Socialist Press no. 164

STOP TALKS

CALL ACTION!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

TUC CONFERENCE

The TUC Concordat- which seeks to tie the work- ing class in voluntary chains -is alive and well and will at Blackpool be paraded next week. angry language the TUC decided Under a smokescreen

GWU

week to oroo Trom Tne

SMITTEN

all resolutions which called for breaking off talks

O BRAN' STEW

with the ories. Thus the crucial Cuestor facing the British working class

STRENGT

tne Immediate Tuture-une attacks on basic trace union organisation and action-is not discussed at be snarpest ooint ine ooint where the TUC is prepared to sit down •TUC lobby, Brighton 1978. The right to strike still the key question and collaborate. own Concordat It was largely ignored by the

TUC'S

employers seeking High Court i ne was reached with the Labour working class but was used by Hunchors government as a means of trying Union otticiais to kees workers sanne oureaucracy divided and was quoted headed off organised opposition to limit ine ettectiveness or last to the Concordat by declaring supporting evidence winters striKes

SHIPYARD LEADERS

VOTE FOR THE DOLE

viability he staunchly defends.

included those led by prominent a handful With only Communist certain ine emolovers are memoers a union delegate annoyed that the various sanc- against Party who are actually in the tions decided on at the Confed leadership conference of shipyard yards workers in Newcastle last conterence are to be unpreten- Closure st. ted. But they, like the union houch their lett reoutation week voted for an orderly proposed undeservedly gained during the bureaucrats who transition' dole to the UCS struggle against Heath, was tnem. are wen aware undu such queues of Scotland and the measures will not save a single based on the correct tactic of threatened job. North of England. of raising Slump This hipbuiders decision to ine latest attacks. British Shipbuilders' decision Instead ithas been the Just as with steel where Chalmers' co-thinkers have Communist Party who have close vares ano scrab 0.00u jobs. similarly ducked calling all-out championed the one day protest The weds sederly transi action and supervised StriKes. those Boiler. industry's gradual run-down seizure of

LION

were As with steel, makers Union chief Chalmers.

over several years), the capital- workplaces in line for the axe declaring his opposition not to must be accompanied by a cam- ists in Britain are gripped by a of destruction nude international slumo oalon tor electee rank ane The these major sections of the trade union committees to open sections oT ine maustry out only to the means of carrying it the books of the industry, its economy. out. While Confed leaders talk suppilers and bankers merely to His opposition about public porks must be see programme useful starry-eyed nonsense 'compulsory' redundancies and 1981, the drive revival the imposition of a token over- towards rationalisation inten- OUTi TO •orovice alternative employment struggle for a planned socialist part time dan contins nis retormst sifies politics to be as bankrupt as the Yet key delegations in full shipbuilding industry whose support of the right-wing's line economy.

FUND

LONDON

With only a few days to go to the end of the month we

WORKERS SOCIALIST

are still well short of our target of £600. The last seven

LEAGUE

days has seen £91.43 arrive in our office bringing the Public Meeting current total to £432.09.

As reported last week we are having to raise our fund target to £750 a month in order to keep up with the

DON'T LET TURKEY

effects of inflation on the cost of producing our paper.

BECOME ANOTHER

It is crucial therefore, that in preparation for that

CHILE

harder task next month, a determined effort is made to raise well over the f600 target for this month.

Donations should be sent to: Conway Hall Socialist Press Monthly Fund Tuesday September 4 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR 7.30 p.m. Oxford tote results 19 August, 9/12; 215; 26 August, 9/13, 140 Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill. London NW5 1HR Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd, London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

PAY

NO

FOR

5% 5% a Nothing Nothing that it had died with the Labour governel TUC aeneral secretarv YeTt Len Murray, came out of talks with Prior announcing that it He was not dead but sleepina.

threatened that if the Tories ahead with their legal went TUC would allacks ten une withdraw their voluntary agree- ment. In other words once the Tories have cast striking workers in chains of steel Murray will unlock his own fetters. taken the The Tories nave Con coroat and added to it. They plan to: Outlaw supporters from rendering pickets at small plants or with small sections WOrKerS impouttaw secondary pickets", thus preventing essential action to shut off suppliers or plants which take blackleg labour.

*Remove all immunity from sympatising action *Remove some immunity from all strikers. *Widen the uses of secret postal ballots so that unior elections can be manipulated by the press *Restrict the closed shop to the point where it will be impos- sible to maintain it. Passing laws is one thing Enforcing them another. une courts-soearnedaed Lord Denning-have been acting on these proposals for months the lorry drivers' strike they granted picken They stop secondary pickets. have backed this up with against Wands- similar decision worth building pickets (see page 11' The response of the union leadership been-no challenge.

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

OXFORD

Public meeting "How to fight the cuts' Thursday September 6 8.00p.m. OCCR, Princes St. Cowley Road

LOBBY THE

in wandsworth otticial sup was immediately with- port drawn. benning nas decared the NUJ strike of last winter constitutional and reinstated the Again no expellec scabs challenge from union leaders despite a clear directive from ine annual conterence The Tory attack on the unions not "nineteenth century or unnecessarv cooma necessary them precisely because of the scale of allacks on soename cuts ane on wages. The question for the working class is whether it can resist such attacks with aleader ship which wants to 'interpose its bulk' between the employers and the workers and substitute grovelling around the confer- table for united class action. ine lu, dishonest as ever will debate whether its oppos ition to the Tory legal ane economi attacKs 'vigorous' lin the words of the now adopted) motion or sometnine lesser. Conscious decision The TUC motion will call for the general counci resources The ano membership of the entire trade words UnIO! movement reminiscent of its non-existent 'all out campaign against low Ody But although this motion was a conscious cecision to croo a policy of 'no talks' the Com- munist Party paper, the Morning Star hailed the decision as clear call for action against Tory attacks the trade union movement" The Financial Times made a more sober assessment: "It is not the union leaders, many of whom are snowing a 0ooo deal common sense in political and other respects, so much the shop floor militants who must be confronted." The working class nothing but treachery from this will peacershio. taken up to remove all leaders' who refuse to fight The crisis or capitalsm. car never be tought even on the simplest level by those who wish to reform it. Build a revolutionary leader- ship in the unions! No talks with the Tories! TOl united strike action against Tory attacks!

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

LEEDS

Public meeting The Engineers' Strike: The Way Forward' Monday September 10 8.00 p.m Room A, Leeds Trades Club, 21 Saville Mount

TUC!

FIGHT THE ANTI-UNION LAWS

Called by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement Wednesday 5 September, Winter Gns, Blackpool Al-out strike demand grows Pressure is building engineering amongst workers for an all-out strike. More and more workers are realising the limitations of one and two day stoppages. Following on the vote in all-out favour strike the Bradford achonrom Confed and the stewards demands from the Birming- ham rally at the demonstra- tion last Monday, a Leeds rally passed the demand for "an all-out national strike in the immediate future meeting of the No. 9 (Reading Confed and District) stewards has also passed a resolution for an all-out strike. This meeting also made clear that this was not an excuse ior no barcodus in the two-day strikes, because they also passea a they saying carry out all these Would strikes. This growing feeling the shows engeerug workers want a confronta- with the employers. Opposite This is the opposite atti- LUCe One not seaters who have shown by contin- uing to call protest actions that they are hoping just to pressurise the employers into concessions. Also indic- ative of this attitude of union leaders is the exemp- tion from the strike of ship- building, public transport, gas, etc. As we go to press the talks, involving results of

ACAS,

between the engineering employers and the Conted have not come through. Pressure must be built up in the union for no compro mise on the claim. This is the best opportunity ally section has of winning the 35 hour week (The claim is now for a 39 hour week this year and 35 hours by 1982). The engineering emplovers are saving ther are in a bad financial state and some firms will have to close if there is an all-out strike This challenge should be taken up by being prepared for a policy of occupation and demanding the they open the books whole industry and not just the bankrupt firms to elected trade union committees.

Trotskyist' brigade expelled At the same time as is the Nicaraguan govern- ing Junta announced its 'comprehensive new bill of rights it took swift steps to rid itself from Nicaragua of the threat of inde- working pendent class and expelled action 'Trotskyists' sixty 'Simon Bolivar the provocateurs' and "toreign for weapons and Brigade'. shouted claiming that they had only asserted that they were the the fighting The Brigade, said to arrived after true vanguard of the prolet- number some Jou people. had ended. arat. organised under the was abundae Bill clear Within 24 hours of the leadership of the Colombian the of that Just the demonstration regime

PST

(Workers Socialist all the

KARLS

expelled the Brigade Party-a member pristine clauses of the bour- members, labelling them USFI) and had within its geois constitutional heritage ranks people several nationalities and even more political affiliations. PST itself made a good deal of this tact. Nevertheless, it is clear posed that the Brigade the Junta and challenge to that it was able to mobilise appreciable popular sup- port. When

FSLN

leaders 'Brigade for criticised Tne 'lack of discipline' it organ- the ised HQ Managua drew 3,000 which

WOTKES

demanding payment wages and carrying banners 'The Revolution is in saying of the the hands bourgeoisie' and Power to the Proletariat'. The march was followed by a hundred members Sandinista guerrillas Militia the Popular wno Somoza's fall casts long shadow over C. America The repercussions of the small towns in the centre of the country. are overthrow of somoza These occupations have been and more becoming undertaken well armed throughout groups of up to 150 men and apparent well-known in the area Central America. anc inev nave Gaited in Guatemala the orelalor- support of the General Romeo Lucas ship successive regimes have the increasingly Garcia highly conser always viewed as and relying heavily or •etensive guarantee vative ano the 'unofficial' secret ant.-com- against 'insurgency' munist army to suppress oppos Strikes squads.

ILIOT

will

IA THORI

oT Caulldi out ul addition to this the Guatemala since the fighting in regime is facing increased diffi- Nicaragua has been estimated at land culties in the towns. Nationwide by students in the first strikes prices have slumped drastically two weeks of August obtained and there signs splits are 5,000 of partic- the reinstatement within Ine students expelled in Quezalten- ularly between the tractiondl member or the secret police was fact ango despite agricultural trading sectors and interests linked industrial killed in one school and that the American With Ine GenErd of secret police had Common Market, El Salvador's Romero identified the strike with the This division has yet to take political form but the Army of the Poor) which nas 'extreme lett. a decisive close links with the Guerra All indications from heavily reliant Ine noust alsts are union movement Prolongada faction urban trade upon Nicaragua for raw mater ropular ials and are clearly anxious to the Sandinistas. Many members of the EGP tion and strength although achieve SOTTe they major move has yet been made and rapprochement with the Sandin- fought Guatemala have increased their activity in neport. Guatemala over City suggest that the popular immediate and More movement there is stronger than series of potentially far greater threat lies recent weeks witn Ejercito Guerrillero de occupations not only of farm it was in Nicaraqua betore the with the land but also of villages and civil war. Guerrilla Pobres Occupied The crisis in El Salvador is

SAHARA BATTLE

even more acute. Churches and factories San Salvador occupied by continue workers and students who brave dangers posed by The guerrillas of the Polisario and the regime's death squad-the White the Moroccan have forces moved in Union-who Polisario Front have varrors killed several hundred people in to take over their positions claimed a major victory the last few months. in the war. publicised action over the Moroccan army blows to most further predictably, has, invoived Morocco's the 'revolutionary' of occupation in two Salvadorean foreigners: Western Sahara. King Hassan, the managers and a US citizen were Mauritanian leaders 400 neid nostade tor over a week by They report that diplomatic the Apex textile reopened Moroccan troops were killed with the plant in demand relations Agendi in a battle at the oasis of Bir government which backs the wades and better conditions o weeks Enzaran work. Polisario and condemned Actions such as this occur This clash was only one Moroccan the 'latest daily and the tempo of guerrilla in the escalation of fighting advances before tearing up that has developed since the defence pact with comparative Lner till in July a no Mauritanian military regime directed much Hassan. signed a peace treaty with against government installations so the expulsion reflects the which these can ease with be cast aside when required.

democracy introduced' by the FSLN- backed regime would with- out doubt a great step ¡orwara l l was impiemen ted but the conditions for this remain extremely slight without a major struggle on the part of the workers and peasalls Elements of such struggle were evident in the demonstration organised by the Brigade and that is why was summarily suppres- sed The fact that the follow- ing day the US Ambassador could declare that relations Junta "as were with the cordial and easy as I've ever winessee wilt all veil We converse ment we meet easily and easily, have a lot of mutual busi- ness going on" demonstrates which this the degree will have be struggle to fought against imperialism which now operates through Junta's popular front the politics. The regime, having lifted a state of siege only a few weeks is on the verge of reimpos.

ditching ano Is allall "dialogue" with those Tew religious figures and dissident who were groups bourgeon. guileless enoton to beneve any possibility of accor real the Romerc governmen from the Bloque Popular Revol.

ucionario (BPR-Popular Revol utionarv Bloc) a heterogeneous organisation ot unions. clerica leftist and bourgeois groups, that opposition parties said to number some 20,000 people. Clandestine The Rioe has links with the guerrillas and maintains a clan- destine organisation but has not VeTi mace Cal action. The character of the Bloc Accion and the rival Frente de

(FAPU -

Popular Uniticada United Popular Action Front) respects similar many popular the The TrONTISIT

FSLN

and there is still very little indication of the of Marxist forces in El Salvador However, the crisis is suffic- iently grave to merit a surrep Vaky

TITIOUS

VISIt assistant secretary oT state Tor affairs, earlier a direct month to give the report to Cyrus Vance or degree to which El Salvador is "salvageable". 'Extremism' apparently Vance reluctant to resume military aid both El Salvador and Guate the maa tol fear oT bushing masses to 'extremism' and jeop increasing ardising the US has established with the Nicaraguan Junta. The Pentagon, naturally, but to arque TUi SUBOOTI either case it is clear indi overthrow Somoza har narrowed the options for imper lasm ano s uraine on une revol utionary process throughout Central America.

YOUNG EXIT

WEAKNESS

The desperate weak- United ness of the States intervention in Middle East has the bee me stably Andrew wake Andrew Young's resignation as US ambassador to the UN. Efforts to get the Zionist agree to a new regime to United Nations aimed at a settlement with the Arab bourgeois govern- Ments nave lalcu President Carter's special Strauss, Robert envoy. failed to convince Begin to to reference to agree any the right of the Palestinians.

He failed even convince Carter's poodle, Sadat Despite American and

BASQUES CALL

The agreement on regional autonomy reached last month bet- ween the Suarez regime in Madrid and the bour- nationalists geois in Euskadi is crucial to the political stability of the whole of Spain. Suarez torced into concessions in order to try to help the Basque national- ist party maintain its domin- ant position in the face of the rapid growth of more nationalist forces radica associated with

ETA

(militar). Not enough Last week there were that the sons new statute will not autonomy be enough to encourage the both stabilisation which Basque and Spanish capital- ist politicians are so desper- ately seeking. The political coalition

ETA

which close (militar)- Herri Batasuna Unity)-self (Popular confidently launched a cam- paign to boycott the forth- coming referendum in the Basque provinces the proposed autonomy statute.

SHOWS U.S.

Young UN pressure arrange 'ceasefire' Begin has contin- ued his genocidal attacks on South Lebanon. Every day the Zionist last week artillery, together with their fascist allies, have been pounding villages and now also the main towns in the alla Numerous villagers and Palestinian some been commandoes have killed. On 20 August Monday and fragmen- phosphorous tation bombs were seen by correspondents to set fire to and apple pine groves in the area. and their The Zionists allies are adding a scorched earth policy to their geno Soutt Lebanon and their continual threats of a new invasion.

FOR BOYCOTT

Herri Batasuna won 25% of the votes in the parlia- mentary and municipal elec year and earlier this

TONS

has almost certainly gained support as well as political confidence since then. gained from the groups recruits • (polițico supporting militar) after catastrophe of its recent war" "holiday hom bing which it was forced apolo- getically to abandon from all of sides (militar)'s widely ElA supported of campaign selective terrorism against state how- appalalus has continued ever, unabated. Last week it was spread to include bom bings of French-owned enterprises in Bilbao, Barcelona, Saragossa and elsewhere. Deportation This is in protest against the by the Giscard-Barre regime Paris of repression living France, Basques including the deportation to Basques Spain of several with only loose with Basque nationalism

Growing crisis faces E. European economies On August the Romanian ruling suddenly announced cracy that motorists from other would Comecon countries allowed through be Romania unless they were able to pay for their petrol in hard currency (which in effect means US dollars).

This surprise announcement, Which oreaks comecon doret- ments, resulted in chaos on the Romania worlds Bulgaria Hungary, ano

USSR.

Romania major tour- resort Itsel. ane diso on the route for holiday- Bulgar- makers going lan coast or tne diack ord.

Eastern European tourIstS are not allowed to travel abroad indeed in with hard currency- many they cases are never allowed to possess it. Thousands tourists were left stranded on the uner etore Romanian borders. is the most of the illustration aldonic severity The econon e faced by the of Eastern stales Europe the . USSR. and of way these problems exacerbated splits the Have and divisions within the Stalinist bureaucracies. Failure also underlines Ine complete failure of Comecon to integrate the economies of cerormed states-ine the Romanians retucal ot Comecon currencies admission that alflouns lu uney are not convertiole on ine world market and are therefore inferior to US dollars. Tigures inoustrai coming out of the Droouction indicate that recently is the •noustrial bertormance worst since at least 1951 Romania's economic ditticulties has brobad v been no greater than other Comecon but President Ceaucescu 'has chosen resoone in a tvoicalty anti- Soviet manner Ceaucescu has already estab- lished a reputation tor indepen- dence from the soviet bureat- cracy-his Komania's military ment to the Warsaw Pact is the most obvious example. Double purpose conflicts with the These

USSF

land now with the other Eastern European states) serve a double purpose for Ceaucescu: uses the 'exploitation'

USSR

Romania by the scapegoat Tor Romanias econ- omic difficulties, using Romanian to nationalism regime: at the boister nis own same time, unrest among Romanian workers at low living standaros is enouen or d lnedl for the bureaucracy to attempt Soviet agriculture is unable to meet demand. The USSR has oranged to import up to 20 million tonnes of grain from

INTERNATIONAL-

kreznner to divert more resources from military excellulc consumption. conservation have been for oil drop in world production. Homaniad its own oil, but the reserves are running out. This vear COmeStIC

OUTDUL

fallen and Romania of oil has was hit by the Iranian crisis and in oi ine subseven recen supplies. that rumoured the Soviet Union refused supply extra oil to cover Tne shortfall that the cut in Iranian left, because of the supples id tension in soviet nomanian rela- and particularly because I to buy USSR some redciors trom Lne years ago. The short-term measure of refusing comecon currencies is unrikeiv to benet Romania in the long-run. The tourist industry Imoorant Tne homan an and is largely kept tourists from other castern curopean countries.

Serious blow More other importantly countries are becinnino Hungary has already Romanian lorries which banned cannot buy petror i dotidis since a targe oroportion or Romanian agricultural exports through Hungary has to travel oy road. Inis coulo be a serious blow to Romania's trade. problems of the workers states nave beer expressed in a slowing down of the growth rates. Between 1960 and 1975, the anrual rates ot growin or ine Eastern European countries as a whole (excluding Albania) have •een steadily creasine Between 1961-65, the com- growth bined annual average countries for Idle 4 9% 1971-75, 7.8%. However, this steady acceler- is now being of growth ation Interruotec mania TOr (where the averag 1971- annual growth rate for 15 was • 1.07) tne target tor the has coming five-year period to between 6.7% been recuced and 7.4%. The reduction in world oil subotte. ane increast

OPEC

prices have hit all the Eastern European despite the continuing supply 01 ou trom the usoh The Stalinist bureaucracies reacted not by have rationing, UnET anternative energy found, prices increasing deltand tew monins petrol have been Czecho- increased by 50% , 45% .100% in Bulgaria sovakla no Hung. Hungary, and 60% USSR has been unable I ne to accelerate the growin ot ou have been ran oiled ores have been frozen increase oroduction stowed down. balance between exports Comecon ano to cabitarst countries na. been weighted more in favour of Comecon mid-1960s the oince Ene Stalinist bureaucracies nave attempted to shift resources to trom Consumotor ano awdy investment, ettort The Stalinist bureaucracies perfer to control supply and demand through queues rather economies and to than price rises which could lead to riots like these in Poland in 1970 increase the livina standards of workers who were beginning This kind of involvement has inclines the Soviet bureaucracy show dangerous gone to the greatest extreme to oreter outtine uo wiin queues instead of raising prices.

hailancy The Stalinists' response in the soviet Union Imports economic diffi- For Soviet these deepening bureaucracy has decided to hire culties nas been to lurn to caulli "it alist multi-national firms and However, become a vestern cabitaist car manu mas governments for assistance facturer to modernise the Soviet evident that this increasinety car industry Besides asking for loans trom Shitt of resources nas peen At present, Volskwagen and accompanied by any significant capitalist covernments and increase in productivity in the capitalist firms are Peugeot-Citroen are competing for the contract. increasingly invited to invest in agricurtural sector The inevitable result has economic problems of Dove! ano casterd curopean been an increase in food imports projects. the workers' states, which stem InTo the (comecon whole Gandhi deals herself The USSR, for instance, is now The world's Dioces importer of New Zealand lamb, while Poland has from the a loan of $50 million military government Argentina food back into the game imports. The 1979 Soviet Union grain harvest is disastrously low and will have repurcussions through- out Comecon ne latest estimate Tor IntS year's grain harvest world's 'India-the million tonnes, which compares largest democracy. For with a target • OT LzOo mor tonnes, and last year's bumper decades that was how harvest of 237 million tonnes.

the bourgeoisie packag- The USSR has already made agreement with ed its class dictatorship where there has been a bumper imperial- in India-as crop) to import up to 20 million ism's alternative of tonnes, and another 10 million will be imported from other 'freedom' to the Yellow countries. Peril of Red China. Inevitable The been image damaged over the years by should imports the cruelties of history and prevent serious shortages within the uncompromising reality the USSR, but they do not solve Caretaker P.M.-Singh ol lne class struggit the Stalinists' problems.

Gandhi's 'Emergency' edifice, the trade deficit

MONS LIOUS

almost ('Unity') leaders dictatorship exposed the inevitable because of these extra wrangled of writhed and food imports, and the Soviet apparatus • Il1 a has to find a way spectacular display bureaucracy sion which served the needs oi per- of the ruling class. 2½ years ™ mance cs petual in competence raise United only by their option is of Janata government have foreign loan, thus involving the Gandhi's done little to restore any- opposition more capitalist financiers even Desai, Singh, Ram, body's faith in the strengths power, aeeply in the soviet economy • or virtues of parliamentary Fernandes and their crew Another option would be to democracy. could not even agree on of industrial cut the import what they general course woulc should take defend expansion (already Permanent crisis Inclustrial under strain) even further.

capitalism in India also questionable Corruption scandals Without shred whether the Soviet bureaucracy flourished an environ- political principle between will be able to avoid increasing ment of permanent political them, lacking the tood prices While the workers, courage of their opportun-

CASS

Hungary, where ine poor peasants and national ism, they remained locked pricing system is more flexible Eastern minorities found no relief of together in their grotesque other European of their poverty, starvation and dance self-destruction. lapart countries TrOM oppression, the Janata came slavia, where inflation runs at The splitting of the 13%) prices were end to this Janata but an o bene more recently increased by an average heavily on the brutal force black farce, and it was Gandhi herset who tinalt centened This included a 50% rise for Gandhi's as a blunt instru- pulled the bread, and 30% for meat Cowi ment and crush when she refused to support The experience of Poland in Charan Singh's bid to form independent struggle 19/0, where a stalinist govern was overturned as a result of the oppressed layers. a government. ment of riots against food price rises And of this The political and top from bureaucratic mismanage- ment of the economy, will not so ved investment trol capitalist firms, or the sort of nationalist that wedleslu Is OUTsUIC The only long-term solution a political revolution that restore: the working class. Inus openino the way for rational and demo cratic planning of the economy in une interests or ine workers and not the bureaucracy. constitutional crisis was calmed by the calling of a general election The venerable fools who lead the factions and parties of professional opportunists are no w settling down •a long period of uninterrupted deals, faithless promises and orgy of lies. Singh has already gained the temporary advantage of installing himself as care- laker prime minister Sordid trade But is Gandhi who most from stanas to and she will elections, the bring to the forging of new party alliances all the subtle tricks of a sordid trade she mastered long ago. The working class of India will not gain one grain ot rice from al the antics of these virtuoso performers, for all the hopes of progres- sive' popular fronts held out by the reformists and the Stalinists of the CPI and the

CP(M).

of The ending their misery and oppression can be won only through the building of a revolutionary Trotskyist party to sweep in bourgeois democracy India and establish the dictatorship of the proletar- iat in the struggle for inter- national socialist revolution.

Black youth club ALL IRISH WORKERS HIT BY

NUS THROWS SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO

occupied

CRISIS

The Notting Hill Metro Club has been occupied by local black youth in a bid to stop it from closure to save for a month. The rejection by Tory high area unemployment and gross lack of Ireland Minister closure Humphrey Atkins of New community tacities, lis allull is of paramount political signifi- Hugh Carey's offer of talks has It shows how working class finalize the closure of the only little youth can fight tor Ineir rents by mobilizing in an independant in the area Tory cuts. The youth believe that l way duals. Tories for a rejection of all don't into their they take defend the talking and a stepping up of Sacked nanas community's interest, nobody repression. will! Atkins and Thatcher would Fight 28th Two weeks betore dearly like to be able to arrange July, the talks with US bourgeois senior youtn ClUD these youth Meanwhile organiser Emmerson Moore was other urge peopie leduels over telest way sacked from his post because of stabilise imperialist rule in the and fight their stand up previous north. crimina convicton areas, for rionts One week one the notro The ecoñomic crisis is hitting anotner although its mainly black cruds youth attack today. will Ireland north and south partic informed by youth facilities tomorrow. ularly harshly. was be all education authoritv (ILEA) that

OECD

South, published on August 20, report on wner asked no longer required her thought of the cuts one black i exclaimed: youth predicted rising intiation, tallng Althouah the reasons tor growth rate and a balance of Thatcher fTS ¡ust this were not made clear, it was payments crisis. orgainizing against the working revealed that the club would be with the black people in class, Slump policies for the middle. The Tory Govern- Closed "redecoration" purposes. Two years of government- ment attacks voutAS. Trace Hence the vouth voted to old-and whatever inspired boom is unions, _now being in to show their in we replaced by slump policies.

stage branch ot society we live opposition towards the ILEA's class the must come to recognise this are 4 ne proposals. fight it." occuolen six counties On hearing this decision To do this the Metro North has always suffered the local education authority most depressed living standards support and the desperately neeus proposal retuted any tinancial aid. so tar, the locd in the british economy. permanent Party has remained Unemployment, ciosure ane ever maintained that

T&GWU

according to official figures, youtn silent and only one replacements were found, now 13%-over twice the British shop steward has come torward leader figure to support their struggle.

average. ano tne CluD redecoraltu. overall Metro would re-open. obscures the fact that the Support However, only one week Catholic workers TOr less lalt is over 2½ times that for Protes- These youth Moore all credit facilities to the are determined to win and they tants club were severed and suppliers financial and The crisis of profitability in will informed to terminate all This industry were political support is given.

manufacturin further sales. means that each week the youth caused the workforce have to raise over £100. 1974-97 alone and 9 16% the years slashed Four weeks later either by still holds occupation strong send donations Socialist Press male workers earn less than E60 care of or to despite a gross lack of Club, St. Lukes a week (compared with 27% for Metro threats of court nunctions and Hill, London. attempts the Road,

NOTTIN

britain as a while!

DEBTORS' PRISON

Com. At the NUS Executive Since the founding con- National mittee • t was aareeo inal ference of the be taken until tul Union of School Students

NUSS

full- consultation with in May 1972, it has received NUS full-timers timers I ne however, the support-financially, nad alreaoy cecided NUSS an office in to give organisationally and politic- Endsleigh St. without consulta ally-of the National Union tionSecondly NUSS was of Students, presently under tolo " would have to repay the £7,000 the leadership of the Stalin- ist-dominated Broad Left.

one occre Despite the fact that NUSS througnout chronically broke we is arredoy been dominated by this period, were told that it would have to Young Communist League rent pay temporary NUS could find. which had a majority of seats on accomodation the National Committee. Finally NUSS was told that the 70% subsidy it receives from Discontent NUS for phone bills was to be But the inability of the YCL ended. nationa campaigns to lead any any the measures even for the By Neil James, NUSS most the Broad Left oroposed reforms school tormed mode a against example, against Executive Committee tul-timers in Nu were more.

the

NUSS

would member. struggle 101 become bankrupt labour movement campaon of cutting vicious policy against the cuts had two results.

financial aid essential hand member-

UTI

Ente

NUSS

material assistance ship declined from a highpoint On Tuesday 17 July NUSS 20,000 to current mem. full-timers met Pauline Roe and bership of about 5.000 Helen Connor from NUS who On the other hand growing the responsibility militant discontent with the Have school students union to becau express itself in the last year. New offices At the NUSS Conference in At this meeting both the file anger rank and July the move ot Nus to new otTices tound exoression Endsleigh Street the passing of radical motions

NUSS

militant strikes tinancial demanding (which owes NUS £7,000) were Schoos ano strike action and discussed. occupation with trade other raised that point unionists against the cuts.

Smokescreen inere were accommodation given room new The YCl were routed and a offices. the lep-basked Rebel and la.

leadership, dominated new Phillips- - verbal support Subsidy ended for NUSS backed youth evolution This would mean no national groups was elected. But at a subsequent meeting on August 8 the NUSS National newspaper new leader- union

VALH

On the day LIft finance was raised; no materials ' and Secretary were ship took over, 9 Julv. the NUS Organise campaigning to build a mass President, Trevor Phillips, con- the NUSS to what that

NUS

new leadership would receive righting school students union firmed from NUS GIon t continue smashed by the Broad Left then Firstly the NUSS were not regardless of the politics of the incapable would leadership of NUSS. to be given a rent-tree otrice at the new

NUS

offices be nothing orovicine any materials lo co proved to

"HIS

ordinate a struggle. Endsleigh Street. more than a smokescreen for d Over a quarter of all families live below even the bourgeois- defined poverty line. Electricity exceed those ane ca.

COSL

Britain by three times. Accord ing to an official survey, half the , and a third housing in Beltast of all housing, is suostandard All of these figures conceal the fact that the burden of capitalist tyranny tails neaviest Catholic workers. 'Poor productivity' The last few months saw around 1,000 Catholic workers inceitast inse their loos ina spate of factory closures.

At the end of month, 8,000 Protestant workers at the Harland and Woolt shipbullding yard (the north's biggest single were told that 1,800 empiover, jobs would be axed early 1980 , The yard's bosses blamed ship deepest recession buiding since the 1ysus and the poor productivity of the worKiorCE The man-made fibre industry ¡the biggest in the six counties employing over 9,000 workers) The NUSS Executive Com- immediately mittee called respond this this micelHiy oolitica attack on tre inacoen dence of NUSS. By providing only two weeks of the proposals the nolict Broad Left has done its best to quarantee the collapse of NUSS • circular nas been sent to all NUS constituency organisa tions detailing the history of the attack and raising some disturb ing facts. The mailing end by "disapproval ot the demandine

NUS

timers; TUl discussion at the next NUS EC 30 September; temporary housing near enough

NUN

offices permit to as use photo continued postage and duplical- ing continued and phone bills by ment of rent

NUS

and

TUI

consultator before decisions affecting NUSS are made It is clear. however. that the Nu padershin do not under stand the of the attack they face or the correct way to respond to it. has already started lay-offs, and discouragi Infeaten. wage strikes and TOrCe productivity. Bosses blame cheap US imports and workers' • Callis To the falling rate of profit.

Around 1500 jobs in the gas industry are in danger, as the 9 state and private gas plants shutdown. complete Tact imperialist rulers nave withdrawn subsidies and turned down plans for a North of the industry. These moves are designed to a switch to force there which electricity, heavy british investmen showing a noness fight defend their positions, • responded readily worKers navi to strikes called ov ineir unions Over 2,000 workers (mostly women), i came out on August The strike in the textile industry. Further strikes followed on and 15th. The Monday The din strikes called by the CSEU have brought twice industry in the north of Ireland to a nalt. put for. The demands they the ware Talle mobilist and file of the NUS let alone the NUSS political attack NUSS and the new Broad leadership by the the

MUST

nerv mobilisation of NUS to defend

NUSS

Worker oclalis! Student and Groanisatior Socialist Students Alliance must lead a campaign adalnst tne staldists ano mont wingers that make up Broad Left. Confrontation The enormous weakness Ene ou reaucrat. intensilvine within NUS as the greatest ever education expenditure begin

CUTS

LaKt The possibility of a major confrontation on

NUSS

would the "lett repu- Tartner camder tation of NUS President Trevor Phillips, who at last December's iwo converence stronory aroued favour, against the Confer. ence of letting the then NUSS President Munford

• SOPOK

road ahead is fraught The with canoet. But while reforms, the repression clas is firmly

WUS AHIS

ousner necessary imperialism is always ready to fascist solution, movement Party upheavals shakine lot working class will not in them.

selves create spontaneously The crucial basis for class subjective factor-the revolu tionary party-does not exis even in embryo As more workers and voutt seek a way out of the impasse capitalism, both the IRA under Unionist and bemocrati Party (Paisley's loyalists) influence in the deepen their civiced working cass Class unity can be won only basis of a struggle for on the demands • Inat link ine solutior of the national question to the material conditions of the work. Ine class as d viole Last July's NUSS conference Aware of the need to avoid confrontation over Tild ul Nu tae broao Lett nave ov attempted to manoeuvre around

NUSS

providing with an ice a de Poly. Mass lobby

NUS

hard Taclities be cause Ols tance from NUS offices. And the temporary accom will be taken away by ocatior the end of September. WSL and SYL members will

NUS

and be NUS» Tor *local student unions

NUS

full timers! the

TUI

discussIo NUS EC! For a mass lobby by NUS and NUSS members of the Nu. re on su seotemoer. *Drop the debts! No cuts- free rent and phone

NUSS

office in * For Endsleigh Street. consultation before

NUSS

full-timers any cecisions of NUSS. *No censorship material before posting.

THE CUTS:- Lessons of AHA SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 August 1979 and council revolts of the The action Lambeth Lewisham, and Southwark Area Health Authority in refusing to implement the Tory cuts has been firmly supported by in the trade unionists area, and could be used as a starting point for an effective campaign to stop the cuts. This was made clear at a public meeting called by the Lewisham-based suspended

AHA

members last week, 300 which people avul attended. meeting wasn t DuL tue used as a platform to put forward policies to mobilise the workers against cuts. Catalogue Instead it heard a cata- Knight logue of the effects of the fight the cuts. cuts: the Syden- proposed Other labour movement ham Children's Hospital is conterences on the cuts are to close; kidney units held, being will be axed; and every hos- including *Local government conlet- pital will experience cut- ence called on July 29 by backs, Lewisham Lambeth Labour Party's Hospital which is already in Local Government Commit- desperate need of decora- tee, and a delegate confer- tion. ence which has been called Dr. Robin Stock for 10 November by an ad- "We will announced: hoc committee set up by hospital and ward oppose the three local Trades closures" but taled to Councils around Lewisham.

It was proposed that

NOW

"action" committee be dil "action" it but the used to in pop must be would be involved was plan action against the cuts.

1n The left undefined. Lambeth local The high attendance and government conterence was militant feeling at the public specifically concerned meeting shows that local cuts made by the council, trade unionists are ready to in particular the proposal by

PRESS

GANG

August is the Meanwhile 'Dino' cruellest for month also Barbouris had come Fleet Street. home-not to mother-but Their readers go on holi- to the cells. Since he'd been day; their advertisers wait the press had built away for days him into a combination of No bolly and the news rooms swing Al Capone and Billy the their efforts into finding the Kid. most trivial stories of the n is retuto he was year. charged with possessing an it was youth who caught imitation firearm. it in the neck last week.

All this and much more. Runaway couple Susan It is nothing out of the and Nick were hounded ordinary. round Britain as a High Lord Shawcross Court judge called in the chose last week to make his newspapers capture croak from the larewell them. Press Council. On their return Judge His summary of this Arnold told the press to lay employers' poodle and the off. He reckoned without press were equally sanguine.

the social concern that is The only threat to the instilled into true news press came trom unionisa- hounds at birth. tion and the only fault the As Susan Pengelly left press had was a tendency court she covered her head towards sexual The Observer must have with a bag. Fearlessly the ripped photographers been slightly struck by the irom her face and blazed inadequacy of this defence.

Thev had reporter Robert Reporters were hard at Chesshyre offer something =ork more sophisticated. Romeo and Juliet He attacked the Stalinist- »=» supposed to nave had Labour 'left' proposal for a 'neutral' = iner parents and each more watchdog than the Press Council and the Lambeth Labour Group to cut 42% off expenditure.

These cuts were justified Ted Knight, Labour by Group the icaucl they were grounds 'tactical' move to show local Tory people what cuts would really mean! hese arguments did not the impress conterence which was attended by 100 Labour Party activists, who called for no cuts, and for the councillors to reluse to implement the cuts and to organise a campaign in the labour movement support their action. Ted Knight 1s also member of the South-east Health Thames Regional Authority, which has been made responsible for imple- Lambeth, menting cuts in Southwark and Lewisham following the suspension of the AHA Accer in Labour council- Derek Prentice, lor and suspended member of the AHA, who recently interview for gave an Socialist Press, Ted Knight has: fought "consistently against the cuts at all levels, when Labour were in office well. Anyone who him of having accuses ducked that fight at any would be politically Stake offered this interpretation ot press ownerships. *In a country enjoying free speech, papers have the right to be partisan; they are not, like broadcasting, charter "overnied requiring fair play. "Most newspaper propri- etors are likely to be conser- vative minded. Most news- papers, therefore, are likely be conservative-minded too, even right wing.". The Half Moon Photo- graphy Workshop-authors of Camerawork, a polemic on Ireland, are not unfor- tunately naturally right They adopt a position of saying that news from Ireland is censored and that the of use photo- graphy put Is lo people in prison. The Daily Telegraph devoted an article to the booklet which was directed tact that ause me workshop is grant-aided by truly free press they would no doubt be suppressed. In August it might not even get in the papers.

HOSE CEL

The EGA.-not even an occupation without strike action can save the NHS from the Tories The not Prentice discusses the question

SOT

of campaign the sus- been whether that however Knight means well or not.

po implement. It is dear The sharp for implement. It is clear question all those holding office on from his concentration do Labour councils is what the argument that the area they do when their inten- is a special case, that it was and those of capital the particular problems that

LOTS

conflict. faced area that Knight's position is quite provoked the AHA into this clear. Either he will support unique position of refusing some cuts or he will argue to implement cuts. for a rates rise to compen- When asked whether the sate for the fact that the case' 'special argument meet government •with not didn't limit the scope of the the council's spending plans.

campaign, Prentice replied: 'We can only argue as far Challenge our own

AHA

Neither these show a basis concerned and or any alternative to managing that we're going to get them the capitalist system for the 10 Sane The choice is Lories "The alternative, and I

CHO I

greater or lesser evil in accept entirely the political the balancing of Lambeth's argument that you're posing but whether or not books, but the alternative would lefts' in the Labour Party have been not to carrv the fight will the and rest of the AHA members

CULLS

challenge government • Ine with us. head using their "If we didn't carry them Ull. effect now own persuasiveness but the with us, the strength of the working would be that these cuts would have be started to Knight not only voted implemented.' for the 42% cuts but declared: Acceptance "What we doing were and Prentice lays a great deal would have done, would have been to of stress on the importance use the cuts we had made in carrying the AHA and the support of the British order to show in real terms what cuts mean. Medical Association. For "No problem" instance, he states: "I am delighted to "The, cuts we suggested say that the British Medical were those that did Association-perhaps the involve any redundancies or loss of jobs in Lambeth, and strongest trade union in the didn't damage country-has come out with the services wholehearted support for in particular. "So that what we were us The doctors have said- showing practice was as they said at the meeting- what Tory cuts mean in real that they terms for people living don't care who Lambeth. So there's tells us; they are not going no problem. to reduce patient care, and There was never any decision not to the trade unions are solidly cam- behind us." paign. "It question of Leaving aside the rather tactics. What comrades seem bizarre characterisation of to be doing is to raise the an organisation which is not even affiliated to the TUC question into CuLe principle. If they 'perhaps the stronges: pursue policy trade union in the countri then there's really no future." it Prentice's 1s Clear that limited by (Socialist Organiser inter- his acceptance of the legiti- view). What Knight clearly macy of the He

ANA.

if the fight states: means is that "We against all cuts is intend now to seriously then there is no continue being members of the AHA. We have sought future for reformist policies.

his interview Derek legal advice the In Page 5 7/01

ECA FORES

Photo: Mark Rusher, IrL Minister's and action are seeking ways to find out whether still meet as an authority can not effective campaign An against the cuts must challenge the authority of AHA, not and tne • aCCCOL bolster it. The AHA is a totally undemocratic, appointed fight body, and for workers' and users' control of the health service must be counterposed to it Prentice continually points out that the Labour "representatives the on AHA (and they are specific- ally not accountable) are in a built-in minority of one- third, but instead of arguing for a different structure, he simply argues the need to carry the other two-thirds in the fight by compromise. Led by AHA He also accepts that the cam paign against the cuts will be led by the

AHA,

than the labour movement: campaign is going to be extremely simplistic.- no cuts to panent services no redundancies. Now. that is our stand and we think-we know-we've got the people of three backing us, boroughs and we've got the doctors back- ing us as well And we will continue to what expose these cuts mean I agree that we should call meetings-that the AHA should call meet- still legally inos it allowed to, and I shall be trying convince my colleagues of that." Alternative Such meetings are ==: cam- Lease : axes co- 3003083:0 : eithe AHA. and the tigh: for occupation and Derek Prentice says he supports, are taken into such meetings the campaign will fail defeat the

RHA

and the commissioners appointed by the government.

USFI 'critics' give credentials to Vie Page 6 The new of version Pabloism which the American

SWP

is forward in the putting USFI's important inter- nal - polemic the on South East Asia wars shows up in three ways. First in its negative argu- mens scussed in our two previous articles) as to why Kampuchea Pol Pot under was not a workers' state.

second. positive 1TS arguments discussed in this article, about why Vietnam workers was a slatt anu why of Kam- its invasion progressive bullied step. Third, even more explic- itly it is shown up by the

SWP

leaders about the causes and conse- between wars workers' states. Together with the weak- of the counter-posi- of Ernest Mandel and the USFI majority, we will take these in the article.

VIETNAM AND THE USFI

The defeat of the imper- Indochina in 1975 ialists in forward was major step for the working class and otner oppressed and exploi- ted clases throughout une world. The US vast army, the weapon pily sludl was shown to be unable destroy to the the working masses of Indochina. this-as we have seen in Alrica. Latin• America and elsewhere since then-has led to a sharp setback to the poltical power of imperial- ism and particular giant, the USA. This, combined with the prolonged crisis of the world capitalist economy, is opening up new opportunit- revolutionary 10] advances towards socialism.

Decades of struggle Many decades of struggle took Indochina place in between the and French. Japan. British and American imperialism in their turn Since the 1930s the leadership of the masses in Indochina has in large part, though not exands lot been the hands Stalinist parties. leadership has not been uncontested certain times sections of the natonalist petty bourgeoisie and the Buddhist religious leadership played nave the head of at TOle mass organisations. And certain crucial 4. New echoes of Pablo moments in the 1930s and the 1940s groups of revolu- tionary socialists, fighting Stalinism as part of the Left Opposition and then of the Fourth International Leon Trotsky, lounded by struggled to expose and end the counter-revolutionary role of the Stalinist leaders Indochina and of the more powerful bureaucracy in Moscow on whom they depended. Held in check The Indochinese Stalinists, however, succeed- ed in maintaining their own leadership through a com- bination of manoeuvre and times naked oppressive force. Independent movements of the • lil asses Deen held in The small check. group Trotskyists was murdered by the Stalinist- led Vietminh at the end of World War Two struggling prevent the Saigon by ot the French imperialists.* The Vietnamese Trotsky- ists who perished in the fight to an indepen- dent proletarian movement Vietnam displayed such courage persistence anu because they had under- Stalinist the Chinese tanks in Vietnam Stalin a position which gave (quali- fied) revolutionary creden- tials Vietnamese the This is the fourth a Communist Party This was underlined by the political and the their refusal to characterise Secretariat of the Fou counter-revolutionary recent wars between and Stalinist or to call for East Asia. This article political revolution. In the adapted to the Vietnan latest dispute in the USFI, the SWP leaders "progressive' qualities to (who have reterred to VCP as Stalinist and called for political revolution Vietnam) note with justified mobilised key sections of their case •DUl hypo- critical) surprise that in his the Vietnamese people to article on the dispute, (ICP, drive through anti-capitalist April 9 1979 p.348) Ernest measures

(CFHW,

ICP

Mandel had for the first July 16 1979, p.704). Celebrating the liberation of Saigon from US imperialism Do CFHW envisage build- time to their knowledge ing a Trotskyist party inde- the TeTer … lo Vietnamese pendently in the mass move- leadershp representing "hardened and could their party" institutionalised" "Trotskyist bureau- 11% leadership represented cratic rule which "can only result from the reform of relation to the struggle of be removed such a responsive Stalinist the masses in Vietnam. party? revolution." (See ICP, July 16 1979, p. 713). Shamefully silent They had understood, in We certainly agree that Irotsky's words. not to label the Vietnamese Mandel and the "The workers' line of leadership as Stalinist and majority resolution

(ICP

march matain angle to the line of times counter-revolutionary: June 4 1979) is shamefully to call for the formation of silent on all these points.

the leadership. And at the a Trotskyist party and for It in effect maintains the most critical moments this political revolution in Viet- positions of the former angle became 180 degrees."

name is an adaptation to İMT's resolution Despite these cruel blows china for the USFI World Stalinism. intlicted against revolution Congress (withdrawn when ary socialists by the Stalinist Adaptation factions wre the dissolved leaders imperialism in in 1977)-that the VCP was Vietnam has But the SWP suffered now 1S centrist and had followed a defeat. Capitalist property snowing more clear'v than largely revolutionary course.

has been overthrown ever how the prescription of But, despite its character- faultless, In the struggles which led formal "ortho- isation of the

VCP

dox' positions on these up to these events. milion.

of Indochinese workers and questions can also amount SWP's minority resolution to an equally profound and peasants mobilised were and the articles by its dangerous adaptation to the against imperialism. leaders are profoundly adap- counter-revolutionary tationist. Prestige Stalinist bureaucracy. But the SWP's minority And the leadership of the In part this shows up as resolution the latest mass movement remained in ano the article by Clark, Feldman, ment terr their hands the old

CLU

OI Kampuchea treatment Stalinist Horowitz and Waters leadership which, (discussed

(CFHW),

the are the two despite the blood its Socialist Press grossest examples to previous hands. emerged the have tron articles) ( an attempt where struggle with much inter- emerged from ' rotskvists' scientifically of such an adaptation. to characterise the nature of the state and There is form of Called into question "logic" the leadership ' which has since the Kampuchea substituted 1940s been 1S an endemic The positions put in the of the alsi pot the deeds infection the ranks of in SWP resolution and in the the Pol Pot leadership. those who have claimed to The true colours of the articles are course the be Trotskyist. oI Vietnamese leadership, how- "logic" concludes same. All four authors of This the article

(CFHW)

ever, are whitewashed over.

that because Stalinists end are among the leaders of the up at the head of a victor- Denied

DWI

lous struggle against imper Their positions call into ialism, then the Stalinists It does appear that the question the meaning which prestige of the North Viet play revolutionary role the

SWP

though this namese leadership has even may svingo une "going further words it uses. recent years allowed them, involve their What kind of a "counter- than they as in Cuba, their intended under to keep Stalinist" revolutionary bureaucratic power without the pressure of the masses.

caste which takes the extremes of police-state Such has been the inter. measures defend the repression employed pretation by some leaders in workers state the Trotskyist movement of some Stalinist states "encourage the workers and the role of Tito, Mao, (in a Nonetheless all forms of Vietnam peasants of rather different way) Castro anc workers democracy are elsewhere in the region, and systematically denied. most recently Ho Chi can facilitate class mobilis- Minh and the leadership of ations that will take the the Vietnamese CP.** That revolution further *See "Some stages in the position as one of than the Stalinist misleaders the basic manifestations of in the South of revolution intend."? (ICP, June 4 1975 Pabloism , Quatrieme Inter- ranks of Vietnam' In p.556) Van' Trotskyists. nationale, 1947: Anh it was that in 1975 What kind of political and Jaqueline Roussel, many sections of the leader- revolution will it need to National Movements and ship of the USFI, especially Which has made bureaucracy Class Struggle in Vietnam those French); and "Vietnam: associated with which conces- (in former International sions to popular pressure

WRP

on the road back to Majority Tendency, took up and at decisive points has

revolutionary SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 August 1979 tnamese ists ticle by HENRY PHILLIPS about retical crisis within the United th International arising out of the formed workers states in South lows how the American SWP have ese CP leadership and searched for support their capitulation.

It can be assumed that In other words, the SWP repressive measures are and is calling on revolutionaries will be used against anyone not criticise this attempting to mobilise "counter-revolutionary, the bureaucracy" masses independently of the Stalinist bureaucracv. When the Vietnamese army moved south in 1975 Where, ask them, independent workers' com- any would mittees factories and neighbourhoods were question "re-educa- forcibly disbanded and the tion as they were Northern bureaucratic under Stalin. forms of rule extended to the whole of Vietnam. The Vietnamese leader- ship has killed revolution- aries before. We should not long physically expect it to hesitate before doing so again. in Vietnam forms of short. no that independent workers demo- criticise repressive are permitted Vietnam. state in a purely Cover up It day more argument is remin- evident that the SWP's of iscent those "boat defended the people" "expropriated 1930s. mans, traders and the like who left Vietnam roluntarily after losing their and privileges" of course, ICP, June 4 1979, p.553) more than

NO W

for over-up policy ystematic racialist terror gainst the Chinese racial ninority. worth noting that Thus, to he SWP's minority resolu-

CFHW

Ion goes out of its way to has Moscow's ondemn "social and Chinese racism -ICP, June 4 unlucine in which 979, р.551). the masses No gulags under the ment

FUNSK

now Despite all this, the SWP

ICP.

June ays that the Vietnamese 16 1979, egime where). is not very repres- There are no gulags. Ve. those people being chea did become recusalon amps." the SWP resolution after 1975. uncle did,

CFHW

Douls us. die mosuy the fficials and army officers say that: f the old regime, many of "A revolution hem guilty of war crimes means establishing institu- hey have not been treated tions that open the door to the horrendous manner human progress and advance -that is, a better life for the ey once treated the libera- on fighters who fell into masses of working people."

hands." (ICP, June 4 (ICP, July 16 1979, p.717).

79). They repeatedly insist, without citing single bloism" in Socialist Press, source, on the material obtained by benefits tober 15 1975. Viet- **See T. Wohlforth and namese and Kampuchean and on the fact that westoby, Communists Massa the Kampuchean burst nevolution, rolrose 0oks, 1977, and the WL's welcomed the Vietnamese invasion. Poisoned ell" and "Fourth It should be noted that Inter- this argument is implicitly Itional-Problems and isks". applied other Stalinist bureaucracies, of notably Chinese troops the Soviet Union the 1930s. So Stalin's collectivisa- tion of agriculture or indus- trialisation programme have become, for

CFHW,

proof that the

USSR,

despite Stalin, remained a workers' state because the needs of the partially flasses were met and rapid industrialisa- tion took place. This is totally at odds the method used so brilliantly by Trotsky Revolution Betrayed Ine where distinguished between the material achievements made possible - and proved by what did place-and take the obstacles placed in the way of all these material achieve- ments by the policies of the bureaucracy. Worsened The policies of the bureaucracy did not improve the condition the masses, they wolsened them. Trotsky, contrary to CFHW, argued that Russian industrialisation ene 1930s was great not because of the bureaucracy but in spite of the bureau- cracy. Under revolutionary leadership the Soviet masses (and • Vietnamese the

TO W

and Kampuchean masses) could have achieved much more-and, of course, and politically as socially well as economically. The Stalinist bureaucracy in Vietnam, as everywhere else that it rules, does not unlock the creative powers of the masses; it imprisons and destroys them. The

SWP,

disnever has the dispute failed altogether to involve this all-important distinc- tion between the Cutes. revolutionary Stalinist bureaucracy and the poten- tially or actually revolution.

ary oppressed working masses. So CFHW talk of the way which is in a almost interchangeable. "decisive Vietnamese action counter-revolutionary gang" bureaucracy and action by They say that (ICP, July 16 1979, p.702, the Kampuchean masses and because of their betrayal of the SWP's positions on the relation between masses and bureaucracy that either the bureaucracy in a limited way pursues the same inter- .if as the masses, or, it does not, this is of little significance because the bureaucracy has no power to divert the revolutionary movement of the masses. Underlying these points is an erroneous view of what is permanent revolution "Trotskv's strategy of permanent revolution was developed in the course of the revolutionary struggle in sive stage which capitalism and imperialism had reached which stresses the need to fight for all revolu- tionary developments to be given a proletarian, socialist and internationalist content The historic tasks of the bourgeois revolution can be achieved in the of capitalism the international proletarian planned socialist economy.

When Trotsky finally in Permanent Revolution in a book of Page 7 It is true, of course, that in particular during the war, Vietnamese leaders maintained relative neutrality between Moscow that was Peking and and received material aid from both. stages though predominantly from and the USSR one country the But this relative indepen- bases offered dence was not that of an independent non-Stalinist leadership but of a national Stalinist bureaucracy which the hands Cot at that time was in a strong the position to support its own interests through taking its distance from the two main willial Stalinist bureaucracies this Ever limited and bureaucratic independence rapidly evaporated after the tion of process end of the war in 1975 as the Hanoi leadership moved actors. more and more into the orbit with Moscow. visible 1963 in the USFI's of Cuba "uncon- said and political but to involvement ПО И obvious, tion. But choose to But the about distant as is as lt lt was completely the USSR from the Fourth with present the International Halonas ution May 1952: "The of Republic the People's China is only the beginning This say, proves of a process of permanent that approved revolution which is unfold While the invasion their ing before eyes."

ULI

crude (Quoted in

ICP

with this they against nave emphasis, July 16 1979, p.724). aspect of So permanent revolution the crisis. is here seen not as a strategy A few days before Viet- to be consciously implanted nam's invasion of Kampu- by a revolutionary party in Viet- however, the the struggle build namese Premier Phan Van authentic workers state but Dong went to Moscow-an as a process which unfolds event which CFHW and the and leads to the establish- SWP choose to ignore! ment of a deformed workers is not, of course, the state. visit, but every aspect of the relationship between Viet- Implicit and the USSR which Ilalli shows plainly that the Viet- And if the political situa- namese occupation of Kam- Indochina tion puchea was carried out in evolved according the full collaboration with permanent Moscow and can only be revolution, what need understood as part of the there revolutionary international policy of the Trotskyist the Stalinist bureaucracy of the political embodiment of the Soviet Union strategy of permanent revol- This fact (like Cuban ution? policy Ethiopia in and CFHW's answer is Angola) presents a difficulty implicit in their analysis and for the

SWP

since they stands contradic- In sharp adamant that the the SWP's 1 ciliall tion formal Moscow bureaucracy commitment to the build- remains counter-revolution- ing of independent Trotsky- ary everything that it ist parties Indochina does. A further way in which

CFHW

2176 revolutionary Contradiction credentials to the Vietnam- ese Stalinist bureaucracy is How can events like the Vietnamese of concealing invasion its relation- Kampuchea, ship with the Soviet bureau- or Cuba's military cracy in Moscow. and political support of the Ethiopian military dictatorship be revolutionary content- in which the SWP says they are -and yet at the same time an aspect of inter- an national. policy run

ITOM

Moscow-which the

SWP

counter-revolution. says ary to the core? contradiction the SWP which deals will by a silence which amounts to a complete refusal to see the Stalinist bureaucracy as an international force. fact, the SWP's view, as we will show in the next article an inter- national level the whole of Stalinist bureaucracy the struggle between imperialism and ine oppressed masses Vietnamese gun position

Charter 77 defendants (from left to right) Dana Nemcova, Vaclav Benda, Jiri Dieustbier, and Jarmila Beliko va, Jiri Nemek, Vaclav Havel.

Defend Czech dissidents - and Page 8 Ivan Hartel was a Prague student leader in the sixties and a member of the Prague student parliament in 1968. He was a founder member of Labour Focus on Eastern Europe and an initiator of the Eastern Europe Solidarity Campaign. A founder of the Plastic People's Defence Fund, he is also a member of the Charter 77 Defence Committee.

He left. Czechoslovakia 1969 in after being implicated in the first post-invasion trial with the opposition, when a group of Prague students were jailed for their cooperation with the Polish student underground. In 1977 he was stripped of Czech citizenship. This edited interview coincides with the 11th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and also the current show trial against ten members of Charter 77 and of

VONS

(Committee Defend Unjustly Persecuted Persons). They are charged with subversion and threatened with three to ten years in prision.

Hartel identifies the growing opposition to the Husak regime and its defence of democratic rights. He specifically dissociates the from movement the imperialist' human rights' campaign led by Carter. It is clear from this interview that Charter 77 rejects the Leninist party, relying instead on a broad anti bureaucratic movement which does have

HOE

perspective of of political revolution to overthrow the Stalinist leadership. Trotskyists would struggle to forge a party capable of overthrowing that bureaucracy and replacing it with Soviets genuine organs of workers and control. Socialist Press will at a later date publish extended critique of Charter 77 and VONS.

Why have the authorities staged Now. VONS. by aivina sup the trials just now? ordinary people, and

DONT

fundamental depending on

TOU

TRA

support is that they being reason forced onto the defensive Hiall Charter 77. Which constantiv oT ine detenceless itself and which aolcauses In what sense has Charter 77 continues to grow despite the 'radicalised itself, and why does terrorism used against itself doesn t it sitterentiate its members. from Carter's anti-communist The Minister of the Interior 'Human Rights' campaign? himself admits that if their fully expected

IS TO

documents were allowed to be from any establishment at any published they would get that time support of millions, overnight.

own attemot to utilise to its Ail on trial are vUNs mem- endch This is deal true on bers, and VONS has done what dissident Is equally true nave today's Loday s barter estab- previousy done. It was Brezhnev. year and it defends Isned ast Charter 77 has nothing what- and takes up soever to do with Carter 77 and ordinary, unknown people who simultaneous appearance small acts- are cnardec TOr world stage historic wincidence, testifying pinning up a pay slip, painting a pull slogan, etc. Above and below: Prague on the first anniversary of the invasion merely to the increasing aware- the signatories are ordinary ness about the struggle against workers. This was never une oppression world wide case witnany dissident mant It chose festo before Charter 77. ils name mere to coincidence with emandsise rs The campaign always sounds the International Year of Politica ter 7 disa retormist. trving to make the police less 'arbitrary' and more Charter did not start on "just", concentrating on proceed.

when it was Januar ings delivered to the Czech govern- car, taking ment. It has grown organicallv There nothing reformist conditions in

OUT

OTI

Interna: about taking up individual cases.

Czechoslovakia out of the past one and a half decades. un tne contrary it is precısalt the concern about the individua since Then. Charters lis and ordinary worker, that is the radicalising itself social rather than in a narrow leftist very opposite of retormism There was a strong Commun- sense. ister 19m Atter the occupa- After It has been inspired by the tne … occupa radical young Which is may teres is me working class movement of the Plastic People which predecessor of ana company anast continues to treat in a systematic now continues to be very manner the próblems of every active in the opposition.

major social alic occupation women, It was (workers always in a very musicians, children, strong position because, consist- etc.). largely ex-bureaucrats InO

COT

In other words, it has broken themselves, it continued to have the tradition of almost ten years the advantage over the otne of elitist dissident personalities oppositional more radica currents whose main concern was always primarily with the problems of Furthermore, they have a their own narrow protection sucial proud- certain uncec ared the tradition from the heaviest prosecution Which extent continues and imprisonment, which was as karoe the Soviet dissident movement a matter or course meted out to The radicals and ordinary ThIs soCIal Ine radicalisation citizens. i see in the fact that, unlike in the past, Charter The alternatives which this actively supported forward retormist current out thousands, and passively were never fundamentally by millions. different from Dubcekism itself; Out of the thousand iner were merely its updated versions. Lenin's fight for While practically everyone, within narrow dissident Ine movement, including Trotsky- ists, in a way was mesmerisec by this current the masses of class oreinary working and women were fed up to their teeth with reformist Dubcekisn almost as much as they are fed up with collaborationist Husak.

ism. Collaboration They will never forget that while thev defended Dubcek er masse, and wholeheartedly 1968 in the moment of truth, the Dubcek leadership turned to condooration with the Kremlir bureaucracy rather than to the mass movement opposing Stalinism. I his nelped them to realist more than anything else that the snip stdof the interesist of the and the interests of the workind masses can very rarely, if ever. Charter the tirst movement which does not treat reformists with the reverance they ПОТ deserve, and which gives prefer ence to treating problems of wide sectors of population the problems of the elite only Legality, while it might look reformist to you, is in fact the Charter 77's strongest weapon regime flouts its own constitution and laws flagrantly, that to draw popula attention to it and to work out alternatives amounts to humble nevertheless revolutionary all vily. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 August 1979 PHOTOS: Gamma Also, the movement breaks out of its reformist boundaries by breaking out of its national now boundaries avervone realises that an isolated revolu- tion only Czechoslovakia itself will have no chance fo success • i nat Is wny contacts to other East European countries are intensifying Co-operation Furthermore this work, as well the work betweer various currents of Charter 7- itself, is carried out in the spirit cooperation rather tha rivalry. Therefore, our struggle takes the form of a movement, with diverse currents, rather than the form of a partv So dre saving that vanguard party approad does not apply under Stalinism? Ar you saying Its not necessary ol not possible? It's not possible. The party type gets oreanisation the beginning smashed trom Uhl, a Trotskyist, that. He formed the Revolutionary socialist Party in 1969 The programme and mani. festos were some of the MOs developed have seen. But it was infiltrated from the beginning. It was first time the charge of 'subversion' was used There : was also the Workers Councils Party, formed in 1974.

Since 1975 we've heard nothing

Trotsky's fight for SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 August 1979 defend a party of it. Its manitestos called for general strikes and hinted omist, and was clearly worker and small based-in contrast to the RSF, which was student and Prague based.

But Lenin developed his concep- tion of vanguard precisely in pedal repressive conditions. Many of the seeds of Stalin- ism are in Leninism. _A 0000 party is necessary, but it must never be a party which attempts to mono porse power. inere s a natural distaste among TnA for 'parties' of the Stalinist experience Darlies Also tne •everooment political analysis and programme does go on without the party Is there any connection between une nater movement ano specifically working the more class developments for in, Poland and Romania with the food price riots and the miners' strikes? There is no direct connec The situation varies. Since tion 1968 the USSR has tried to buy oft the Czech population. It has poured in enormous amounts of money. has Romania always been more dependent economically, and consequently poorer, as has Poland. Our working class is frustra- recent Ted politically. until Perice intristises economical - salised economicaily we desolte Tne low productivity from absenteeism. The separation between interectuals ano workers much greater in other countries.

No support In ' the in which toppled Gomulka from worKers cot no subbort the students-who claimed they had no from in 1968. Since 1976 they have started to det tooetner "195as achieved i Hungare 1956. That why invasion was so rapid. Ao syriate distent group But once becomes a mass movement on a common programme • over 50% the signatories Charter 77 are workers. Why has the wave of human campaigns erupted in the ights 1970s? Humanism the Czech tradition. There logical development. We passed trom revealism socialism inss fascism ace progresses cin progressive democracy on the way. Yve understano socialtsm the liberation of human and individual potential ne bourceois class was elim inated. But Stalinism has produced a new potential class.

I ne main fundamental extension of demo- cracy. And we are at a historic juncture where it begins to be possible in our country It might even be possible without great social change. The very without a tirm social base, anc without a great hold individual. Though the military might Ene necessitate great violence.

THOlON: Pastic reooe's betence kuno By saying "without great social chance. do vou mean a more humanised, democratic. version of the present social structures or a rundamental chance-soclal- ism baseo on soviet rule!

fundamental change in social structure will have to be made i see tan terms ora horizontal democracy. producers; a vast extension of sell-manacemenu ine economic system The conditions for it are there-that l wi ine reoression is so creal.

What about the Helsinki monitoring groups in the USSR?

yve saw mesinkas a secono Yalta. Others saw it as a great hope. What about theoreticians such as banro haverman ! I don't regard them as revol- utionaries, though respect Bahro still belonas to the older generation of bureaucrats, although he has freed himself amazingly, ana witnout turning to social democracy, as others have. You are a co founder of Labour Focus on Eastern Europe. How do you view that? tOOk US many years to the British left that wet sudat Eastern European developments lundamenidl because the need to avoid the same mis takes here. The USSR would rush in if there was a revolution in the west. Iney are an utteriy counter-revolutionary force today. why do we understand more from talking with unal TrOI redding Focus? We wanted to avoid sectarian infighting and ine important thing was to provide hard information and the political contlicts over state caoitarsm. ceoenerated workers statene origazines intention ti.

magazine's intention to intorm; you can analyse develop want people their analysis of Eastern Europe and develop solidarity work yve nave also initated the Eastern Europe Solidarity Cam which paign aimed at the unions, Labour rarty, etc.

you not use DuL wI oc journal to fight Stalinism here?

"ne em onasis and coates the Partsion sort consolidates illusion Eurocommunists are StainISt. ! personally do not share the illusions which people have about curocommunisn haven't seen many proofs that is anything but an updated version of Stalinism, adapted to new conditions. However, some people feel that Eurocommunism deserves respect at least for its awareness of East European dissent. Here !

give only my personal opinions answer for the ano cannot collective and whole editorial board of the Focus. but i vou nave anv criticism or suggestions, please get your- selves involved orcanise support campaigns of your own, affiliate to the East European Solidarity Campaign-do what you think is Ene dest. The basic work in this volume Trotsky's the Draft Programme submitted to the Sixth Comintern Congress in 1928, It is vital reading for all who seriously the Understine struggle of the Left Oppos- of ition against the rise Stalinism. The Criticism itself has its own story sinist sores sion of discussion made its presentation Congress the impossible-Trotsky was exilec in Alma Ata. But by some quirk of fate Ene CriTicIsm touno Its wav IntO the hands of an underemployed functionary who knew no better Enan to trans are ta result ot this administrative slip-up was that American delegate James P. Cannon came upon a copy, was and on 'converted returning home for the Left Opposi. struggle tion in the US Burning questions Even today the polemical of power Ine striking Though Trotsky sets out to defend the political line The Tri our cominter Congresses he does so through the application of this line to ine burning questions period-particularly the Stalinist 'theory' in one country. une ou'eauti atlsaliur and

TOP

matern problems posed by the Chinese revolution of 1925-27. ¡ne oroouct is not mered reaffirmation but an important development of the theoretical dischal ui liaraisin Perhaps the most important question posed by Trotsky the nature of an international revolutionarv programme. the very beginning the Criticism Trotsky points out: •.. not a since commun ist party establish its pro- gramme solely by or mainy trom concitions ane tendencies of developments in for national programmes for all international pro- An gramme Is in case the sum programmes Total

COT

• natona Page 9 internationalism In our continuing series on the major writings of Leon Trotsky to against Stalin commemorate the centenary of his birth, Mark South looks at his polemical work directed at the Sixth • Congress Comintern published under The ine title Third International After Lenin.

Available paperback from Pathfinder Press. or an amalgam of their common features. international •rooramme must orocee direct ly from an analysis of the con- ditions and tendencies of world economy Cano Tne world taken Mole in all stee Connections and contradictions, tuatis, witarine mutually antagonistic interce pendence of its separate parts national orientation of tre proletariat mUst and cat flow only from a world orien- conception which orovides the oasis to an otten sive against the Stalinists' sub- Comintern's ordination role to ine neeos or ine barasitic bureau is of derstanding is, through understanding economy Ene nature oT Worid and the political relationship of forces produced by imperialism that irotskv soe to expose the reactionary implications of 'socialism the future workers movement. Trotsky content with scholastic tor their betrayais, only the Let feromises and to la her Opposition their abstractions-'imperialism'.

'socialism' etc. (something explaining the material roots of own forces. on tner own ordan ne easily to Bukharin, isation, on their own unity and criminal errors political opponents. on their own weapons alone."

the Dratt Programme's author) Rather he sought to invest in war licular. Slavisi a specific : content the Criticism in some editions of flattery of Chiang Kai-shek, and these The Third International After the radical pretentions of the tlowed actua stage of development. In partic- Trotski Leilin. Is well wortn _readino latter attenti explained Us imperialise in the 1920s and he focuses upon the rise of the article Who is heading the the need for the Comintern Today? utmost clarity on the motives of which the inter-imperialist antagonisms flutsKy demonstrates Inroudr LiTt national, that flowed from it. examining the political history bourgeoisie. of leading functionaries- will make you any Continuous battle being "Hially romises vou want. i wit ever much worse-ine transtormatior sena its delegates to ivoscow taking place top will promise anything. Throughout the Criticism personnel of Soviet society will give the battle there continual 'theorv to dupe

WILT

•Uri assistance) expost melnoo of the workers and peasants."

in one country Trotsky counter Ine stalinist bureaucracy which poses the basic elements of his relied empty theory of permanent revolution Paid in blood schemas and the pigeon holing wien , originally Dased upon an or realev place or tne Marxist analysis of Russian conditions, method of studying living This in no sense meant that he • greatly enriched in light processes Trotsky and Bolshevik- their Hilany expertence Lennis le were • alway. acainst But more than this, Trotsky specific The Criticism contains the to explain the outlook ment that could be made, taking was first thorough balance sheet on of the Stalinists as a reflectior advantage of the contradictions the Stalinists' policy. of liquid.

social position of the which beset bourgeois national the ation into the bourgeois nation.

privileged stratum opposed ist forces: alist Kuomintang. "For and increasingly from i noudr example such cases clute complex event. The the proletariat growing up in the as involve acreements with ine turmoil of the Chinese student youth of the Kuomin Soviet Union tion may While the Stalinists branded have appeared remote organisation of functionaries event le revolutionary workers Ir anti-imperialist

WHO

were demonstration the time west yesterday heroes as scapegoats or obtaining tne assistanc betrayal perpetrated from the Chinese merchants for Stalinism historic strikers in a foreign concession nature The • sole condition consists in not allowing Merciless criticism the organisations or the banners Menshevik of become mixer directv 'democratic dictatorship of the indirectly for a single day or a single hour. proletariat and peasantry, the idea of the Kuomintang as Communists chinese two class party had paid blood for of Stalinism-yet policies 'Peasants' Inter •I ormino a national' are all subjected ¡rotsky was unaoe to stem the criticism, rising tide of Stalinism withi is every the Comintern. Given the isola kind ol rellanct „ine coor intentions of other classes out- tion of the Russian Revolutior side the proletariat in a revolu- las the years went by increasing- bye rayan ee the interns onan tion. betrayal I ne question is darticuiary internationa pertinent today since all the revolution) bureaucracy basic revisions of the Stalinists represented a powerful social and political agency of reaction nave. _ one TOrM • or anotner been repeated in recent years in workers TUrN The America and elsewhere Germany, Spain and elsewhere would pay the gory price for th Includine ov torces when cost Trotskyist', in unprincipled degeneration ot the revolution alliances with petty ary instrument created by Lenin bourgeois and Trotsky nationalist ano populist forces Trotsky's Criticism in the criticiem can ctilne and the found the principled guidelines Third International After Lenin that should guide the relation of reoresents the hiah Marxist resistance this une proletariat to me nationa bourgeoisie work process within the Communist the preparing revolution Trotsky the rartie. unemselves backward invaluable assistance to those Cules who to build a genuinely ouotes Lenin "The workers must open the revorutionary internationa e%to the people hiticans today. bourgeois politicians, Lenin

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

Only strike action will stop the cuts "In every hospital and local council areny members will fight every inch of the way to defend their jobs and pay packets the to stop public services being cut to shreds by the political vandals in government." talk brought .It lett tvel then down governments and Joseph would be •lideciler plans Tearing their £4,000 million cuts in public Fisher spending placate conditions. School dinner staff

/0U.J0U

mem oers Tne mUSTI carry on working al tne National Union Public usual pace in spite of the cuts- Employees leadership severi merners classes are held up". urged dit nolo meetinos aw ward times to 'hurt the employers'.

Left face sown Hall statt are encour agea not to provide meais Tor But of course the Tories County Councillors or clean the full know well that Bernard Council Chambers uix ano alan r sner are mererv All this is supposed to ''force the left face of the TUC and will the employers to have second in fact, like Len Murray, mount thoughts about making cuts.'

no determined Tient doainst Ine

GUT

N emoers know attacks the government. from last winter's Low Pay reading of the four Further Campaign the how determined page leaflet sent by Bernard Drathod of alveson he nat in emo yers dre to bul tate virid assistant cenerar secretary and working standaros conditions. They also know that the and waste the umited ao vice oro posed oy iner energies OT nis membersnip union leaders is inadeguate and Hospital workers are told to designed dissipate their refuse to take on extra work or Cici ics accept d enange in working nis is tne same leadersnip

JOIN OUR FIGHT-

AGAINST TORIES!

Returned office after Labour five years of 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' •ronteerino oro ousiness dackers ano une bay rises to oonce ano armed forces mark only the prelude to increased state violence against pickets and anti-fascists, and an intensified army crack- cowe bn né occ vœ oz ezn The Callaghan-Healey leadership has made it clear that it will opppose any perspective other than settling down and meek.

fy acceptino tive years of l ory devastation thouch thev have once more dusted off their near Ano. forgotten 'socialist" speeches, Labour's "lett-wing MPs have continued duck away from any fight to remove to

TUC

to establish a basis for coutis coll: boraton with naicher ano tne t ory caoinet. paranening their anti working class alliance with Wilson and then Callaghan.

But working class has experienced and overcome such betravals before-to toopie Heath's union-bashing government ir 1974, and smash through Callaghan s reactionary Phase 4 ot wage controls in a series of monumental pay battles last winter.

point to the way that These experiences are not dead. lhey JODs, social services ano nara won union rignis can …oe cetencer against renewed Tory attacks But a principled, revolutionary leadership is needed if the the TUC collaborators Lavour trantors. ane metr naners-oo the Communist Party are to be exposed and pushed aside, and mobilised that can defeat and remove struggles Tory government •ver e aloersnio musu ront bavln ano davour tor aoro gramme of transitional demands which, starting from today's and today's consciousness within the working class, conditions ne workois to oraso te necossiry tor sociaust revorutton Ano in taking up democratic demanas-sucn as an ena to and sexual discrimination, show the crucial rola racia. working class as the on!y consistent- that must be piaved by the ty revolutionary class capable of leading the struggle for the amancipation of mankind. an international basis-mobilising ATHe MUSt

TISTEL

solidarity anti-imperialist tor and antleottas struggres- whether in Ireland, Southern Africa or elsewhere through- out the world, and drawing strenath and political lessons trom revolutionary upheavals such as that which ousted The nateo Shah in iran. This means fighting for the reconstruction of the Trotsky- ist Fourth International.

This method of approach, rejecting any descent to simple trade union militancy, any wing of the labour conce bureaucracy, is the method fought for by the Workers Socialist Las The next period will soo major class strugles in Britain. A principled, Marxist leadership is essential. Our movement though strongin prodranme romains amar in nomod- JOIN US and take forward the struggle for socialism!

NEWS

which issued left statements on wage Ene in nnu a ne refused fight for then It was only in the Camden NUPE branch Louk ar rather action, ovr strike lnar allow sections become and isolated demoralised aviced limite• strikes wnere the £60 minimum wage and 35 hour working week demands were al-out won Throughout the whole of the country NUPE mem- bers have been forced to acceu Ine seli-out dear ot 9% and the miserly awards of the Clegg Commission ine statement tonows week.

of intense pressure from rank and file workers in public sector unions who have been trying tiont the cuts on adary basis without an ounce of support or leadership. guidance trom the weso utions have neer passed by a number of branches throughout London di Cc for a delegate confer - calling ence to organise a campaign of action against hospital closures unese resolutions ware me with stony silence from London leadership. All-out strike NUPE members must learr the lessons trom the winter o discontent" and pass resolutions calling for all-out strike against autority nealtn Cane loca council cuts They must calt also for to inst aate trade unior IVUrC inquiries into the spending of these bodies reveal

OFOTILS

Maoe DV Drivalt suppliers such as the drug com- panies and the money paid out charges to the banks in interest pne statement declais ns ormed be imier declarations from Public public sectu

UNIOS

sector workers should . nOT taken in by left statements and Every piece verbal opposition. •т action acainst ine reducuion health and public ser vict should be linked to demands Inal tne readersni. DulO national campaign of all oul indefinite strike action to stop tne curs Get the answers in

BLIGS

END LO

Cuts in Haringey social education services, and housing, are hitting deeply at jobs and forcing women workers back into the home. An across-the-board cut 2.7% in every department-to be implemented immediately -was InIs LaDOU collid teo coune on duv Labour's readiness to see the 'necessity" means cuto axing of teaching jobs, no new nursery places and the slashing ot repars aliu flamitellalile ul council buildings. In social services, the cuts have hit three main areas twc oT wnich aid The orive to Torce women back into the home. Firstly renaln dyarous. dre.lo ut crosed

WIAOUT

noTice l osine 60 places and facing ten workers with i compulsory redeployment.

Secondi nutit • 1C service is to de massiverv siasned St Stephen's strike The St. Stephen's Hos- pital Defence Committee is preparing for a strike on 3 September in opposition to the series of ward closures in the hospital planned by the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Area Health Authority. AlTnoudr tne acTIon limited to a token stoppage the defence committee has taken a senticant ana im oortant sted ln beginning mobilise health workers against the savage pro.

sramme or cut. Stewards in other hospitals will fighting over the next lew udys to sored une surike

WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE

THERE'S NO WAY OUT

377%

GECUL

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

fighting policies to defend jobs, wages and social services SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 August 1979 Haringey cuts: 'No cover' is not enough! -€25,000 off this year's budget "No cover is interpreted alone rigidly by the branch-any post This means that there will bf advertised no recruitment whatsoever to a already covered and no additional hours • to Dt Clents ot any social workel leaves post are to be worked who Old people are now being referred chairman of to the list put waiting before sociai services commiee wod mide the decision to cut essentia services • orovoeo waiting weeks have their Offices will shut on a rota washing and cleaning done and Dasis wner thes. • noL Ine keep them open, and recervine onty N occas ona.

• VISIT

statt to for shopping. clients will be referred to again This cut has in the main to counciilors who made the be implemented bv the NALGO decision. members who home help organisers.

NALGO

This policy is on the one policy is not to cover tor vacant hand weak and fragmenting and posts. Leaving posts vacant is one There of the manifestations of major Hall tall supoace and memer s-lett tne culs. ine counta is wicca.

without a strategy for fighting ing the vacancy factor to 12%.

the cuts-will begin to cover for areas ot work mass ve assoult on the social services cannot fought off by these piecemea steps Health

NALGO

members-and onte arer basis workers are beginning to realise members of all other unions hit that only strike action ov ue cuas or exoecteo to carr them out-must implement the WnICT WIl actera tne oca health service and a series of 'no cover' but fight for policy area stoppages against a ne• bolcv ou sunke acton reverse the cuts. Workers Ward ciosures ana ouner cul. prepared by local committees must be established Shoue stewards' committees uncover and publicise thei But token stoppages alone eTTeCtS tnrouanout the are nou sumicen aho nosolld movement managements will have the full The fight must alsc backing of govern- Labour Partv turned into • Ene ment and the capitalist press ir for the removal of all Labour isolating and victimising health voted for the who service militants Cuts ano inte Ine rce ner All must therefore for leadership fighting at0l he inke to demanos that toe policy of clear action public leadership sector union acammst une curs ro reolace tnet capitulation before the demands ovelares d malonal dul oul strike against the cuts. of the capitalist crisis.

SUBSCRIBE

to Socialist Press

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ITV

moguls dig in The lock-out by the TV companies was extended to thousands more workers last week as the commercial TV companies took steps to lay off journalists and NATTKE The employers-sitting massive profit figures have made move towaros increasino their 15% offer to the ACTT.

leaders had originally accept this advised members Otter out i was cecisivery teec- te0 Workers companies are usine tne oro labity or int firms as the cornerstone of their case Since 1975 shares in York- shire v nave risen ovok and profits have gone up 150%.

But the technicians have also been pointino to Ene таст Inal their wages have failed to keep up with inflation. The figures government the show a increase Retail Price Index since 1975 while technicians wages have risen oy 40%. The companies' attempts to tough it out mean that workers wiil be in for a long haul. It was the employers who co-ordinated original suspensions, in the or call knowledge this could lead to a shut-down. Committees This poses the question for ine strikers a to now tae suKe is to be kept solid. Strike committees must oradise meetings and to call meetings other workers locked out secondary row over the i he cost or vino cause wnch me companies have refused to implement must be brought to ine centre or ine dispute dong wth the full 25% claim. Union leaders are looking for away

TOOK

strikers are not to have their sacrifices rendered useless by that they day control is firmly to day under their grasp. Shop stewards at Tal- bot's Ryton plant last week voted overwhelm- ingly to call off their picket of the Manage- Research ment and plant at Whitley. This picket had been put on the previous Wednesday following from a march of Ryton some strikers. The danger of this step back from stopping manage- ment going in to work will demoralise workers regularly involved picketing. There has been consider-

UNION DUES

FIGHT BL GRADING

ineretore virtually Developments impossible appeal as to win an coming to a head in Leyland only the person union with the company's new siat VOEt company

10 STA

grading structure. There senior The Confederation of Ship- stewards meetings building and Engineering Unions weill (Confed) have come out in sup heavily favour the skilled workers, all of whom are oort ot the comoanv's bosition of unilaterally enforcing the grading and they have persuaded large back-pay lump sums.

Joint Negotiating The Committee (NJNC) to the This meeting will company and reverse • their previous opposition by 11 votes accept certain-v position, leaving the company implement The Confed argued that attempt few Enee was une •ed LIst nexl procedure which the NJNC weeks. would be the final stage In the light of this a meeting Naturally the NJNC thought 70% of the work- Ins was & 0000 idea. ne com representine pany has 50% of the seats on torce last wedneserv the NUNG and on the union side reject company's position. Although the senior stewards inere are several TUlI time officials and others who wron cecisco lo represent a handful of workers.

all union senior stewards meet- Challenge ban where private contractors were Picketing is continuing working were stopped for this week at two building sovere

HOT LITS

sites at Wandsworth, South earlier this vear London, Turriffs on Garratt The council responded with court injunctions against picket- and Lane Croudace

INO

WAle closer Upper Tooting Park, as part proposed laws of the national of a campaign against the government. efforts of the local Tory Court iniunctior against picketing names Stalinist the council to down full-time official Lou Direct Works department. The Tories in Wandsworth Although the

UCA

are laying the ground in every Regional Committee correctly for national government way voted defy the in unction By cutterie

URAI

general secretar Le. Woods reversed this and insisted They give more work to private con- the issue be fought through the tractors in the area but also to All official backing was attack the conditions of build- Taen witneravo. However around 200 trade ing workers in Ine area which have been maintained by the unionists attended a mass picket presence there of a large.

stable HuUS carita

LITC

group of 800 emploved by the ¡races counci ane ine bireci council on full union Works Joint Shop Stewards conditions. Committee Torv policies will thus not ruriner bickers are oanned only give "jobs for the boys" for 29 August and later. but will also increase the use of Efforts must made now be to oule subcort amonest birec Since early this year the Labour workers themselves who council been refusing to has are being held back by the atti- tender for such obvious work as tude or their union leaders ane renovations to council property.

action must be built up to close number of sites other sites in the area. Talbot picket called off 25% still be can able speculation woll. in the Workers from the Stoke capitalist around press plant have had a good res- offers supposed their visits Peugeot Citroen to increase to dockers South Wales. the 5½% offer in return for productivity and This must be built on by a increased determined effort loss of tea-breaks. to close all the ports to imported Strongly denied Talbot cars. At the same time there This rumour was strongly must for the call denied by Talbot's UK boss AUEW to make the strike George Turnbul who official and most important salc that the offer remained its isolation must be broken.

52% and no more. The engineers be Despite these denials it is brought out on all out strike likely that Talbot will aim as must all others who are to end the strike by offering fighting determination and of the employers and the increase small productivity deal. government to hold down The original claim of wage increases.

I CAN'T FACE IT— A MASS MEETING OF

THAT DAMA HOSTIAL LOT AND IVE RUN

OUT OF LEFT SPEECHES... NO SWEAT

QUICK-TAKE OVER JACK! JUST WATCH ME!

AT THE TOP...

SO WHAT

WENT WRONG?

ing next week they decided they would "reserve" their position if Tinev were ouTvoted That and that they would General executive

TGWU

Counci Ine "official support for any action taken." This is a weak lead to the is now worktorce but the way open for strikes, first of wherever it happens should supported by sections of workers opposed to the grading • ne grading is a cruclal par of Edwardes plans to make Leyland workers pay tor the comoys criss wolca s wor the union leadership have been workers' amming down Lituals A Tignt against tne structure involves fight against the leadership and orotramme tnat will counter ene inevitable threat of closure from the company.

OUT FOR

20рc AT

BINGLEY

250 workers at Anderton Bingley, are strike for a indefinite 20% pay claim. Strike action was taken when.

TOUT

monuns arter claim was proposed management firm offer but a broad idea o1 settlement for discussion' involved was 10% on basic rates. Steve Convenor BUt. Davidson pointed out, the 20% would keep living claim only Last years wage claim took to settle after over. ~ weeks time bans and a work to rule were Imoosed Determined to avoid a repeat ot this, the stewards opted toi Strike action. i ne strikers nave received the of local and collections have been TaKen-one meeting of Confed delegates.

Management claiming at c malev payne clan ful it would add £220,000 to the wages bill However, Aurora Holdings, owns Anderton inter out record national dividends of £635,000 last year Sliding scale If on the admission of the Convenor the 20% claim will maintain existing livinc standards there is clearly a need to fight for a sliding scale of linked inflation wages assessed by elected committees of trade unionists and house wives time strikers • the same should fight for the opening of the books of the company and Aurora Holdings that the workers car • for them selves the profits being made out of their labour and prepare nationalisation without compensation under company.

..WE'LL FIGHT EVERY INCH OF THE WAY TO DEFEND JOB:

AND PAY PACKETS-STOP THE PUBLIC SERVICES BEING

CUT TO SHREDS BY THE POLITICAL VANDALS IN GOVERNANT

ATABOY, :

JACK COME BACK-

IT ALL SEEMED TO BE

Tory threat to more steel jobs

CORBY TRADES COVACI

PHOTO: Labour week!! Corby steel workers march against closure. No strategy to defeat the massive lay offs has been put forward. British Steel announced a pre-tax loss of £73 million in the first quarter of this financial year last week, making it likely that the Tories will demand yet more closures and making it impossible for 'protests to save Corby.

Airline bid to break union The management sacking Even this was not enough for this rapacious employer, and the of 47 Air India workers in 47 were dismissed-on trumped Britain has led to an official misconduct, up charges 01 strike by 400 of the workers some cases-wiiie at the booking offices and tions were continuing

ACAS

was but, Heathrow. was unable to needless to say, The mass meeting last Friday any sals actor

TO T

heard the

TGWU

officials workers Ashwood and Collier The members on strike have Caviarti Inat the disoute coulo de alone received lette one as the here are rent to company threatening them with consider the sack if they don't return by cristakellicilt inose sackeo. wnich inciuce lu 28 Augus shop stewards, the convenor and Air India flights into and out the branch secretary. of Heathrow have been halted since 17 August The

JSSC

agreed to This is a blatant attempt to break the union-as a statement black all Air India cargo at Heathrow and telexes out out oy une strikers exoiains It is also part of an attempt sub•ort nave come in from Alr staff-one workers other reduce countries has boasted that Manace. could run the operations just as The picket at the North Gat efficiently with 150 people less Heathrow to act as thi To this information centre and the ground for Bond Street offices are picketed recuction a maor teature OT EnIS year's wage negotiations was a everyday until 6 p.m new flexibility of labour • Messages of support and the TGWU donations should be sent to 12 ment waich went some way to meeting while Grosvenor Road, Hounslow Southali insisting that they were consul- Middlesex or • to The TGWU offices. Ted TIrSt.

WHAT A PERFORMANCE -IT HAD'EM SPELL BOUND.

GET OUT

THE WAY!

- UNTIL I SAID FIGHT THE CUTS

BRIGHT SPARK SAID "HOW?'

STOP TALKS

CALL ACTION!

PRESS

TUC CONFERENCE

The

TUC

Concordat- which seeks to tie the work- ing class in voluntary chains -is alive and well and will paraded Blackpool at next week. Under smokescreen angry language the TUC decided week last drop from the resolutions called for breaking off talks with the Tories. crucial

THUS

LrIe cuestion Tacing the British working class in the immediate attacks basic trade oroanisation ano action-is not even to be discussed sharpest : point, the point where TUC is prepared to sit down

LTIE

and collaborate. The

TUC'S

Concordat own working reached with the was Labour government as a means of trying

UTHOST

to limit the effectiveness of last and

CIVICAG

winter strikes.

VOTE FOR THE DOLE

With only handful against, a union delegate annoyed that the various sanc conference of shipyard tions decided on conference workers in Newcastle last Tе0. but tney, week voted for an 'orderly bureaucrats transition' to the dole them, queues of Scotland and the threatened job. North of England. Slump was Enem response to British Shipbuilders' decision to close yards and scrap 6,000 Chalmers' similarly ducked 'calling all-out The words 'orderly transi aru tion' were those Boiler- Inoustry's gradual Chalmers, makers Union chief over several years), the ists in Britain declarine nis oooosttion nt to destruction whote nude internationa. of the industry but these major onry to the means of carrying It economy. out. His opposition merely starry eyed nonsense 'compulsory' 'revival' recundanties and the imposition of a token over- towaros time ban confirms his reformist silles Yet key. shipbuilding industry whose support or ine rignt-wing's line

FUND

With only a few days to go to the end of the month we are still well short of our target of £600. The last seven days has seen £91.43 arrive in our office bringing the current total to £432.09.

As reported last week we are having to raise our fund target to £750 a month in order to keep up with the effects of inflation on the cost of producing our paper.

It is crucial therefore, that in preparation for harder task next month, a determined effort is made to raise well over the £600 target for this month.

Donations should be sent to: Socialist Press Monthly Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Oxford tote results 19 August, 9/12; 215; 26 August, 9/13, 140 Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd, London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

SOCIALIST

AN STEW

TUC lobby, Brighton 1978. The right to strike still the key question It was largely ignored by the employers seeking High Court class but was used by injunctions same …orniclas to keeo workers nat bureaucracy was quoted headed off organised opposition evidence by to the Concordat by declaring

SHIPYARD LEADERS

viability he staunchly defends.

included those led by prominent Certainiv the emplovers are Memeers Tne Communisi Party who are actually in the at the Confed yards leadership the are to be implemen- Closure lIst Though their left reputation ke the union who proposed undeservedly gained during the are well aware that such UCS strugale against Heath. was based on the correct tactic of , impotent.

measures will not save a single they show no sign raising this demand against the latest attacks been the Instead has Just as win stee wnere co-thinkers have Communist Party who have championed the one day protest super visee striKes. with steel, run-down of seizure capital- workplaces in line for the axe are gripped by a must be accompanied by a cam slump paign for elected rank and file sections of the trade union committees to open the books ne austry, its suppliers and bankers. vine contec pacers talk about A programme of useful 1981, the drive public works must be worked inten- out to provide alternative rationa isation employment of part delegations in full aruce for a planned socialist economy.

LONDON

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

Public Meeting

DON'T LET TURKEY

BECOME ANOTHER

that

CHILE

Conway Hall Tuesday September 4 7.30 p.m.

DOTI

was drawn. Denning NUJ strike

PAY

PARITY

expelled scabs.

FOR

challenge TrON despite clear the annual 5 „ine tory unions Nothing Molhis wages working class is whether that it had died with the Labour government. grovelling Yet TUC general secretary, ence table Len Murray, came out of talks action. was not dead but sleep Tories The TUC, WItn ГТЮ" announcino will debate threatened that ition to the legal economic went aned! will Thet then the would attacks withdraw their voluntary agree- motion or something lesser. "cL. oiner wore! once the Tories have cast striking workers chains Murray will steel Tories have eat to the Concordat added to and general for the "mobilise supporters from picket lines-thus rendering pickets at small plants or witt sections workers sman 'all out' campaign *Outlaw 'secondary pickets, pay. thus preventing essential action But to shut off suppliers or plants which take blackleg labour « oncy ot no taiks the com *Remove all immunity from sympathising action Star hailed some immunity clear call tor action against Tor from all strikers. the attacks *Widen the uses of secret movement". ballots that postal so union elections can be manipulated by more so De: the press. not the union leaders, many of *Restrict the closed shop to whom the point where it will be impos- sible to maintain it. and other respects, so much as the shop floor Passing laws is one thing. must be confronted.' cntorcino Them anotner. but the courts-spearheaded by Lord Denning-have been acting leadership. these proposals tor months taken to to remove a encer who refuse to fight. in the lorry drivers strike they granted an injunction to The stop secondary pickets. never be I hey nave backed

EMIS

simo est level similar decision against Wands- wish to reform it Worth building pickets (see page teresponse of the o leadership been-no For united against Tory attacks! charence.

WORKERS SOCIALIST

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

LEAGUE

OXFORD

LEEDS

Public meeting Public meeting 'How to fight the cuts' "The Engineers' Strike: Thursday September 6 The Way Forward' 8.00p.m. Monday September 10 OCCR, Princes St. 8.00 p.m. Cowley Road Room A, Leeds Trades Club, 21 Saville Mount

LOBBY THE

TUC!

FIGHT THE ANTI-UNION LAWS

Called by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement Wednesday 5 September, Winter Gdns, Blackpool All out strike demand grows In Wandsworth official sup- immediately with- has declared the is building Pressure of last winter un- constitutional and reinstated the amongst engineering Huain workers for an all-out leaders union strike. More and more from workers are realising the conference the limitations of one and not century" or unnecessary dogma.

two day stoppages. them Following on the vote in necessar precisely because of the scale of favour of all-out strike attacks on spending cuts and on action from Bradford Confed stewards and the the to • it can demands from the Birming- resist such attacks with a leader- ham rally at the demonstra- tion last Monday, a Leeds its buik' between the employers rally passed the demand for and the workers and substitute "an all-out national strike conter. n the immediate future united class tor meeting of the No. ! Confed (Reading and . dishonest as ever District) stewards has also • wnetner its oppos passed a and resolution for an all-out strike. atlana. This vigorous in te wores of the meeting also made now adopted) clear that this was not an excuse for not participating the two-day strikes. Conscious decision because they also passed a resolution sayıng they all these would carry out call lUt motion will strikes. council to This growing feeling resource ane shows the membership of the entire trade engineering workers want a confronta- words employers resent oils nonexisten

LION

• une against low Opposite although this motion This is the opposite atti- was a conscious decision to drop tude to the union leaders who have shown by contin- uing to call protest actions decision that they are hoping just to pressurise the employers trade union into concessions. Also indic- The Financial Times made a ative this attitude of union leaders is the exemp- assessment. t tion from the strike of ship- building, are showing a good deal public transport, sense e montica gas, etc. As we go to press the militants who results of talks involving

ACAS,

between the engineering employers and the Confed have not come

MUST O

through. Pressure must be built up crisis of capitalism can in the union for no compro- This is mise on cne claim. by those who the best opportunity ally Build a revolutionary leader- section has of winning the 35 hour week. No talks with the Tories!

(The claim is now for a 39 hour week this year and strike acuor 35 hours by 1982) engineering The employers are saying they are in a bad financial state and some firms will have to close if there is an all-out strike. This challenge should be taken up by being prepared for a policy of occupation and demanding they open the books industry and not just the bankrupt firms elected trade union committees.