to from furs, video cassette recorders.

Only a stalinist oureducracy totally estranged from and working Soviet the nostile could masses such Exhibition scale the the visito

WITHOUT

giving slightest impression noW workers actually live, Kussian Leonid WHO ? what they eat, what they wear, working their con- Wildt ditions are. Fashion shows proudly clothes exhibit women in appear filched trom Treelv Western sources-but which are only to the clearly accessible bureaucracy and to British and Page 9 John Lister reviews the USSR show at National Exhibition Earls Court until June 10.

No good; it looks like, all the articles are by Leonid Brezhnev !'

benratAA: position, instances of defrauding means of falsifying the state by cheating, of bribe and TBCOr: taking, notterona persecution fol instances criticism. Such "disgraceful instances" are ot course no surprise i e system where the management wealth the entire soviet economy is in the hand.

of a self-perpetuating bureau- drunkenness and whose cracy parasitism is seen as an accept able fact of life. Brezhnev's "New Constitu. tion", like Stalin's predecessor, rests perpetuating

TAIS

political domination through the Ene Transocil Soviets trom. tneir original Tole organs of workers' power delegates, comprising workplace other buvers who receive them into privilegec raritamenlary as exports. style bodies, elected by general Similarly, Lada with the answerable to suffrage, noone, cars, the luxurious turniture anc recall. and not suoiec. the other sophisticated It is with some justification, goods on display; the booklets by consumer that therefore. visitor alven loed Brezhnev and other hacks com whether the average Russian the "civil rights" pare wage would put all or •none of workers in the USSR to those of the "rights" they enjoy in Inese coos in one recc notional working class-nor any lo e: capitalist "democracies".

the availability of such goods in while frequented by Course shops Ine Britain, othe Tof

UHA

workers. oourgeois states the first task of the working class is to national.

Privileges ise the private of the property Of course it is the bureau- exploiting capitalist class, in the Soviet Union this overthrow has cling Cracvs determinatiel and o hes pollica poner triat es arecy laken oidce political power that Leonid and his reznney mid 1920 bureaucrats are merely fellow held sinc na. a parasitic growth developed by which Reads political atomisation the the Russian workers state as a in this degener. result of initial backward- class WOlKInG and the hard- ated workers' state. , its isolatior ness. ships and dislocation it suffered boasting of 'civil' All the in the 1920 and political centres rights In developing an understand no vieve nn-t we& ing ot this parasitic social laye ing class organisations and the polițical revolution The bureaucracy fear above needed to cast it aside once and mass all the OT cheracncd hussiar worKer movement ot the working clas.

need to look to the record of similar that in Hungary in of crucial figure struggle when workers discovered 1956, aiso mussiar MiStoTy vvd the power noedendenu notably absent-Leon Trotsky.

workers councils, cast aside Stalinist their executed the hated secret polic and attempted to seize political their own right. even Leonie oreznnev forced to bow peremptorily in front of the hostility obvious ot the masses to Unt bureau' that emerged the cracy the draft "discussion" consTitutIon. Parasitism his While focussing main against those workers hostellty supposedly guilty habitual breaches "parasitism, discipline,

I800UI

drunkenness and •Tad antisocial phenomena", Brezhnev admits: dis- "Some letters report graceful instances of abuse by Not on show-Stalın some persons in office of their

INDUSTRIAL

NATSOPA backs Sun The bosses' often rant and rave about and unions, strikes, the country going to the dogs.

Whole pages are devoted to ideas about how best to smash union strength. Executive. Since the beginning of May, News Groun Newspapers nave Tried work been trying to put some of these ideas into practice at the Sun in Fleet otreet. sencina deodle in and out OutI May Jones, om

NIKA

switchboard supervisor of the Sun telephon. called into the office of

ISTS

Was шакие ards Britton. a Lanour Relations Executive. telephonists He stated from that Chapel time be onwards £15 was to strike. deducted from telephon- ist's wages the position of Smash chapel supervisor was to be ended and the job to be done by a member of management. bureaucracy management in attempting was told that Jones disciplinary action would be chapel. telephonist considered dily seen working hard sacked, has since said enough. telephonists' FoC, 1 he been suspended apart from Hall, for George FoC who has Then permission to hold a NATSOPA The chused and Hail was told that if Chapel meeting. This cost the Sun lost advertising revenue, so thi a Chapel meeting was held he would be sacked. of this until recently was, important mart or meir dans le the chairman of the destroy union organisation.

NATSOPA

London strong The During his period of office he devoted himself to protect- ing ine interess or the empty.

peace Tormula to me strikers.

ers-and has now been rewarded This formula

JOIN OUR FIGHT-

AGAINST TORIES!

five years Returned to office after betrayals, the Tory government has immediately begun wielding a sharpened axe on jobs, conditions and social services. Trade Union rights face imminent legal attack.

Prices are already beginning to rocket upwards.

Plum sectors of state industry will be handed to the Tories' profiteering big business backers; and tne pay rises to police and armed forces mark only the prelude to increased state violence against pickets and anti-fascists, and an intensified army crack- down in the occupied North of Ireland.

The Callaghan-Healey leadership has made it clear that it any perspective other than settling down and meek- will opppose iv acceptina five vears of 1 orv devastation.

though they have once more dusted off their near.

And, "socialist" speeches, Labour's ""left-wing" MPs have forgotten continued to duck away from any fight to remove Callaghan.

TUC leaders, too, have set out to establish a basis for with Thatcher and the Tory cabinet, collaboration their anti-workina class alliance with Wilson and then Callaghan But the working class has experienced and overcome such call lal y wage controls in a series of monumental pay battles last winter.

are not dead. They point to the way that social services and hard-won union rights can be defended jobs, against renewed Tory attacks.

But a principled, revolutionary leadership is needed if the he TUC collaborators and their hangers-on in Labour traitors, to be exposed and pushed aside, anc the Communist ray are the mass struggles mobilised that can Tory government. Such a leadership must fight day in and day out for a pro.

•ramme or transvore cemares waica.

conditions and today's consciousness within the working class, lead workers to grasp the necessity for socialist revolution.

And in taking up democratic demands-such as an end to racial and sexual discrimination, it must show the crucial role that must be played by the working class as the only consistent.

the evolutionary cas capable of i6a0llig emancipation of mankind. must ant imperinist international fight and anti-capitalist solidarity for in Southern Africa or elsewhere through- whetner in ratana. out the world, and arawing strengtn and political lessons IroN revolutionary upheavals such as that which ousted the hated Shah in iran This means fighting for the reconstruction of the Trotsky- ist Fourth International.

This method of approach, rejecting any descent to simple any wing of the trade union matancy bureaucracy, is the method fought for by the Workers Socialist League. The next period will see major class struggles in Britain. A princible markist leadersio is escenta. bur movement toucu strong in programme remains small in numbers.

JOIN US and take forward the struggle for socialism!

NEWS

sacking return to work with the removal with a job as a Labour Relations of the job of supervisor was to he At first the Sun telephonists deducted from worker's each normalv ane productivity sought advice from NATSOPA.

until a new Wake payment was negotiated. But management insisted on Worst of all, the dismissal of Bro. Hall was to be converted to department, constantly criticising work and SUSOCISIOn

TOI

of 4 weeks. it was not "established" Two days later, May 11, the dis that was wrongfully hold a mandatory and went on missed enc agreement chapel, union and management If the chapel were to strike dismissal Since then the NAISOPA over have joined NATSOPA would provide scab staff! smash the strike and the union The chapel unanimously rejected this scandalous "peace The 15 strikers have all been formula and have called on the although the employer the strike UnIOr WaKE that everyone has official. the Chapels should support the agree been Sacked weekly levies well have may over €100,000 Usher Walker chapel Stratford, East London obviously the of a NATSOPA chapel as an "peace formula').

SERTUC

been

CONFERENCE

by NATSOPA full-time officials "Care of the Under: who have proposed a negotiated • Fives" proposed Saturday 30 June 1979 Congress House, Great Russell St, London WC! Credentials (5Up) trom Jim Watson, 106 Mount View Road, London N4 Speakers: Arthur Latham, Chair- man, London Labour Party of Labour Reg Race, NUPE Margaret Cohen, National Campaign for Nursery Education Chair: Tess Gill, NCCL

DON'T GO INTO

parallelling Phase 4 of defeat and remove the start a loody s struggle for the

SOCIALIST

basis-mobilising

GET

PRESS

e labour Building support for Tuesday 29th On May in the Camden General of Branch

NUPE

the following resolution was unanimously passed. "This branch pledges its support to the EGA Hos- pital occupation by: Sneirs. 1) sending a regular dele- cation everv Mondav to the

EGA

during working hours Derel with loss of earnines to be compensated by collections amongst the branch membership. 2) to hold section meet- ings with invited speakers EGA to trom the the membership for further action defence of the hospital. 3) calling on the London Divisional Council immediately organise an all London Health Service dele- London the gate conference with Camden. invitations to other sections The to attend. We further call on the LDC to organise a campaig workers' of all-out indefinite strike action by health workers in defence of

EGA

and …the other threatened hospitals, with supporting action from other

NUPE

sections. Any the Tories are planning. action by other sections in Hospital defence of the EGA should Esc! full backing from the Service, are The EGA is of course cuts are to slap bang in the middle of The

OXFORD TRADES

COUNCIL

• CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE

The TUC Under-fives Charter Sunday July 8 OCCR Hall Princes Street Speakers from Oxford City Nursery Campaign and the NUT among others

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

Trial sub (UK): 10 issues, only Six months One year. Europe: Six months Six months For a clear Name. . lead in the Address struggle against wage control, cuts and redundancies SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesdas 5 Jure 1979 EGA fight of Council of NUPE must Borough convene immediately a con- ference for that purpose. Camden resolution But other workers have could be an important step and got involved forward in getting the local mobilisied to fight for their movement social services. involved in the defence of We have already seen the the hospital and preparing example of the Bethnal the ground for a fight back Green hospital occupation, against the vicious attack on local dustmen went where public sector workers that on strike in support. occupations, Preparation backed up by strike action, initially in the local Health But such involvement essential if the doesn't come unprepared at be fought. one drop of a resolution.

London District By pledging delegations and holding in work time section meetings, the possib-

LEICESTER TRADES

be for ility can created

COUNCIL*

wider layers of Camden NUPE to be drawn into the for the

EGA.

campaign In raising collections membership amongst the Saturday June 16 the issue has already 2.00 p.m. response received a good Home helps in area Highfields Community discussed Thursday and raised 10 t the issue Centre "Women's Right to finance their shop steward delegation Work and the need for to join the Monday. Day Care" committ- This sort ment and this sort of discus- Speaker from Oxford sion is vital for the Camden City Nursery Campaign labour force in the prepara tion not only to defend th More details from 74,

EGA

but also defend Highcross Street TO and their jobs conditions in the face of the Tory onslaught.

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to Socialist Press

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Send to Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Garners sell out: proves officials cannot win rights SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 6 June 1979 "trade union delegates and obser- vers will attend the London Conference called by the Garners Strike Committee.

The strike-betrayed and knifed Ine •ureaucracy oi TGWU Region 1 (see last week's Press)-should Socialist studied by every worker facing the prospect of struggle for the defence and extension of union rights. The record and lessons are clear. When the Garners workers struck in vanuary 19/o against Garners' boss Margolis, they were well aware of the gamble immediate sacking came as no surprise. The battle would be reinstatement well Hardship But from the beginning their suffer hardship readiness financially and the lines stood in stark contrast to official leaders' desire Ineir be rid of a potentially serious struggle-while GrUnwICk continued-under

SITIKE

StIlT beloved Labour govern- Their ment. таке By March the TGWU Record could report a treacherous offer early end to the dispute.

to Margolis from the union "for members to Jack bromev lo work on play his of reinstatement, no une basis tation at Grunwick, appeared in victimisation and acceptance the right of ACAS to carry out a ine cary davs ot ine strike-and lett! Drawing upon the lessons of Quick retreat bureaucratic betrayal Grunwick, Desoutter Trust Brian and elsewhere, Mouse Porte executive member. was able to Socialist Press never ceased parade with empty promises of warn the 'six hundred dockers' sinkers Their supporters about the nature of picket their leadership. retreated in face of the demand Week by week each new turn translate was carefully followed by mem- into action. bers of the WSL fighting consis- ine tently the and clearly wicket lines the labour move- unroudnout vuilliess fobores ment, particularly in London.

demonstrations Corruption bureaucrats were faced with the basic demands The Garners strike was not committee merely 'another small strike' but mobilise. the picketing, another key stage in the defence blacking recessary to of union rights, and an example the struacle. corruption again they refused. of от The UTter bureaucracy-now incapable The high of leading a struggle to bureaucratic upon which perhaps best be understood by oroanisation depends for its recalling the main developments comfortable existence. over the period of summer 1978 -in many was largely due to this principled struggle, which found Tor me strike. Of shall

AT THE TOP...

UNION DUES

Time and again Garners strikers lobbied Region 1 demanding support a real response among members support was never stronae of the Strike Committee, that a than this period, with ourina picket TeTTS Dowertu incapable of getting their hands Garners establishments. on the struggle and ensuring an It has that been revealed during that time the employer, Cyril Margolis, made sti ane to ill deserved repu- to the orrerine TaKe back 13 of the strikers and give €8,000 to the remainder. At a time when such • a con- cession the weakness of the wardrysis and and the strikers boss, rejected Nicholson,

TGWU

the offer out of hand, redov lo press on to victory, the bureau- crats only recommended the acceptance but acrayed quickly sanctioning torter: Strike Committee for his speeches demonstra. con in London. Garners strike showed where people stood. At Hope for employer ana at severa the Region It is no surprise that from point onwards the tnat Strike employer able Ine was regain Tor the TGWU to some confidence and nose finance •етест or the strike With the Biennial Delegate WIl Conference Time and time

TGWU

July-with Coming U• point the platitudinous resolution can unionising the catering industry agenda Evans Tine having personally ruled out an amendment arners —the ways a turning point the strike must be lessons taken into the whole of the

WE DID IT!!

WEVE WON OUT

AT GARNERS!

AND JININ

TIME FOR

OUR B.D.C!

POLICE LIMITS OF SIX PICKETS PER RESTAURANT.

AND WHILE LES HERE

500,000 MEMBERS AWAY.

END

SCAB VIOLENCE

REGION 1

MISCONGANISE

PICKETS

NOW!

11 union and the traitors called to account. Stalinists Particular attention must be paid to the role of the Stalinists of the Communist Party whose and supporters in the members Why, your union officialdom have played a Strike Committee key role in the betrayal of this strike? strike- Sid Staden. —war licularly une necion i secretarv and i ai forced to call it off because of Shorter, who, in the last Garners the total lack of support by the in June 1978, drew conference whole union the hatred of the audience by

TGWU

laliv openly attacking the Strike Although Committee's call for #as. supposed to be involved in th • Garners and strike he only met us once and provide protection against then nothing police harassment. The strike The from any conclusion because Thev serious study of the Garners give the kind of token support strike must be clear-especially they've given, till wien seen in the context of the refused to do anything at all.

continuing marathon struggles The strikers all sianed a state for recognition in the TGWU at Sandersons jointly ment rOrK-iTT strike with the officials. How do Skegness and the Economist you see this now? bookshop in London n al-out struddie must o the statement prepared for us to against the treachery of sign They the TGWU bureaucracy and the struggle taken the signatures of the majority of tor a leader strikers who voted ship prepared to chalienge the strike law of the ruling class on picket- and blacking in industrial asked for a clause to be inserted disputes *A full report of Saturday's making it clear that a aroun o Garners Conference • were against. will appear this would be made clear in the in next week's Socialist Press.

minutes and then we all signed.

YES, ITS BEEN HARD..

UNE TAKEN OLT MONIH

WEVE DONE

WHAT?

BUT WE'VE WON THROUGH! WE BROWBEAT A

MAJORITY OF STRIKERS

FOR YOU

HOORAY!!

Page 11

FBU

witch hunt The bureaucracy of the London Region of the FBU are attempting to kill any vestiges of democracy in the union This follows their acceptance massive cuts the service la withdrawal of 45-50 montme doolances in area alone) as strings _oncon attached to the implementation of the 42 hour week About twenty firemen res- ponded in an unofficial circula calling for a meeting to discuss problems and developments in the fire service. forum held at I his open Brixton May considered a useful exchange for issues difficult to discuss within the usual FBU framework. However, last week, those in attendance began to receive from the letters London this meeting, instructing recipients to attend a Committee or Inquiry meeting an unspecified time in the future, they where will no doubt b defend themselves against unspecified charges. Firemen must defend their right to meet and discuss any.

where they choose, by refusing to cooperate which witch-nunt Cratic serve the only purposes of management.

'WE WERE FORCED

TO CALL IT OFF'

Striker Manuel Blanco speaks to Socialist Press did They View may well use this to call off the claim that we iointlv called off The statement talks The strike. The Strike Committee wa about 'our' inability to keep the pickets going. as I have said strike was defeated by financial star- reddersnio-esoed Region vation and lack of support-the Ron Todd was once the union responsibility leadership. What is the main lesson that you new came out have learned? • was cale• oт1 When I came out on strike refused even to knew very little-now I can see that there is no way that we can They now. win strikes for basic rights with inese leaders Workers still strike calling off the Sandersons and the Economis bookshop should draw lessons from our betrayal a mistake-they had Since Grunwick the employers have • seen because the Done to ge car wIn leaders are no1 prepared to to end the stand up and fight for the recog nition of their members. But I opposed signing it-l We must begin the building ot a revolutionary leadership in the unions that can defend basic They said that rights This is particularly vital the and catering note inaustry

THEY HELD SOLID WHEN W

JESUS CHRIST-DON'T THESE

BASTARDS EVER

GIVE UP?!!

GARNERS

KOMPERENCE

JUNE

SMITH: PUPPETEER

WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

Fighting Paddington closures

PRESS

and Five white racists 12 black puppets were last week sworn in as Cabinet of Rhodesia'$ members mock majority government, under the watchful eye of a portrait of Cecil Rhodes.

Meanwhile moves Ine imperialists towards recognition ot the recime were sicoucu ur The Tories in Britain, ready to grant recognition and to lift they sancions. recognist have not yet got sufficient inter- national support. Unilateral recognition by the British government and until they despair of promised Carter nas Clearly Congress-which voted Enal to Smith if he sanctions should be lifted-that recognition ne will make a decision by June new skulked into office. There were Opposed been being Recognition Young, US lowered on the night before the opposed by Andrew ambassador to the UN, who the behind force somebody stole it. proposals Analo-Amercan reach String-puller combromise sen-oul involving the Patriotic Front.

imperialists Options for the are narrowino. incy provide Cabinet 'ecognition they stand to lose with some of the black character. Traut Smith himself, and intensify Atrican countre. the war in zimbabwe. they they not Although strengthen the military drive by ZANU and ZAPU by weakening government's unstable (nIS ations, control of the scale morale, Paddington's The Save has Hospitals Campaign the survev ele struggles stepped up its random sample of following a mass meeting of they wnetter over 200 existing workers nos ditas open! Hospital Harrow Mary's Road. enoice The campaign has challenged methods of cutbacks. validity a Community the "Survey" Fight cuts Council local opinion, which proposes a hospital community Workers Road sito seminai Hartow Harrow down present TrOM general beds to a maximum of made only 100 non-acute beds.

FUND

That's much better! £209.00 this week, bringing us to But it is still a long way to go to our target of £949.90. £2,500 by the end of next month. Supporters in London announced plans for Summer Fairs to and Oxford have raise money for our Special Fund, the money for which is needed to launch our ambitious publishing programme.

Readers and supporters should consider other ways in which money could be raised to help us reach our target on time. all donations to In the meantime, welcome, however big or small, and should be sent to: Socialist Press Special Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR Print de de Antil Prine Todon Pubsned Dy

SOCIALIST

rests in the hands of the war Finance Minister responsible for organ- who was ising sanctions oust"y Did not stand Smith, incidentally, did not in the bother even recent elections, sucl contempt for this new 'demo- defence minister, Former van der Peter na! ocen retained as a •Minister (Trans- port, Power and Posts) Telegraph Even The wally contem ou nationalism and many Africans Smith regard him as the epitome of Muzorewa is no use white arrotance. doesn't deliver Other posts directly retained are Justice and Roads government has itodetner, ano AorCuItuIC Reports ZANU and tha1 no celebrations; they have not

ZAPU

making. progress are military opera- agree on towaros d tion cast a long shadow over the flag was charade. anooesian between unity vititary government officially took over, (ZAPU) and Mugabe Nkomo (ZANU) is to be welcomed political crisis

DU E

masses deadersnio

TOT

Unit resolved Zimbabwe The white members of the through such a pact draw ZAPU and sell-

ZANU

'compromise to a will and as Minister out

OOTA

and Nkomo have pre- without Portfolio, has the task Mucabe viously shown their redonness lu flirt with them Muzorewa 'holds the driving out of the nominal position of Minister vior eovel will not of Defence and Combined Oper- Smith and Muzorewa solve the economic problems of

INANSPUK

The Save Paddington's Hos.

pitals Campaign points out that not evel people wanted all their

SAY STOP THE CUTS/

remain Instead it offered people a between three different threatened the Have clear their willingness fight any reduction in facilities Paddington workers on November 17, 1976 or working conditions. administrator Crewe has state n a circular cuts have been made that severe and spending this year non-recurring revenue. Equipment This includes a €140,000 cut capital and expenditure; a from wards cut in furniture for LUe medical eliment; furter cur- departments; cut the fund are most and redecora- backs in cleania. cancellation much fi repar ando furthts needed further and deterioration in staff amenities.

ark Hill, London NW5 1HR Registered as a newspaper at the rost management's 10.3% pay offer.

tubes since the employers, struggles. the black workers and peasants.

Trotskyist party must be working the Torced. Dasec class, to give political leadership which cuts sharply across and Nkomo's Mugabe's ambitions. The war of liberation-which supported-must mus t social revolu- transtormeo inte tion which could light a beacon throughout Africa In Britain workers must fight moves towards recognition.

ground must The Revolutionary when that it and now. headed by Gerry Healy. Tories do recognise British workers black all trade entered has to and from Rhodesia Political Committee des- must now be Such boncies put through union conferences cribes as and transport dock financial alid stewards' CommiLice. decade" preparation for the struggle to Now, according Conie. WRP's daily financial problems make necessary rarty s extensive full-time staff and cut size of Newsline from 16 to statement attempt to offer a explanation chiefly citing deficit on the Party's £100,- 000 General Election Fund designed to candidates. wuzorewu in fact paign at all field so flally statement, that such a campaign well beyond the

ST MARYS HARROW RD W9

WRP,

the the Party's periphery the firmly and method itself, whose

FIGHT

bloodstained. Middle Libya, Iraq absence struggle for the programme in the working class. now face an uphill Such workers battle not only to keep the hos has ruptcy pital open but unchallenged working WRP's ranks. safety of patients put at risk by And as government cuts. challenge-beginning this health service common cause workers TInO with local trade Committee unionisis and their families, whose health care Transitional Paddington health workers, like their brothers and sisters at and elsewhere in

EGA

successive and pation and thé fight for support- the struggle to ated the action defend jobs and services.

TUBE STRIKE

THREATENED

LEADERS OF the three rail unions have threatened an all-out strike on London's tube network if there is not an improvement in This advanced warning is an indication of the pent-up militancy whose bureaucratic leaders among London Underground workers have ensured that only one one day strike has taken place on the levels have been 1926 General Strike, white wage eroded by inflation and fallen in comparison to British railworkers But it is also a desperate plea from the bureaucracy for face saving concessions from the employers to avert a head-on clash that would virtually paralyse London and face the Tories with a major industrial confrontation which they could scarcely hope to win.

There is little doubt that without some token concession by the low paid Underground staft-whose then chronically basic rates range from only {45 to a maximum of £77—will respond overwhelmingly to the strike call, and set the pace for future pay WRP hits huge cash crisis The British Workers the WRP help explain not shortfall of the only the Party, also Election Fund shortfall on its Newsline's its what £4,000 Monthly Fund. Clearly the WRP has now "our shrunk to a size where the worst been forced leadership has for a crisis effectively to abandon hope of maintaining its top-heavy the and been driven to apparatus, s maste i, publicise its crisis in this striking way. bewildered, "Teduce" the Seemingly of Committee body the the Newsline statement

HASK

readers: The Political Committee any avoids politica crisis this the £48,000 60 finance No campaign Few of these candidates mounted any cam- Though the decision to candidates- a sizable proportion of the WRP's total active member- ship-is defended in the PC Healy the leadership «Why, then, are we find it impossible to deny falling back when everyone was can see that the Tories are reach of warpath in no and met with the uncertain terms?" little or no response from Degenerate The explanation for this failure is, of course, located The WRP are of course programme "falling back" because their of the blend of ultra- degenerate shameless left sectarianism and oppor- political subservience to the tunist adaptation • petty oil-rich nationalism East despotisms of correctly seen by and Iran incapable of workers matched only by their total resolving the crisis of work- serious ing class leadership Trotskyist that WRP It is crucial British supporters members and the harsh political lessons from this new inner Challenged and look party crisis, back the bank- seriously political principles and not gone programit the Trotskyist which within OH was founded, movement and which the WRP has so each sucessive with cynically abandoned critique of the struggle by then Central The detailed and the method Alan the record member Thornett for a return to the of the WRP developed by Socialist Workers Programme- League and our experience has arisen, it has been met for the struggle a secessive repression, of Transitional Programme waves opponents of Healy's expulsions that have liquid- offer and principled line Party's cadres. The dwindling forces, of positive way forward.